MAGIC ROUND PREVIEW: Are QLD favorites with Ponga in the halves? Billy Slater's ‘all-out attack’

NRL Magic Round 2026 preview and official tips for every game including the New Zealand Warriors vs Brisbane Broncos blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium. Could Billy Slater pull off a shock State of Origin selection gamble by moving Kalyn Ponga to the halves alongside Cameron Munster to make the QLD Maroons instant favorites over the NSW Blues? Plus, breaking NRL transfer news as Luke Metcalf signs a massive contract with the St George Illawarra Dragons after the Canterbury Bulldogs officially pulled out of the $1 million race.

NRL Magic Round 2026 preview and official tips for every game including the New Zealand Warriors vs Brisbane Broncos blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium. Could Billy Slater pull off a shock State of Origin selection gamble by moving Kalyn Ponga to the halves alongside Cameron Munster to make the QLD Maroons instant favorites over the NSW Blues? Plus, breaking NRL transfer news as Luke Metcalf signs a massive contract with the St George Illawarra Dragons after the Canterbury Bulldogs officially pulled out of the $1 million race.

Unfiltered. Unrivalled. The NRL from every angle.

When the biggest stories in Rugby League break, Mick Carayannis, Dave Riccio, and Brent Read are the first to know.

Brought to you by CODE Sports and The Daily Telegraph, Code NRL cuts through the noise to give you the truth. Expect heated debate, exclusive scoops, and the kind of analysis you can only get from the journalists living and breathing the game 24/7.

Unfiltered. Unrivalled. The NRL from every angle.
When the biggest stories in Rugby League break, Mick Carayannis, Dave Riccio,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Brent Read&nbsp;are the first to know.
Brought to you by&nbsp;CODE Sports&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Daily Telegraph, Code NRL cuts through the noise to give you the truth. Expect heated debate, exclusive scoops, and the kind of analysis you can only get from the journalists living and breathing the game 24/7.

Each week you&apos;ll hear from Daily Telegraph journalists Phil Rothfield, Mick Carayannis, Paul Kent, Dean Ritchie, David Riccio and Paul Crawley as they pull apart all the goings on in the NRL

CODE NRL 

Every Thursday during the NRL season, you'll hear from Code Sports journalists Dave Riccio, Brent Read, Michael Carayannis, and Adam Mobbs as they pull apart the inside workings of the NRL....

CODE NRL

MAGIC ROUND PREVIEW: Are QLD favourites with Ponga in the halves? Billy Slater's ‘all-out attack’

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/29736608-2dae-48b5-9735-b44a00472e37/transcript

‘EELS FANS CAN HAVE A GO. I DON'T CARE!’: Bulldog slams Parramatta performance | ROUND 17 REVIEW

Eels fans, look away, actually no, read this anyway. Bulldog Dean Ritchie joins Alex "NRL Soapbox" for Round 17 Review, and he's not holding back on Parramatta's latest implosion (38% second-half completion rate says it all).

Eels fans, look away, actually no, read this anyway. Bulldog Dean Ritchie joins Alex "NRL Soapbox" for Round 17 Review, and he's not holding back on Parramatta's latest implosion (38% second-half completion rate says it all).

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/cfd90a1b-940e-468f-8935-b4780091d087/transcript

ROUND 17 PREVIEW: 'If I'm Brisbane, I'm not re-signing Michael Maguire' Mick's blunt Broncos verdict

Michael Maguire's Broncos future is under the microscope as Brisbane's form crisis deepens, while the panel asks whether the Dolphins have overtaken the Broncos as Queensland's premier club ahead of their Round 17 top-four showdown with the Warriors. Elsewhere: Cody Walker's future and Bronson Xerri's move away from the Bulldogs (Storm or Eels?), Spencer Leniu's Roosters exit edging closer, and Junior Paulo's Parramatta contract stand-off. The boys also lock in their tips for the full Round 17 slate, tackle the mailbag on the bunker's forward-pass calls and whether halves are over-protected by the refs, and debate who's really second favourite for the comp behind Penrith.

Michael Maguire's Broncos future is under the microscope as Brisbane's form crisis deepens, while the panel asks whether the Dolphins have overtaken the Broncos as Queensland's premier club ahead of their Round 17 top-four showdown with the Warriors. Elsewhere: Cody Walker's future and Bronson Xerri's move away from the Bulldogs (Storm or Eels?), Spencer Leniu's Roosters exit edging closer, and Junior Paulo's Parramatta contract stand-off. The boys also lock in their tips for the full Round 17 slate, tackle the mailbag on the bunker's forward-pass calls and whether halves are over-protected by the refs, and debate who's really second favourite for the comp behind Penrith.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/f83bba01-a5e6-49b9-b29a-b474007b39b4/transcript

ROUND 16 REVIEW: CIRALDO’S Bulldogs WON'T make finals. Here's the spine that will. 

State of Origin fallout, Bulldogs' spine shake-up & Dean Young's Dragons future — Round 16 Review.

Laurie Daley is under fire after NSW's Origin 2 blowout loss to Queensland, and the panel doesn't hold back Alex demands accountability from the coach, while Dean Ritchie pushes back on the personal criticism crossing the line. Is "sorry, we got it wrong" the speech Daley needs to give before Game 3?

Plus, the Canterbury Bulldogs survived an ugly golden-point win over Manly, but Cameron Ciraldo's constant spine tinkering raises a bigger question is this team good enough to make the finals? The panel locks in the spine they believe can get the Bulldogs there.

And at the Red V, Dean Young keeps finding signs of life in a one-win Dragons season. The panel asks the hard question: can you sign a coach based on potential alone, or does St George Illawarra need to look elsewhere?

State of Origin fallout, Bulldogs' spine shake-up &amp; Dean Young's Dragons future &mdash; Round 16 Review.
Laurie Daley is under fire after NSW's Origin 2 blowout loss to Queensland, and the panel doesn't hold back Alex demands accountability from the coach, while Dean Ritchie pushes back on the personal criticism crossing the line. Is "sorry, we got it wrong" the speech Daley needs to give before Game 3?
Plus, the Canterbury Bulldogs survived an ugly golden-point win over Manly, but Cameron Ciraldo's constant spine tinkering raises a bigger question is this team good enough to make the finals? The panel locks in the spine they believe can get the Bulldogs there.
And at the Red V, Dean Young keeps finding signs of life in a one-win Dragons season. The panel asks the hard question: can you sign a coach based on potential alone, or does St George Illawarra need to look elsewhere?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/8fa85b3e-f64a-4c1e-8997-b471006dd792/transcript

MAGIC ROUND PREVIEW: Are QLD favourites with Ponga in the halves? Billy Slater's ‘all-out attack’

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