Ahead of the State of Origin series opener, Phil Gould and James Bracey break down the big issues set to decide the Townsville blockbuster, from the referees to the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ and the coaching set to play a defining role.

Ahead of the State of Origin series opener, Phil Gould and James Bracey break down the big issues set to decide the Townsville blockbuster, from the referees to the &lsquo;gentlemen&rsquo;s agreement&rsquo; and the coaching set to play a defining role.

League legend Phil 'Gus' Gould and Mathew Thompson tackle the biggest talking points in Rugby League each week, delivering bold opinions, deep analysis and inside stories.

 

League legend Phil 'Gus' Gould and Mathew Thompson tackle the biggest talking points in Rugby League each week, delivering bold opinions, deep analysis and inside stories.
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James Bracey and league legend Phil “Gus” Gould bring you the six biggest issues in Rugby League each week. Released every Wednesday.

Six Tackles With Gus

League legend Gus Gould and Mathew Thompson tackle the biggest talking points in Rugby League each week, delivering bold opinions, deep analysis and inside stories.

League legend Gus Gould and Mathew Thompson tackle the biggest talking points in Rugby League each week, delivering bold opinions, deep analysis and inside stories.

Round 14: State of Origin preview: Gus worried about NSW

Gus and Mathew Thompson revisit rugby league’s wild old end-of-season trips before Darrell “The Big Marn” Brohman joins them to tell the unforgettable story of Peter Kelly’s encounter with a skunk.

Plus, Gus delivers his verdict on the NRL finals, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of every leading contender and reveals why Penrith remain the team to beat.

00:00 NRL finals have arrived
01:19 Mad Monday then and now
03:47 The Bulldogs’ legendary overseas trips
06:06 Gus’s life lesson - don’t wrestle with a skunk
10:40 Rugby league rallies around Jai Arrow
13:19 Darrell Brohman joins the show
14:10 Darrell tells the full skunk story
18:02 Memories from the Bulldogs’ trip
20:30 One final warning about skunks
21:14 Yes or No - Canberra’s exciting future
24:49 Should finals be played at suburban grounds?
31:03 Isaah Yeo’s remarkable recovery
33:38 Assessing the NRL finals contenders
34:14 Penrith Panthers - strength, weakness and X-factor
42:34 New Zealand Warriors - strength, weakness and X-factor
48:03 Dolphins - strength, weakness and X-factor
56:04 Sydney Roosters - strength, weakness and X-factor
01:01:34 Can a bottom-four team win the premiership?
01:02:02 Six Tackles Trivia
01:05:59 NRLW Round 11
01:06:34 Rabbitohs v Knights
01:09:13 Warriors v Dolphins
01:11:31 Sharks v Cowboys
01:16:28 Panthers v Roosters
01:18:04 Gus predicts the finals
01:19:16 The infamous “Sic ’em, Rex” commercial
01:20:45 Gus’s final life lessons

Gus and Mathew Thompson revisit rugby league&rsquo;s wild old end-of-season trips before Darrell &ldquo;The Big Marn&rdquo; Brohman joins them to tell the unforgettable story of Peter Kelly&rsquo;s encounter with a skunk.
Plus, Gus delivers his verdict on the NRL finals, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of every leading contender and reveals why Penrith remain the team to beat.
00:00 NRL finals have arrived 01:19 Mad Monday then and now 03:47 The Bulldogs&rsquo; legendary overseas trips 06:06 Gus&rsquo;s life lesson - don&rsquo;t wrestle with a skunk 10:40 Rugby league rallies around Jai Arrow 13:19 Darrell Brohman joins the show 14:10 Darrell tells the full skunk story 18:02 Memories from the Bulldogs&rsquo; trip 20:30 One final warning about skunks 21:14 Yes or No - Canberra&rsquo;s exciting future 24:49 Should finals be played at suburban grounds? 31:03 Isaah Yeo&rsquo;s remarkable recovery 33:38 Assessing the NRL finals contenders 34:14 Penrith Panthers - strength, weakness and X-factor 42:34 New Zealand Warriors - strength, weakness and X-factor 48:03 Dolphins - strength, weakness and X-factor 56:04 Sydney Roosters - strength, weakness and X-factor 01:01:34 Can a bottom-four team win the premiership? 01:02:02 Six Tackles Trivia 01:05:59 NRLW Round 11 01:06:34 Rabbitohs v Knights 01:09:13 Warriors v Dolphins 01:11:31 Sharks v Cowboys 01:16:28 Panthers v Roosters 01:18:04 Gus predicts the finals 01:19:16 The infamous &ldquo;Sic &rsquo;em, Rex&rdquo; commercial 01:20:45 Gus&rsquo;s final life lessons

