Upset Alert is on fire — and the boys are taking a victory lap.

This week on Down The Sideline, Boldo, Tim and Adrian review last week’s Upset Alert predictions before diving into the big rugby league stories of the week.

The boys unpack the State of Origin fallout after Queensland’s Game 2 win, asking whether Queensland are simply that much better, whether Laurie Daley is out of his depth, and what changes NSW need to make before the decider.

They also discuss the NRL’s match in Christchurch and whether the city should be home to New Zealand’s second NRL team. Was it just one strong event, or did Christchurch make a serious expansion statement?

There’s also chat on Penrith resting stars against the Titans, the Dolphins’ push toward a first finals appearance, the Sharks attack looking clunky despite Nicho Hynes returning, the Roosters’ physical win, the Tigers fading, the finals logjam, Round 17 tips and this week’s Upset Alert.

Down The Sideline — rugby league through the lens of media, money and market share.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

State of Origin Game 2 is almost here, and Down the Sideline is back with a full preview of NSW v Queensland.

Boldo, Adrian and Tim break down the big Origin talking points, including Mitchell Moses returning for the Blues, Reece Walsh’s role for Queensland, Payne Haas starting, Laurie Daley’s bench decisions, and whether Billy Slater has the tactical edge heading into Game 2.

The boys also discuss the Ashley Klein gambling story, what has been reported, why the optics are so difficult for the NRL, and how the game should think about referees, gambling, welfare and integrity.

Then it’s into the weekend review, with the Sharks’ 10–8 win over the Warriors, the Tigers’ emotional Leichhardt farewell, the misfiring Raiders, the struggling Broncos, the rising Dolphins and Tim’s concerns about the Roosters and DCE.

To finish, the boys run through Upset Alert, Round 16 tips, Sharks v Roosters, and Boldo’s NRL football team — a full soccer XI made up of rugby league players.

A big Origin week, a strange club round, a serious integrity discussion, and one deeply unnecessary debate about which NRL players would make the best footballers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sixty-eight nil.

That is where this episode starts, because when the Wests Tigers lose by 68 points, it is not just another bad day at the office. Boldo, Adrian and Tim unpack the Tigers’ humiliation against Penrith, what it says about Benji Marshall, whether the club is genuinely in crisis, and why blowout scorelines may become an even bigger issue as the NRL expands.

The boys then turn their attention to State of Origin Game Two, with both squads now named. They break down the NSW changes, the Mitchell Moses debate, Payne Haas returning, the Blues bench, Reece Walsh being recalled by Queensland, Briton Nikora starting, and whether Billy Slater’s side now looks stronger than it did in Game One.

There is also plenty of club footy to get through. Tim enjoys being wrong about the Roosters after their 26-0 win over Canberra, Adrian reacts to Newcastle’s narrow loss to Melbourne, and the panel discusses the Broncos’ loss to the Titans, Michael Maguire pressure, the Bulldogs grinding out another win, and how the top eight is starting to shape up.

The episode also includes Upset Alert, Round 15 tips, and a final segment on the Shark Park controversy, as Boldo responds to the noise around Cronulla’s future at their home ground and the wider debate about suburban stadiums in rugby league.

This is Down the Sideline, the rugby league podcast looking at the NRL through the lens of media, money and market share.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.