A broken foot, a hip drop send-off, and a finals upset that feels like it belongs in a highlight reel forever. We’re still trying to process how Newcastle survive 44 minutes with 12 men, keep Penrith scoreless after the break, and turn a chaotic game into a grand final ticket.

We start by unpacking Dolphins vs Roosters, where the Roosters finally look like the fully-clicking version that’s been threatening all year. We talk about how their attack leans on edge dominance, why “Marky Mark” changes the way teams defend, and how the Dolphins’ slight shift away from their season-long style costs them at the worst time. Then we get into the stuff everyone argues about on Monday morning: the bunker’s limits, the growing frustration around unchecked forward passes, and why those calls feel bigger and bigger in finals footy.

The second half of the chat is all Knights vs Panthers: Nathan Cleary on the bench, the moment he comes on and steadies the game, and the tackle that ends his night and sparks the biggest hip drop debate of the season. We lay out what we think the rule should be, why consistency matters more than intent, and how the NRL can actually stamp dangerous techniques out without relying on injury outcomes. We finish with a proper grand final preview, key matchups, Clive Churchill picks, first try scorers, and the one battle we think decides it all.

If you’ve got a strong view on hip drops, forward passes, or that quick tap try, hit play, then subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave us a review so more fans can find the show.