The Newcastle Knights are flying high at 2-0, but the celebrations are tempered by a massive double-injury blow to Kalen Ponga and Dylan Brown.

Billy Slater breaks down the incredible mental toughness shown at Brookvale and how the "next man up" mentality has the Knights defying the odds under Justin Holbrook.

The&nbsp;Newcastle Knights are flying high at 2-0, but the celebrations are tempered by a massive double-injury blow to Kalen Ponga and Dylan Brown.
Billy Slater breaks down the incredible mental toughness shown at Brookvale and how the "next man up" mentality has the Knights defying the odds under Justin Holbrook.

Origin coach Billy Slater and co-host Peter Psaltis break down winners, losers, players and clubs each week, answering the biggest questions of the round. Raw. Honest. On demand.

Origin coach Billy Slater and co-host Peter Psaltis break down winners, losers, players and clubs each week, answering the biggest questions of the round. Raw. Honest. On demand.

League’s greatest Fullback returns every Monday of the NRL season to look back on a massive round of Rugby League.

The Billy Slater Podcast

Knights’ Grit vs. Superstar Hit: 2-0 Despite the Chaos

Six teams remain in the race for the NRL premiership. Billy Slater reviews every result from the opening week of the finals, including Newcastle’s fearless performance, the Dolphins’ breakthrough victory and Penrith’s epic battle with the Roosters.

Billy also previews this weekend’s elimination finals and explains why something is drawing him towards another Knights upset.

00:00 NRL finals are down to six teams
03:22 Newcastle’s fearless finals approach
05:33 Dane Gagai’s leadership
07:38 Kalyn Ponga hits top form
10:31 Justin Holbrook transforms Newcastle
11:44 Where South Sydney fell short
13:23 Will Cody Walker play on?
15:00 What Latrell Mitchell needs this pre-season
18:57 Dolphins defeat the Warriors
21:46 Breaking down the Dolphins’ spectacular try
25:25 Kurt Donoghoe steps up
28:33 Kurt Donoghoe’s remarkable journey
29:51 Why the Dolphins can reach the grand final
32:17 Braydon Trindall’s courageous performance
34:06 Can Cronulla lift against the Roosters?
36:20 Where the Cowboys go next
39:08 Panthers and Roosters deliver a finals classic
39:58 Mark Nawaqanitawase’s extraordinary performance
42:51 Nathan Cleary’s sin-bin
44:54 The Roosters’ costly penalty decision
46:35 Nathan Cleary’s foot injury
49:00 Roosters v Sharks preview
52:56 Billy tips the winner
54:18 Warriors v Knights preview
56:29 Newcastle’s experienced leaders
58:41 Could Jett Cleary be called upon?
01:00:40 Billy and Salty make their finals selections
01:01:54 Salty tips Newcastle
01:02:22 Billy predicts a Knights upset

Six teams remain in the race for the NRL premiership. Billy Slater reviews every result from the opening week of the finals, including Newcastle&rsquo;s fearless performance, the Dolphins&rsquo; breakthrough victory and Penrith&rsquo;s epic battle with the Roosters.
Billy also previews this weekend&rsquo;s elimination finals and explains why something is drawing him towards another Knights upset.
00:00 NRL finals are down to six teams 03:22 Newcastle&rsquo;s fearless finals approach 05:33 Dane Gagai&rsquo;s leadership 07:38 Kalyn Ponga hits top form 10:31 Justin Holbrook transforms Newcastle 11:44 Where South Sydney fell short 13:23 Will Cody Walker play on? 15:00 What Latrell Mitchell needs this pre-season 18:57 Dolphins defeat the Warriors 21:46 Breaking down the Dolphins&rsquo; spectacular try 25:25 Kurt Donoghoe steps up 28:33 Kurt Donoghoe&rsquo;s remarkable journey 29:51 Why the Dolphins can reach the grand final 32:17 Braydon Trindall&rsquo;s courageous performance 34:06 Can Cronulla lift against the Roosters? 36:20 Where the Cowboys go next 39:08 Panthers and Roosters deliver a finals classic 39:58 Mark Nawaqanitawase&rsquo;s extraordinary performance 42:51 Nathan Cleary&rsquo;s sin-bin 44:54 The Roosters&rsquo; costly penalty decision 46:35 Nathan Cleary&rsquo;s foot injury 49:00 Roosters v Sharks preview 52:56 Billy tips the winner 54:18 Warriors v Knights preview 56:29 Newcastle&rsquo;s experienced leaders 58:41 Could Jett Cleary be called upon? 01:00:40 Billy and Salty make their finals selections 01:01:54 Salty tips Newcastle 01:02:22 Billy predicts a Knights upset

Billy Slater: Why the Knights Can Shock the Warriors

Billy Slater and Peter Psaltis preview every game from the opening week of the 2026 NRL finals.

Billy explains why Penrith remain the competition’s hardest team to beat, why the Roosters cannot be written off, how the Dolphins could silence Auckland and which players could decide the elimination final between the Sharks and Cowboys.

The pair also reflect on Jai Arrow’s inspiring courage, Melbourne’s response to a difficult season and Darius Boyd’s appointment as Queensland coach before revealing their tips for all four finals.

