St George Illawarra’s fifth straight defeat means it’s their worst start to a season since the club’s merger and coach Shane Flanagan admits he doesn’t have the answers yet. Can he turn things around or will we see another coach die by the sword in 2026?

Flanagan isn’t the only coach under pressure this week as Ricky Stuart’s Raiders flounder at the bottom of the table after winning the minor premiership just last season. Plus, will Cameron Ciraldo’s team selections finally work for the Bulldogs?

This week, chief rugby league reporter Adrian Proszenko comes off the bench for Neil Breen and joins Christian Nicolussi and Zac Bailey from Nine News.

St George Illawarra&rsquo;s fifth straight defeat means it&rsquo;s their worst start to a season since the club&rsquo;s merger and coach Shane Flanagan admits he doesn&rsquo;t have the answers yet. Can he turn things around or will we see another coach die by the sword in 2026? Flanagan isn&rsquo;t the only coach under pressure this week as Ricky Stuart&rsquo;s Raiders flounder at the bottom of the table after winning the minor premiership just last season. Plus, will Cameron Ciraldo&rsquo;s team selections finally work for the Bulldogs? This week, chief rugby league reporter Adrian Proszenko comes off the bench for Neil Breen and joins Christian Nicolussi and Zac Bailey from Nine News.

From newsroom of The Sydney Morning Herald, NRL podcast 40/20 gives you press pass access to the latest news, controversies and performances in the rugby league calendar. Each week, hear the best analysis in the business from Neil Breen, Christian Nicolussi, Channel Nine's Zac Bailey and a host of guest stars.

Follow, and review our show on Apple or Spotify, and for all the latest sports news, go to smh.com.au.

From newsroom of The Sydney Morning Herald,&nbsp;NRL podcast 40/20 gives you press pass access to the&nbsp;latest news, controversies and performances in the rugby league calendar. Each week, hear the best analysis in the business from Neil Breen, Christian Nicolussi, Channel Nine's Zac Bailey and a host of guest stars.
Follow, and review our show on Apple or Spotify, and for all the latest sports news, go to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl">smh.com.au.</a>

40/20

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series. 

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series.&nbsp;

New episodes

Inside the Dragons’ den: Can Shane Flanagan find a winning formula?

After a rockstar red carpet tour of Papua New Guinea, where he met with club and government officials alike, Jarome Luai has become the marquee signing for the PNG Chiefs, who are set to enter the NRL in 2028.

Luai will continue to play for the Wests Tigers for the remainder of this season and next, but could the news of the co-captain leaving the club derail their blistering form?

Meanwhile, with the Melbourne Storm recording six consecutive losses, how can veteran coach Craig Bellamy rally his troops? Or will this form slump leave a lasting stain on his stellar coaching career?

This week, rugby league reporter Christian Nicolussi and national sports editor Neil Breen, with Zac Bailey from Nine News, break down the biggest stories in the game.

Read Christian Nicolussi's latest column here

plus Neil Breen's opinion here

and follow all our NRL coverage here

After a rockstar red carpet tour of Papua New Guinea, where he met with club and government officials alike, Jarome Luai has become the marquee signing for the PNG Chiefs, who are set to enter the NRL in 2028. Luai will continue to play for the Wests Tigers for the remainder of this season and next, but could the news of the co-captain leaving the club derail their blistering form? Meanwhile, with the Melbourne Storm recording six consecutive losses, how can veteran coach Craig Bellamy rally his troops? Or will this form slump leave a lasting stain on his stellar coaching career? This week, rugby league reporter Christian Nicolussi and national sports editor Neil Breen, with Zac Bailey from Nine News, break down the biggest stories in the game. Read Christian Nicolussi's latest column <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/luai-s-private-jet-was-paid-for-by-png-government-20260428-p5zrlp.html">here</a> plus Neil Breen's opinion <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/how-speed-killed-the-bulldogs-and-the-storm-20260426-p5zr4p.html">here</a> and follow all our NRL coverage <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl">here</a>

Private jets and prime ministers: how PNG signed Jerome Luai

After their seventh straight loss to start the season, St George Illawarra have finally swung the axe with head coach Shane Flanagan departing the club at the start of the week.

And new coach Dean Young has wasted no time leaving his imprint on the Dragons after being handed the job on an interim basis; assistant coach Michael Ennis also exiting stage right.

So, can Young turn his side's fate around just like Keiran Foran has at Manly?

Plus as we get closer to State of Origin, injury woes are mounting for the Blues: star forward Payne Haas set to miss game one.

This week, league reporter, Christian Nicolussi joins national sports editor Neil Breen alongside Zac Bailey from Nine News with all the latest in the NRL.

Read Christian Nicolussi's latest column here and follow all our NRL coverage here.

After their seventh straight loss to start the season, St George Illawarra have finally swung the axe with head coach Shane Flanagan departing the club at the start of the week.
And new coach Dean Young has wasted no time leaving his imprint on the Dragons after being handed the job on an interim basis; assistant coach Michael Ennis also exiting stage right.
So, can Young turn his side's fate around just like Keiran Foran has at Manly? Plus as we get closer to State of Origin, injury woes are mounting for the Blues: star forward Payne Haas set to miss game one. This week, league reporter, Christian Nicolussi joins national sports editor Neil Breen alongside Zac Bailey from Nine News with all the latest in the NRL. Read Christian Nicolussi's latest column <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/a-day-after-flanagan-ennis-the-latest-coach-to-part-ways-with-dragons-20260421-p5zpql.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=40/20&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">here </a>and follow all our NRL coverage<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=40/20&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom"> here</a>.

Dragons blood bath and the Red V rebuild

After years of heartbreak and upset, the Wests Tigers are on a magic run, sitting alongside Penrith as joint NRL leaders.

But with star fullback Jahream Bula linked to the Bulldogs - much like Lachy Galvin last season - will we see history repeat itself?

And with the Storm looking like a shadow of their former selves, is the Melbourne dynasty done?

This week, national sports editor Neil Breen returns alongside league reporter Christian Nicolussi and Zac Bailey from Nine News to dissect the latest in the NRL.

Read Christian Nicolussi's latest column here, and follow all our NRL coverage here.

After years of heartbreak and upset, the Wests Tigers are on a magic run, sitting alongside Penrith as joint NRL leaders. But with star fullback Jahream Bula linked to the Bulldogs - much like Lachy Galvin last season - will we see history repeat itself? And with the Storm looking like a shadow of their former selves, is the Melbourne dynasty done? This week, national sports editor Neil Breen returns alongside league reporter Christian Nicolussi and Zac Bailey from Nine News to dissect the latest in the NRL. Read Christian Nicolussi's latest column <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-fans-need-jahream-bula-to-stay-phil-gould-isn-t-helping-20260413-p5zneu.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=40/20&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">here</a>, and follow all our NRL coverage <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=40/20&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">here</a>.

Inside the Dragons’ den: Can Shane Flanagan find a winning formula?

In 2 playlist(s)

40/20

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips