The Sideline Story: Rugby League Podcast

Last year’s grand finalists, Parramatta, have bungled out of the finals race, meanwhile Cronulla and Melbourne solidify a top 8 spot - with 5 teams eligible for the last 3 finals spots, which clubs will qualify?… We also discuss if Manly were robbed against the Warriors with THAT tackle on Garrick, Luke Brooks’ farewell BBQ, the resignation of Tim Sheens, the rise of Kalyn Ponga, the fall of Latre...

With Manly dropping out of the NRL Finals race and Panthers, Broncos and Warriors the only teams locked in for finals footy, we are left with 8 clubs to fill in five spots for that Top 8 ladder. Meanwhile on the bottom-end of the ladder it looks like the Tigers will be claiming back-2-back wooden spoons… We also discuss the retirements of Wade Graham and Jarrod Croker, the exorbitant contracts for...

Tass, Clarkie and Guildy saddle up for their next 100 episodes as the NRL competition is whittled down to 12 teams left in the running for finals footy. We say goodbye to the Titans and Dolphins, with the Panthers and Broncos looking to sew up the top 2 spots on the ladder. We then head ‘Around The Grounds’ for the Round 21 Super League results, the Round 3 NRLW results, and the ladder leader upda...

Somehow some way, Clarkie, Guildy and Tass reached 100 episodes! It is a celebration of three seasons of growth in the rugby league community, and what better way to celebrate than sitting with a few Akasha and Rusty Penny beers and bringing our loyal fanbase LIVE onto the show to ask our boys any and every rugby league question they wanted! Below are the topics the boys discussed with their fans...

In our penultimate episode to our milestone 100th, the boys make some bold predictions after another crazy week of road-to-finals footy! Will the Warriors and Cowboys crack the top 4? Will Sharks and Eels miss out on finals footy altogether? Will the Knights be the smokeys and snatch a finals spot? Are the Tigers destined for back-to-back wooden spoons? We then head ‘Around The Grounds’ for the Se...

A sobered up Clarkie makes his return for a huge episode this week as the road to the NRL Finals heats up now that State of Origin is over. Mathematically 14 teams can qualify for the Top 8, however the boys whittle it down to 9 teams who could realistically crack a spot. The boys also discuss drama in the head office for the Tigers (again), the in-form teams of the comp in the Panthers and Warrio...

Tass, Guildy and Clarkie delve into ‘what could have been’ as the Blues avoid a Series whitewash after dominating the Maroons in Game III of the 2023 State of Origin Series. The boys recorded this episode immediately concluding the match dissect all the key moments of Game III, the inaccurate player ratings from Fox Sports, a recap of NRL Round 19, how NRL clubs cheat the salary cap, the Super Lea...

Finally an establishment of order for the NRL ladder as the Bulldogs, Dragons and Tigers make it a 3-way battle for the (un)coveted wooden spoon for 2023... The boys also dissect the mass changes for the NSW Blues for Game III of the already-decided State of Origin Series, as well as the minor changes for the QLD Maroons. NRL Round 18 and Super League Round 17 are also covered in this week's e...

A juggernaut episode this week after drama galore in the NRL! Ben Hunt agitating for a Dragons release, Justin Holbrook SACKED, Reece Walsh GUILTY for swearing at referee, Luke Brooks signs with Manly, Adam O’Brien set for the sack, Jarome Luai public enemy number one, Turbo out for the season, Cowboys the dark horses, Roosters cooked, and the Women’s Origin 2-game series furore! We also head “Aro...

“Not dejected this time, just pissed off” - Guildy after the Blues lose the Series… Tass, Guildy and Clarkie dissect the Queensland Maroons’ back-to-back Origin Shields after taking out Game II of the 2023 State of Origin Series. The boys recorded this episode immediately concluding the match and had A LOT to say about the might of QLD and the future of the NSW Blues! —— TIMESTAMPS: 03:05 - Channe...

State of Origin Game 2 is approaching as the boys dissect the QLD and NSW lineups with mass changes made for both teams, particularly for the NSW Camp with Nicho Hynes dropped and Mitch Moses elevated. The boys also explore the possibility of Wayne Bennett coaching the NSW Blues which causes a massive rift! NRL Round 15 follows the Origin talk with plenty of on and off-field drama involving Luke B...

The boys start the episode with their fan-favourite “Bunker Review” segment: Nathan Cleary is ruled out for Origins Game 2 and 3, Will the NSW Blues halves change? Who will replace Jai Arrow and Tom Gilbert for QLD? The Queensland Women win Game 1 of their Origin Series, and record TV ratings for State of Origin for both the men and women! NRL Round 14 is also covered with Alex Johnston climbing t...

