Ravioli, ravioli… yup, the Suns have a lot of things figured out. Elsewhere, we finally see a statement win we were hoping for, jinxing each other in the process. Our teams didn't provide the points, but at least Benjamin sees a few positives…

The reigning premiers are back as we knew them, and that's a highlight of what was largely a round that conformed to expectations. A key tagging call shaped the one game that was considered up for grabs, while we also saw a stack of award-worthy plays.

Sections

0:00:00 Intro

0:04:11 NM v WB

0:14:24 CAR v COL

0:26:47 WCE v GWS

0:38:12 ESS v GC

0:46:57 GEE v RIC

0:57:53 BRI v PA

1:08:57 STK v HAW

1:18:54 SYD v FRE

1:28:51 ADE v MEL

1:38:11 Awards

“Man down” — or really “men down” — is a common thread among at least two of the clubs who had byes in Round 16, if not more. Still, three are firmly in the finals picture! …and then there’s the fourth club, who are staring down 8,000 days without a finals win.

Graffiti suggests keeping one coach, while Benjamin demands another’s sacking. Round 16 might’ve actually been “Geezer Round,” with how so many older players shone through… though a valiant Eagles challenge and a flying Viking (who was somehow snubbed for Rising Star) probably did enough to cancel that out. …Oh, and fuck Tom Lynch.

Sections

0:00:00 Intro

0:03:11 PA v CAR

0:14:37 SYD v WB

0:30:08 GC v MEL

0:38:23 HAW v NM

0:46:37 COL v WCE

0:58:39 RIC v ADE

1:13:34 FRE v STK

1:25:15 Awards

Sometimes players just look like they're possessed against their former teams. Nobody represents that better than someone who had a bye in Round 15. Also: missing letters show up at last, and a eulogy for a should-be Hall of Famer.

The Orange Team’s xScore defiance seems… supernatural, and Ethan has a theory. Benjamin, meanwhile, just enjoyed his Suns hate-watch and the lack of an Eagles game. Both hosts were also proven right about North!

Sections

0:00:00 Intro / Cricket Talk

0:08:01 FRE v ESS

0:16:05 GEE v BRI

0:26:31 CAR v NM

0:38:58 Rugby Talk

0:46:39 PA v SYD

0:55:59 COL v STK

1:05:41 GWS v GC

1:22:30 WB v RIC

1:31:15 Awards

It’s the third of our five batches of mid-season check-ins for teams on byes. One of the clubs off for Round 14 are already “fallen cold and dead,” and we can make the case for a second… but all four are among of the year’s bigger newsmakers.

Let me tell you something, brother. The Orange Team have shown us the future, and it's scary for everyone who dares to challenge their forward 50. We needed that excitement and high quality, because Round 14 was starving for it otherwise — especially after a Friday night flop.

Sections

0:00:00 Intro / MLC

0:05:01 STK v WB

0:14:02 HAW v ADE

0:26:00 BRI v GWS

0:38:24 ESS v GEE

0:48:28 NM v FRE

0:58:33 PA v MEL

1:10:10 WCE v CAR

1:15:05 Awards