Six Tackles With Gus

Phil Gould explains why Andrew Johns should seriously consider coaching New South Wales and why the opportunity may not come again.

Gus also weighs in on Tom Trbojevic’s future at Manly, Marcelo Montoya’s immediate retirement, Dean Young taking charge of the Dragons, the growing finals race and whether Penrith are beginning to wobble.

Plus, Gus reviews the biggest bounce-back wins in rugby league history and previews every match of NRL Round 21.

00:00 Round 21, judiciary & Dean Young confirmed as Dragons coach
01:15 Dean Young's vision for the Dragons
04:12 Marcelo Montoya retires immediately
07:20 Could Gus ever do a podcast with his wife?
08:10 Judiciary fallout: Tigers, Rabbitohs & suspensions
09:35 Why Achilles injuries can end seasons
12:05 Are the Raiders still in the finals race?
14:40 Should Manly consider Tom Trbojevic's future?
19:45 The salary cap problem with long-term injuries
24:18 Are Penrith starting to wobble?
26:36 Should Perth panic about recruitment?
28:22 Can PNG build a competitive NRL roster?
30:45 Gus predicted the Dolphins' huge turnaround
35:28 The NRL's most underrated player?
35:58 Ask Gus: Markers, play-the-balls & gamesmanship
39:05 Why the NRL draw is never fair
41:48 Is Cam Munster's Kangaroos spot under threat?
43:52 The biggest hitters in rugby league history
48:24 Should Andrew Johns coach NSW?
49:34 "He probably should do it"
50:56 Why Joey would galvanise the Blues
56:28 Six Tackles Trivia
57:23 Andrew Johns' incredible 34-point game
59:58 NRLW Round 4 preview
1:01:18 Eels vs Panthers
1:02:00 Knights vs Roosters
1:04:12 Rabbitohs vs Storm
1:05:40 Raiders vs Tigers
1:06:18 Bulldogs vs Warriors
1:06:56 Cowboys vs Broncos
1:09:02 Dragons vs Titans
1:11:15 Sea Eagles vs Sharks
1:13:06 Gus' full Round 21 tips
1:14:28 Fritz's Wiener recommendation

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With Origin now in the rear-view mirror, Gus explains why the emotional hangover can linger for players and clubs as the race to the finals heats up.

Gus praises Nathan Cleary’s brilliant decider performance, declares the champion halfback is yet to reach his peak and assesses the rebuild facing Billy Slater and Queensland.

The boys also unpack the Wests Tigers’ decision to release Jarome Luai early, why his one-year Parramatta move makes sense for everyone involved and the importance of allowing perseverance to do its work during a long-term rebuild.

Plus, are the Cowboys genuine premiership contenders? Can Melbourne survive without Cameron Munster? Could the Broncos upset Penrith? Gus previews every match in Round 20 and offers Rory McIlroy some unusual advice ahead of The Open.

00:00 Welcome and the Origin hangover

01:44 How Origin disruption affects NRL clubs

04:06 Dolphins’ 66-point defeat and the Sharks’ finals chances

06:32 The latest on Stephen Crichton’s neck injury

09:53 Player welfare and the physical toll of rugby league

10:50 The Open Championship and Gus’s golf tips

11:56 The congested NRL ladder

12:16 Why Nathan Cleary’s critics defy logic

14:19 “He hasn’t peaked yet”: Gus’s huge Cleary prediction

16:39 How NSW produced its remarkable Origin turnaround

19:03 Should Billy Slater remain Queensland coach?

21:29 Liam Martin and Hudson Young’s Origin impact

23:49 Are the Cowboys genuine premiership contenders?

26:09 Jarome Luai’s one-year move to Parramatta

28:27 The lasting impact Luai has had on the Tigers

30:51 Why the Tigers released Luai one year early

33:10 Benji Marshall makes the tough call

35:29 Huge changes coming for NRL rosters

37:50 “Let perseverance do its work”

40:01 Parramatta’s improvement and the strength of the competition

41:01 Can Melbourne reach the finals without Cameron Munster?

42:11 Jai Arrow’s emotional birthday fundraiser

43:00 Six Tackles Trivia

45:19 Women in League Round and the NRLW

46:23 Round 20 preview: Panthers v Broncos

50:30 Sharks v Knights

51:59 Roosters v Storm

52:48 Raiders v Rabbitohs

53:48 Warriors v Dragons

54:48 Bulldogs v Wests Tigers

55:48 Titans v Sea Eagles

56:57 Dolphins v Cowboys and the bounce-back factor

58:43 Gus’s Round 20 tips

59:43 Does Rory McIlroy need glasses?

1:01:04 Final thoughts and farewell

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Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns share their final words ahead of the 2026 State of Origin decider.