A dejected Tass and Guildy give their immediate thoughts on the Queensland Maroons victory over the NSW Blues in Game 1 of the 2023 State of Origin Series - recording their first bonus episode this year straight after the conclusion of the match. —— TIMESTAMPS: 03:05 - QLD Maroons defeat NSW Blues: 26-18 07:30 - Dissecting the key moments of Game I 36:20 - Akasha MVP 3-2-1’s: Origin Edition 39:40...

We pay tribute to Tina Turner - an icon in Rugby League and pioneer for ushering in a new era for the sport - as the boys give their final word before State of Origin Game 1 for this week’s “Bunker Review Segment”. Latrell Mitchell is ruled OUT and the boys analyse his replacements in Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton, more injury clouds over some key Blues players as QLD escape training unscathed....

The Game 1 State of Origin lineups are out and the boys inspect the Blues and Maroons teams with a fine comb in this week’s “Bunker Review Segment”, analysing the debutants, the non-selections, backs v packs, and our Game 1 predictions! NRL Round 12 aka Redemption Round also gave us the most exciting round this season which saw the bottom 4 teams win their matches and all 4 QLD teams lose their’s...

In preparation for State of Origin, plenty of players stood up in Round 11 to snatch a spot as the Panthers return to their dominant ways, the Rabbitohs continue their premiership-favourite form, the Raiders win 5 in a row, the Warriors get a massive wrap for their new play-style under Andrew Webster, but the Roosters and Dragons cop some serious flak for their current form and off-field dramas! W...

Magic Round serves up another great edition of the concept as Wayne Bennett reaches his 900th match as an Australian first-grade coach with an upset Dolphins victory, the Rabbitohs prove again their premiership credentials, Latrell Mitchell a protected species? The Dragons set to sack Hook? Turbo playing injured (again) and the future of Magic Round in Brisbane! We also head “Around The Grounds” f...

Tass is back for an absolutely drama-packed episode of Rugby League this week! The NRL is impossible to watch live overseas, Sam Walker to leave the Roosters? Josh Schuster to the Tigers? Souths the Premiership faves? Nicho Hynes the best halfback in the game? Hynes over Luai for the NSW Blues? Tigers claim their first victory over the back-to-back Premiers! We also head “Around The Grounds” as To...

Clarkie and Guildy do it without Tass again as Round 8’s ANZAC Day matches make this week’s episode much shorter than usual! The boys cover the already-played games with the main talking point surrounding The Dolphins record-equalling comeback against the Titans to etch themselves into Australian Rugby League history, as well as the Rabbitohs victory over the Panthers proving to be the best game o...

Clarkie and Guildy take the reigns without their co-host Tass who is away in Japan (insert sad-face here). Clarkie ditches the Super League’s ‘Around the Grounds’ out of protest as the boys cover a whacky Round 7 of the NRL, dissecting Jack Wighton’s decision to retire from rep footy, Nicho Hynes a certainty to make his Origin debut, Jarome Luai’s hair-pull fiasco and still no clarity around hip-d...

Tass “farewells” the Sideline Story panel as NRL Round 6 saw up-roar with the crackdown on the hip-drop tackle in another exciting week of rugby league! Penrith and Melbourne continue their rise as the Broncos suffer their first defeat in 2023, Wests Tigers remain winless as the mid-strength teams prove to be impossible to tip! We also head “Around The Grounds” for Super League Round 8 as Warringt...

Round Five of the NRL continues to surprise us as the competition marks the closest it has been on record since 1908! Easts, Penrith and Melbourne return to their dominant ways, Canberra suffer the 50-point curse, Brisbane’s 5-0 record comes at the expense of Tigers 0-5 record, Hip-drop tackles cause a stir, and the Bulldogs mark a famous win with the return of Josh Reynolds! We also head “Around...

Seven from eight NRL matches decided by 12 points or less makes this season the closest ! The Western Sydney Grand Final lives up to the hype, the new Brisbane derby makes history, Brooks to be dropped? Manly and Dogs robbed? Nicho Hynes the Messiah returns! We also head “Around The Grounds” for Super League Round 6 and some updates for NSW & QLD Cup! In our fan-favourite “Bunker Review Segmen...

It’s unanimous, this has to be the best start we have seen to an NRL season ever! Upsets galore, rivalries exploding, 7 tries in 11 minutes, new players emerging as the best in rugby league… it’s all covered on Episode 81! We also head “Around The Grounds” for Super League Round 5 and some updates for NSW & QLD Cup! In our fan-favourite “Bunker Review Segment” the panel discuss: Should the NRL...

Round Two brought the headlines after plenty of turmoil in Tiger Town, the Panthers silencing their critics, the Broncos the in-form team of the competition alongside their new Dolphins rivals, the Bulldogs take the upset of the round and the Dragons make their debut for 2023! We also head “Around The Grounds” for Super League Round 4, with Leigh defeating the World Champions and Sam Tomkins annou...