The League Scene

AJ and Rhys recap the second State of Origin II and the U19 Origin. The boys recap all things NRL in a crazy Round 16 of the competition. Canberra held off the Tigers in a fast paced game which saw plenty of tooing and throwing – we congratulate Jed Stuart on his debut and look at the Raiders legitimate premiership chances despite their slow starts to games and fade outs in some. We also debate the Tigers halves direction.

Saturday’s matches saw the understrength Panthers show their class against a Warriors side that showed their inexperience in big matches. We question Andrew Webster’s coaching tactics as far as reshuffling the squad after DWZ’s injury and his decision to play Metcalf out. The game in Perth saw the Knights take down the Dolphins at a big cost for both sides with young guns Jack Bostock and Fletcher Sharpe facing long absences on the sideline but we debate the Dolphins’ game smarts and how the Knights attack is shining. The late game saw a win for Melbourne against the Rabbitohs as Trell shines… in the second half! While Melbourne show their class in big moments to walk away with victory.

Sunday footy saw Brisbane pull off a second half miracle against the Sharks. AJ is filled with rage on how the Sharks bottled their middle rotation… well not for the first time this season. While Rhys is overjoyed with Payne Haas’ heroic performance. The Roosters quickly improved AJ’s mood with a massacre over the Cowboys – Mark Nawaqanitawase and Naufahu Whyte continue their upward trajectory while Hugo Savala shone brightly. The late game saw Parramatta beat the Titans in a big performance at CommBank with shining lights from Isaiah Iongi while the Titans execution continues to bedevil us.

This week, AJ and Rhys are looking back at the Origin impacted bye week. Round 15 saw plenty of thrills, spills as well as a shock thunder-storm.

On the program this week we look at the Dragons collapse in the first half as the Sharks seem to find their mojo. We turn attention to the rise of the Titans and how one offload cruelled Manly’s game after a ruthless start. Is DCE the answer at the Roosters? The only place to see comprehensive analysis of his game play. We also have answers to the big AJ Brimson conundrum over the Titans.

Saturday saw a scrappy win for the Roosters as AJ praises his troops for finally nailing a tight victory in season 2025. We ask ourselves why we got ourselves drunk on Jackson Hastings koolaid. Siua Wong, Salesi Foketi and Blake Steep cement themselves in the pack alongside Naufahu Whyte but we question Victor Radley’s future after his fifth HIA of the season (second failed).

Then we analyse a ruthless Dolphins performance as we question everything and anything about the demise of the Cowboys. Sunday footy saw a thunderstorm interrupt the Dogs flow but they always looked comfortable against a Souths side that were smashed by injuries before and after the game.

AJ and Rhys react live to the announcement of the Origin teams and have a spirited debate over the inclusion of Ezra Mam… it is a contentious talking point and we’re the only podcast to present both sides of the argument.

Onto club land, we look at the big comeback from Newcastle and debate whether the fans were vindicated by booing the team off the field. We also discuss how the comeback has saved Adam O’Brien while discussing the lack of finish from Manly in the second half. Friday saw Melbourne clinical against a Cowboys side that has seemingly lost direction while the Dolphins leave Shane Flanagan searching for answers after an Isaiya Katoa masterclass.

Super Saturday again left us with more questions than answers for Cronulla after their second 40-point thrashing in a row. Are they just a ‘flat-track bully’ team or is there anything to salvage from a shocker against the Warriors. AJ lets rip over Cronulla’s recruitment after two ‘rejects’ in Luke Metcalf and Sam Healey produce amazing performances. We also delve into the Broncos massive win as Rhys has a big look at his side’s performance.

Sunday footy saw big wins for Canberra and Penrith. Rhys tells us why Ethan Strange is equal to or even better than Lachlan Galvin. It is a major win for the Raiders as Souths lack of an 80-minute performance is examined minutely. We turn attention quickly to CommBank Stadium to discuss the ‘embarrassing calls’ that the NRL cleared but look at the unsung heroes that have salvaged Penrith’s season.

Monday saw the King's Birthday honours go to Canterbury in a ruthless second half showing over the Eels. We also answer the charge of the media of over-exposing Galvin on club debut and if it is fair on a young teen.

AJ and Rhys are back, albeit a bit flat for another memorable instalment of the podcast. We recap all things State of Origin and the Women’s State of Origin and look at the changes QLD need to make for game 2 if they want any chance to save the series. Mainly, looking at the forward battle between Reuben Cotter and Corey Horsburgh and the changes needed.

Onto the NRL scene, and there were wins for the Dragons, Storm, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Warriors, Panthers and Raiders. We debate the major issues of the NRL landscape including officiating and interchange use with the boys continuing their rage at Des Hasler. We also look at the Broncos woes and also address the Roosters poor performance. We find anything and everything to discuss in the crazy game of rugby league.

AJ and Rhys are back to have a look at the shortened Round 12 of the NRL season.

It’s been a crazy week; the boys look at all the carnage at Belmore with Lachlan Galvin arriving as Reed Mahoney and Toby Sexton look set to go out the door. We decide what the go is at the Bulldogs moving forward amid the off field signing chaos.

The Dogs, albeit depleted struggled on Thursday night against the Dolphins. Isaiya Katoa and Francis Molo continue their strong run form as the Dogs outside of Josh Curran and a couple others. Friday night saw the Eels led by Dean Hawkins, Junior Paulo and Jack Williams destroy a pretty lethargic Manly side with AJ ripping into Luke Brooks’ ambitions to partner Jamal Fogarty in the halves.