2024 Origin hero Bradman Best joins the show to discuss tactics and gameplan ahead of Game III.

Plus, the boys name the best Indigenous player they have played with in their careers.

All that and more on a special Origin edition of Freddy & the Eighth.

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Special Guest Latrell Mitchell plus inside Blues and Maroons camp.

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Gus explains why New South Wales can't afford to let Queensland dictate early, why the first 20 minutes could decide the series, and how players like Liam Martin and Addin Fonua-Blake should be used to put the Maroons on the back foot from the opening whistle.

Also in this episode:

• Why Gus was shocked by Brian To'o being left out
• The selection gamble on Jack Bostock
• How New South Wales should manage its bench in the biggest game of the year
• Why Queensland carries more pressure than people think
• Gus' memories of the old Lang Park and coaching Origin deciders in Brisbane
• An unexpected live phone call to Emma Lawrence after Gus correctly predicted she was about to start maternity leave
• Plus the latest on the NRL ladder, the start of the NRLW season, and your Ask Gus questions.

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Phil Gould says State of Origin isn't a talent problem for New South Wales, it's a football problem. This week Gus explains why the Blues are "getting it wrong", how Queensland continue to outplay them in the moments that matter, and what Laurie Daley must do before the decider. 

Plus, the rise of the Titans, why the Warriors are genuine contenders, Ben Hunt's incredible career milestone, Jake Averillo's move to the Tigers, and Gus previews every game of Round 17 thanks to TAB.

(00:00) Beanies for Brain Cancer Round and the Mark Hughes Foundation
(05:23) Breaking news: Jake Averillo signs with the West Tigers
(07:46) Ben Hunt extends with Brisbane for a 19th NRL season
(09:25) Are defensive contests making a comeback in the NRL?
(11:03) The Titans' rise under Josh Hannay
(13:50) Why the Warriors won't fade this season
(15:21) Are the Dolphins genuine premiership favourites?
(19:17) Broncos facing a finals-defining stretch
(21:38) Should Mitchell Moses play Origin III?
(24:00) “We're getting it wrong” - Gus' Origin diagnosis
(35:40) Can NSW fix it before the decider?
(45:13) Why Queensland rarely beat themselves
(48:00) Ask Gus: Origin, coaching futures and Dean Young
(54:12) Round 17 preview and TAB odds
(01:12:00) Gus' Round 17 tips and farewell

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No one has had a greater influence on New South Wales rugby league than Brad Fittler.

A Blues legend, Freddy played a record 31 State of Origin matches for NSW before later coaching his state on 18 occasions. But the Origin story closest to his heart came in 2004, when Phil Gould convinced him to return from representative retirement for one final campaign.

It wasn't all smooth sailing. The comeback didn't start as planned, but it ended with one of the most memorable fairytale finishes in Origin history.

In this episode of Stories of Origin, Brad Fittler relives the 2004 series, his final season in the Sky Blue jersey, the unforgettable decider, and the perfect send-off alongside Phil Gould.

A farewell that remains one of the great moments in Origin history.

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State of Origin heads back to Melbourne with the series hanging in the balance and Darren Lockyer joins Phil Gould and Mat Thompson to break down the biggest Game II storylines. 

The team looks at the impact of Payne Haas' return, Billy Slater's Reece Walsh wildcard, Laurie Daley's selection calls and whether Queensland can force a decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Plus, don’t miss your Round 16 NRL tips from Gus!

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State of Origin selection drama dominates this week's Six Tackles with Gus as Phil Gould questions some of New South Wales' biggest Game Two decisions ahead of the MCG blockbuster.

Why isn't Haumole Olakau'atu in the Blues' best 17? Is Mitchell Moses a gamble worth taking? And has Laurie Daley got the balance of his bench right?

Gus also breaks down Queensland's changes, explains why the Maroons always seem to find another gear after a loss, reflects on his memories of playing at the MCG, discusses the Dolphins' rise under Kristian Woolf and previews Round 15. It's all thanks to TAB.

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No player has worn the Queensland jersey more times than Cameron Smith.

Across 42 State of Origin appearances, Smith became the ultimate competitor, captain and match-winner, helping lead the Maroons through one of the most dominant eras in rugby league history.

But when asked to choose his favourite Origin, Smith doesn't go back to the beginning. He picks 2017.

It was a series that seemed destined for New South Wales after a crushing Game One victory in Brisbane against a Queensland side missing Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.

Then came Thurston's unforgettable sideline conversion in Sydney despite a shattered shoulder. And finally, a decider in Brisbane that would become Smith's last ever game for Queensland.

In this episode of Stories of Origin, Cameron Smith relives the highs, the pressure, the leadership challenges and the moments that made the 2017 series his most memorable Origin campaign.

From adversity to triumph, this is the story of one of Queensland's greatest ever victories, told by the man who led it. Thanks to TAB

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