Gus’s Life Lesson: Don’t Wrestle with a Skunk

Phil Gould and Mathew Thompson break down the final round of the NRL regular season as the Warriors and Panthers battle for the minor premiership.

Gus explains why Lachlan Galvin’s rapid rise is unlike anything he has seen from a young half, assesses the legacies of Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas, Josh Papalii and Jarome Luai, and names his team of the year.

The pair also revisit their preseason predictions, examine whether Cronulla can recover in time for the finals and preview every Round 27 match.

00:00 Round 27 and the minor premiership race
01:06 Bulldogs finish the season with promise
03:06 Lachlan Galvin’s remarkable season
03:26 Why young halfbacks need development time
07:19 Galvin’s extraordinary leap into the NRL
09:45 When halfbacks reach their prime
10:48 Adam Reynolds’ Brisbane legacy
13:11 Payne Haas prepares to leave Brisbane
17:05 Josh Papalii’s Canberra legacy
19:28 Jarome Luai’s complicated Tigers legacy
22:25 PNG and the changing player market
25:06 Can the Tigers replace Luai?
27:39 Six Tackles team of the year
41:46 Revisiting Gus’ preseason predictions
44:24 Can Cronulla recover before the finals?
48:48 The danger of resting players
51:03 Six Tackles trivia
53:01 NRLW news and Round 27 preview
54:27 Titans v Dolphins
57:21 Rabbitohs v Roosters and Jai Arrow’s milestone
01:00:58 Warriors v Sea Eagles
01:02:51 Cowboys v Raiders
01:03:31 Sharks v Storm
01:05:04 Dragons v Eels
01:06:31 Panthers v Tigers
01:08:24 The selection debate turns to golf
01:09:04 Gus’ Bob Fulton golf-cart story

Phil Gould and Mathew Thompson break down the final round of the NRL regular season as the Warriors and Panthers battle for the minor premiership.
Gus explains why Lachlan Galvin&rsquo;s rapid rise is unlike anything he has seen from a young half, assesses the legacies of Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas, Josh Papalii and Jarome Luai, and names his team of the year.
The pair also revisit their preseason predictions, examine whether Cronulla can recover in time for the finals and preview every Round 27 match.
00:00 Round 27 and the minor premiership race 01:06 Bulldogs finish the season with promise 03:06 Lachlan Galvin&rsquo;s remarkable season 03:26 Why young halfbacks need development time 07:19 Galvin&rsquo;s extraordinary leap into the NRL 09:45 When halfbacks reach their prime 10:48 Adam Reynolds&rsquo; Brisbane legacy 13:11 Payne Haas prepares to leave Brisbane 17:05 Josh Papalii&rsquo;s Canberra legacy 19:28 Jarome Luai&rsquo;s complicated Tigers legacy 22:25 PNG and the changing player market 25:06 Can the Tigers replace Luai? 27:39 Six Tackles team of the year 41:46 Revisiting Gus&rsquo; preseason predictions 44:24 Can Cronulla recover before the finals? 48:48 The danger of resting players 51:03 Six Tackles trivia 53:01 NRLW news and Round 27 preview 54:27 Titans v Dolphins 57:21 Rabbitohs v Roosters and Jai Arrow&rsquo;s milestone 01:00:58 Warriors v Sea Eagles 01:02:51 Cowboys v Raiders 01:03:31 Sharks v Storm 01:05:04 Dragons v Eels 01:06:31 Panthers v Tigers 01:08:24 The selection debate turns to golf 01:09:04 Gus&rsquo; Bob Fulton golf-cart story

Gus Names His NRL Team of the Year

Brad “Freddy” Fittler fills in for Phil Gould alongside Mat Thompson for a special edition of Six Tackles with Gus.