Saturday saw the Knights beat an opposition, they are familiar with, a reserve grade Panthers side as Fletcher Sharpe begins the drum beating around Kalyn Ponga’s future, along with Dylan Lucas starring. Saturday’s last game saw the Roosters prove way too strong for the Sharks. After AJ gets his gloating out of the way, Rhys calms him down with a scathing assessment of the Cronulla win as the Roosters young core delivers another titanic upset in 2025.

The match of the round in Auckland lived up to expectations, Canberra winning a brutal struggle against the Warriors who once again switched off in the second half. We assess the battle of the forwards and the strong performance of Savelio Tamale. We then switch gears to State of Origin as the boys draw their allegiances to preview the opener from Suncorp.

AJ and Rhys have reunited to go through the Origin teams, we go through the controversial Terrell May omission and the big bolters picked by the QLD Maroons and NSW Blues. We then change tact to the Women’s Origin and debate Ali Brigginshaw’s future as a QLD Maroon. Plus, we make a mockery of Brad Donald’s decision to omit Olivia Kernick after she singlehandedly destroyed the QLD pack.

Onto the NRL games, Parramatta were way too strong forNewcastle as once we again we hold Adam O’Brien accountable for his horriblestate of Newcastle’s attack while Zac Lomax gets praised universally. The Roosters rue many mistakes in their loss to the Dogs, while we praise the unsung Bulldogs heroes that got them home.

Super Saturday saw a scrappy Warriors win over the Dolphins after Peter Gough made the howler of season 2025. Manly found their groove despite Turbo playing broken and Jurbo being KO’ed. Manly’s pack gets them home despite the Cowboys mixing their halves combination with little success. Then the Sharks and Storm play the game of the year in season 2025.

Sunday’s matches are recapped quickly as the Dragons takeadvantage of a poor Broncos side as Rhys launches into a tirade. Canberra proved too strong for a poor Titans side while Keaon and Terrell showed their stuff for really no reason as NSW didn’t pick them.

AJ and Rhys return to recap a crazy week of rugby league which saw the Bears return to the competition and comebacks galore in our great code of the NRL. We also saw a ruthless side put up the highest total of the regular season so far AND an onslaught of trainers spraying water on footys become big news.

On the show today we look at Isaiya Katoa’s rapid rise, theEels blowing a golden chance to move off the bottom of the ladder, Newcastle blowing another winnable game, Klese Haas proving that he has something against the Knights. We also look at the Broncos struggles and the rise of Keaon the Middle, the “weak-gutted dog” has the last laugh in the capital… AGAIN! While Canberra are left to rue another winnable game.

We go to the Gong where AJ rips on the Dragons game management in the clutch with all eyes firmly set on the half that has escaped the axe so far in Kyle Flanagan. The Wahs show their muscle up front although we question what happens to their bench when JFH return.

Our late game saw a 30-30 draw between the Cowboys and Penrith where Blaize Talagi had a coming out party to remember! As well as look at the controversial ref call and the calls to calm down Panthers nation. Sunday saw the Tigers repeat a 24 year first and concede 64 points in Melbourne as Papi goes bananas. We conclude with a Billy Burns masterclass against Manly as the Sea Eagles face the wrath of DCE!

AJ is joined for the first time in two weeks by his trusty sidekick Rhys Sullivan to review the NRL Magic Round.

On the show this week we recap the first Women’s State of Origin as well as all the festivities of the NRL’s version of the Met Gala. We analyse the Sharks fade outs, the Roosters strong return to form, Newcastle’s renewed attacking form and the Warriors revival led by their cheeky halfback.

Also we reminisce on the brilliant bombed try by Jaydn Su’Aas the Tigers look very united for a team that were labelled as ‘bullies’ by He’s who’s name we cannot mention. We turn attention to Sunday and put the microscope on Jacob Preston’s judiciary record as the Bulldogs rout the Titans. We also look at the MAIN reason why David Fifita got dropped.

Rhys unleashes an ALL TIME RANT on the troubles at the Brisbane Broncos and we have THAT DISCUSSION on Ezra Mam. Plus, look at the chaos of 6:25 as Melbourne blow a big time game against the Raiders.

AJ is again joined by Johnny Lew to recap Round 8 of the NRL season. A round that will be remembered for 18 sin-bins and a ‘crackdown’ on high contact.

We also have a fun take on all the games this week including the Bulldogs first loss of the season over the Broncos. Some ANZAC Day fun for the Roosters as they tear apart the Dragons once again. We also rip the Newcastle attack apart for a second week in a row as the Warriors improvement is once again on show for everyone to see. We look at Souths’ struggles as we analyse Melbourne’s improvement on a whole.

Saturday football sees us go up north to Townsville to see how the Cowboys massacred a Titans side that led 18-6... to put 50 on them and eliminate the Gold Coast from the NRL finals race. We also put the cleaners through Penrith after a disastrous performance against Manly thanks to Haumole and Turbo going bonkers.

Sunday footy sees the Dolphins blow a 28-10 lead while we crucify the Sharks late game management before rounding out the week with a look at the English Super League and the news of a potential NRL takeover of the struggling competition.

AJ is joined by a new co-host this week. No we haven’t had acoup, Rhys is on assignment with his work so AJ is joined by Ramblings of a Saint podcast host Johnny Lew to recap the week that was in the NRL and in Super League.

We look at every game closely with our eyes firmly set tothe State of Origin series as well as the Ashes tour at the end of the season.

There is a lot of good natured banter with our friend from England and lots of laughs along the way.

Join us as we look at rugby league from the angles we want to and the angles you will love. Yes, we managed to get through an entire program without mentioning the Galvin drama.