Season 6 of the podcast is ushered in with the annual off-season bunker review, with your returning hosts Tass, Clarkie and Guildy discussing all the hot topics of the 2025/2026 rugby league off-season!

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro

11:38 - Episode Overview

13:01 - Topic 1: Payne Haas shock signing with the Rabbitohs

34:14 - Topic 2: R360 fail and the Zac Lomax fallout

1:00:28 - Topic 3: New on-field 2026 NRL rules

1:23:25 - Topic 4: Perth Bears signings

1:35:05 - Topic 5: RLWC2026 nations locked-in; Golden Boot drama

1:46:48 - Topic 6: Update on Eliesa Katoa

1:51:00 - Topic 7: Trouble in Tiger-Town (again)

1:58:24 - Topic 8: Quick-fire topics (NZ Origin, Injuries/Returns, Super League, Logos, Buzz retires)

2:07:26 - Topic 9: Player Transfers and Re-signings (Tino, Bellamy, Kikau, Angus, Lodge, etc.)

2:24:35 - Outro

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Click the link to follow us on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok, or to listen on your preferred podcasting platform:

https://linktr.ee/thesidelinestoryrlpodcast

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Hosted by Daniel Tassone, Nicholas Guild & Ryan Clarke.

Podcast distributed to all major listening apps.

Music credit ‘Chase’ [prod. Yrii Semchyshyn from Pixabay].

Logo designed by Tahlia Tassone.

© The Sideline Story: Rugby League Podcast, 2021.

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“You're listening to The Sideline Story Rugby League Podcast: The Greatest View of Rugby League from the Sideline”

In our final episode for 2025, Tass, Clarkie and Guildy discuss their pretty crappy crystal ball predictions they made back in February; Their thoughts on the return of the Ashes and if Kevin Walters or Shaun Wane’s jobs will be safe; The Pacific Championships with the rise of Samoa and the unfortunate mishandling of Eli Katoa’s concussion; Buzz’s 10-point plan to make NRL even greater; Super League expanding to 14 teams and the NRL’s likelihood of taking over the English and International Game; World Club Challenge to return in 2026; NRL’s ambitious idea to create a “Global Round” in 2027; Rugby360 and the bans set by the NRL and World Rugby, plus which NRL players are on the hit-list; Perth Bears set to sign 10 players by Christmas; PNG Chiefs confirmed as the 19th NRL club with their national team winning the Pacific Bowl 3-peat; Rugby League World Cup 2026 and 2030 details; NRL’s new anti-tampering law explained; State of Origin to be played in New Zealand; NRL refuse to cover Koori Knockout injuries for NRL players; Tyrone Munro stood down; Bulldogs new logo doesn’t sit right; Which song would you play if you scored a try; and a wide range of player signings and rumours in both NRL and Super League… AND OH YES, THE SIDELINE STORY WILL BE RENEWED FOR A SIXTH SEASON IN 2026!

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro

04:02 - Episode Overview

06:18 - Revisiting our 2025 Crystal Ball Predictions

19:22 - Thoughts on the Ashes and Pacific Championships

47:52 - Buzz Rothfield’s 10-point plan to make NRL even greater

1:05:23 - Super League expansion; NRL to takeover SL; WCC return; NRL Global Round

1:16:09 - Rugby 360 and the 10-year ban

1:32:44 - NRL Expansion confirmed for Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs

1:44:56 - New anti-tampering law (aka the Gus Gould law)

1:48:02 - Rugby League World Cup details for 2026 and 2030 editions

1:54:29 - State of Origin to be played in New Zealand in 2027

1:56:07 - Koori Knockout dramas; Tyrone Munro stood down; Bulldogs new logo; Try song?

2:04:27 - NRL and Super League player signings and rumours

2:22:35 - Outro

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Click the link to follow us on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok, check out our sponsors, or to listen on your preferred podcasting platform:

https://linktr.ee/thesidelinestoryrlpodcast

——

Hosted by Daniel Tassone, Nicholas Guild & Ryan Clarke.

Podcast mixed by Daniel Tassone using Garageband.

Podcast distributed to all major listening apps using Spotify for Podcasters.

Music credit for this episode: ‘Chase’ [prod. Yrii Semchyshyn from Pixabay].

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Logo designed by Tahlia Zaccomer.

© The Sideline Story: Rugby League Podcast, 2021.

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“You're listening to The Sideline Story Rugby League Podcast: The Greatest View of Rugby League from the Sideline”

Rugby League is the winner, but in a more accurate way the Brisbane Broncos (and Queensland in general) are the winners!… Reece Walsh will go down as one of the best to ever claim the Clive Churchill Medal in another come-from-behind victory for the Broncos who, lead by future coaching great Michael Maguire, have finally broken their 19-year premiership drought… Broncos also claimed the NRLW and the NZ Warriors claimed the State Championship in front of the highest ever TV audience in Australian Sporting GF History!… For the Super League Grand Final, Hull KR will face Wigan for the second year in-a-row hoping to go one better to claim the coveted treble… We end the episode with an analysis of the Australian Kangaroos 2025 Ashes Tour Squad!

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro

08:18 - Episode Overview

09:46 - Clarkie’s Good Guy of the Week: Michael Maguire

16:50 - Who’s in Guildy’s Bin: Grant Atkins

18:54 - Bunker Review: Broncos def. Storm (GF: 26-22)

1:02:25 - Bunker Review: NRL GF Player Ratings

1:13:20 - ATG: Broncos win NRLW GF

1:24:03 - ATG: NZ Warriors win State Championship

1:29:47 - ATG: Super League Semis Results + Grand Final Preview

1:31:58 - ATG: Toulouse Olympique win Betfred Championship

1:32:35 - ATG: Australian Kangaroos Squad announcement

1:39:00 - Outro

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Click the link to follow us on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok, check out our sponsors, or to listen on your preferred podcasting platform:

https://linktr.ee/thesidelinestoryrlpodcast

——

Hosted by Daniel Tassone, Nicholas Guild & Ryan Clarke.

Podcast mixed by Daniel Tassone using Garageband.

Podcast distributed to all major listening apps using Spotify for Podcasters.

Music credit for this episode: ‘Chase’ [prod. Yrii Semchyshyn from Pixabay].

——

Logo designed by Tahlia Zaccomer.

© The Sideline Story: Rugby League Podcast, 2021.

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“You're listening to The Sideline Story Rugby League Podcast: The Greatest View of Rugby League from the Sideline”