Freddy ranks the NRL premiership contenders and reveals his number-one team heading into the finals. He also predicts the PNG Chiefs will reach the finals in their inaugural season, reacts to the club’s star-studded recruitment drive and debates whether the Roosters can recover from their shock loss to the Tigers.

The team pays tribute to Jai Arrow ahead of an emotional South Sydney milestone, reflects on Adam Reynolds’ remarkable career and selects a hotly contested NRL team of the year.

Plus, Freddy recalls Penrith’s historic 1991 premiership and previews every major game from the penultimate round of the regular season.

00:52 Freddy’s son begins his French rugby journey
03:02 Jai Arrow’s emotional South Sydney milestone
06:11 Freddy assesses the experimental kickoff rule
09:30 Should Adam Reynolds receive a farewell game?
10:38 Adam Reynolds’ remarkable career
12:50 Will the PNG Chiefs make the finals immediately?
14:42 Could tax-free money tempt Freddy back?
15:59 Is Jacob Preston a future captain?
17:23 Can the Roosters still win the premiership?
18:59 The Warriors’ enormous home-finals advantage
20:37 Freddy ranks the premiership contenders
24:31 Mat and Freddy select their team of the year
25:45 Kalyn Ponga versus James Tedesco
26:00 The NRL’s most underrated winger
28:30 The best forwards of the season
30:24 Freddy challenges Mat’s back-row selections
31:58 Why Wade Egan deserves recognition
33:20 Listener tactics and field goals every set
36:02 Memories of Penrith’s 1991 premiership
39:09 Six Tackles trivia
40:07 Round 26 and NRLW preview
40:57 Broncos v Storm
42:04 Sea Eagles v Dragons
42:51 Panthers v Bulldogs
45:11 Titans v Rabbitohs
46:06 Roosters v Dolphins
47:27 Cowboys v Wests Tigers
48:34 Warriors v Knights
48:52 Eels v Sharks
49:31 Final thoughts

Brad &ldquo;Freddy&rdquo; Fittler fills in for Phil Gould alongside Mat Thompson for a special edition of Six Tackles with Gus.
Freddy ranks the NRL premiership contenders and reveals his number-one team heading into the finals. He also predicts the PNG Chiefs will reach the finals in their inaugural season, reacts to the club&rsquo;s star-studded recruitment drive and debates whether the Roosters can recover from their shock loss to the Tigers.
The team pays tribute to Jai Arrow ahead of an emotional South Sydney milestone, reflects on Adam Reynolds&rsquo; remarkable career and selects a hotly contested NRL team of the year.
Plus, Freddy recalls Penrith&rsquo;s historic 1991 premiership and previews every major game from the penultimate round of the regular season.
00:52 Freddy&rsquo;s son begins his French rugby journey 03:02 Jai Arrow&rsquo;s emotional South Sydney milestone 06:11 Freddy assesses the experimental kickoff rule 09:30 Should Adam Reynolds receive a farewell game? 10:38 Adam Reynolds&rsquo; remarkable career 12:50 Will the PNG Chiefs make the finals immediately? 14:42 Could tax-free money tempt Freddy back? 15:59 Is Jacob Preston a future captain? 17:23 Can the Roosters still win the premiership? 18:59 The Warriors&rsquo; enormous home-finals advantage 20:37 Freddy ranks the premiership contenders 24:31 Mat and Freddy select their team of the year 25:45 Kalyn Ponga versus James Tedesco 26:00 The NRL&rsquo;s most underrated winger 28:30 The best forwards of the season 30:24 Freddy challenges Mat&rsquo;s back-row selections 31:58 Why Wade Egan deserves recognition 33:20 Listener tactics and field goals every set 36:02 Memories of Penrith&rsquo;s 1991 premiership 39:09 Six Tackles trivia 40:07 Round 26 and NRLW preview 40:57 Broncos v Storm 42:04 Sea Eagles v Dragons 42:51 Panthers v Bulldogs 45:11 Titans v Rabbitohs 46:06 Roosters v Dolphins 47:27 Cowboys v Wests Tigers 48:34 Warriors v Knights 48:52 Eels v Sharks 49:31 Final thoughts

Round 14: State of Origin preview: Gus worried about NSW

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