00:00 Finals have arrived
00:50 Penrith claim the minor premiership
02:27 How to beat the Panthers
04:05 Penrith’s extraordinary depth
05:32 Liam Martin sets the standard
06:48 Jai Arrow’s inspiring courage
12:40 Are South Sydney vulnerable?
13:52 Latrell Mitchell sends a finals warning
16:16 Can Rround 27 form be trusted?
19:32 Sharks enter the finals without momentum
22:29 Melbourne’s season of adversity
25:09 Sua Fa’alogo’s breakout season
26:44 Why young players need time
28:59 Will Tyrell Sloan return to the NRL?
30:59 Canberra’s exciting young talent
32:19 Cowboys searching for form
34:03 Darius Boyd becomes Queensland coach
38:32 Rabbitohs v Knights preview
41:53 Warriors v Dolphins preview
48:10 Sharks v Cowboys preview
52:42 Panthers v Roosters preview
54:34 Why Victor Radley is crucial
57:14 Dylan Edwards v James Tedesco
59:30 Billy tips Panthers v Roosters
01:01:27 Penrith’s production line
01:03:26 Billy and Salty tip every final

Billy Slater and Peter Psaltis preview every game from the opening week of the 2026 NRL finals.
Billy explains why Penrith remain the competition&rsquo;s hardest team to beat, why the Roosters cannot be written off, how the Dolphins could silence Auckland and which players could decide the elimination final between the Sharks and Cowboys.
The pair also reflect on Jai Arrow&rsquo;s inspiring courage, Melbourne&rsquo;s response to a difficult season and Darius Boyd&rsquo;s appointment as Queensland coach before revealing their tips for all four finals.
00:00 Finals have arrived 00:50 Penrith claim the minor premiership 02:27 How to beat the Panthers 04:05 Penrith&rsquo;s extraordinary depth 05:32 Liam Martin sets the standard 06:48 Jai Arrow&rsquo;s inspiring courage 12:40 Are South Sydney vulnerable? 13:52 Latrell Mitchell sends a finals warning 16:16 Can Rround 27 form be trusted? 19:32 Sharks enter the finals without momentum 22:29 Melbourne&rsquo;s season of adversity 25:09 Sua Fa&rsquo;alogo&rsquo;s breakout season 26:44 Why young players need time 28:59 Will Tyrell Sloan return to the NRL? 30:59 Canberra&rsquo;s exciting young talent 32:19 Cowboys searching for form 34:03 Darius Boyd becomes Queensland coach 38:32 Rabbitohs v Knights preview 41:53 Warriors v Dolphins preview 48:10 Sharks v Cowboys preview 52:42 Panthers v Roosters preview 54:34 Why Victor Radley is crucial 57:14 Dylan Edwards v James Tedesco 59:30 Billy tips Panthers v Roosters 01:01:27 Penrith&rsquo;s production line 01:03:26 Billy and Salty tip every final

Billy Slater’s Finals Verdict: Who Survives Week One?

With one round remaining before the NRL Finals, Billy Slater and Peter Psaltis examine the huge decision facing every top-eight coach: rest the stars or build momentum?

Billy explains why the call could make or break a premiership campaign and assesses the Panthers, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Warriors and Sharks heading into September.

Billy also reflects on the emotional scenes surrounding Jai Arrow and Sam Walker’s devastating injury, Jet Cleary’s impressive debut and the controversial Tigers obstruction decision.

Plus, could the NRL eventually adopt the AFL’s wildcard format, and did the experimental kick-off rule offer enough to survive?

00:00 One round until the NRL Finals
00:30 The massive decision facing top-eight coaches
04:24 There is nowhere to hide in September
06:16 The emotional tribute to Jai Arrow
10:38 Latrell Mitchell returns for South Sydney
14:40 The battle for a home elimination final
16:46 Should the NRL introduce wildcard finals?
18:47 Sam Walker’s devastating injury
21:38 How the Roosters can replace Sam Walker
23:59 The impossible decisions facing coaches
25:22 Jacob Saifiti’s send-off
27:18 Jett Cleary impresses on debut
28:32 How the Warriors overcame adversity
30:01 Mitch Barnett’s outstanding season
32:18 The Sunday afternoon upset curse
35:22 The controversial Tigers no-try
37:18 Can the Cowboys find their best football?
39:37 Verdict on the experimental kick-off rule
43:25 Melbourne’s exciting young winger
45:26 Sharks face a dangerous Storm side
46:42 The biggest games of Round 27
47:37 Finals preview

With one round remaining before the NRL Finals, Billy Slater and Peter Psaltis examine the huge decision facing every top-eight coach: rest the stars or build momentum?
Billy explains why the call could make or break a premiership campaign and assesses the Panthers, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Warriors and Sharks heading into September.
Billy also reflects on the emotional scenes surrounding Jai Arrow and Sam Walker&rsquo;s devastating injury, Jet Cleary&rsquo;s impressive debut and the controversial Tigers obstruction decision.
Plus, could the NRL eventually adopt the AFL&rsquo;s wildcard format, and did the experimental kick-off rule offer enough to survive?
00:00 One round until the NRL Finals 00:30 The massive decision facing top-eight coaches 04:24 There is nowhere to hide in September 06:16 The emotional tribute to Jai Arrow 10:38 Latrell Mitchell returns for South Sydney 14:40 The battle for a home elimination final 16:46 Should the NRL introduce wildcard finals? 18:47 Sam Walker&rsquo;s devastating injury 21:38 How the Roosters can replace Sam Walker 23:59 The impossible decisions facing coaches 25:22 Jacob Saifiti&rsquo;s send-off 27:18 Jett Cleary impresses on debut 28:32 How the Warriors overcame adversity 30:01 Mitch Barnett&rsquo;s outstanding season 32:18 The Sunday afternoon upset curse 35:22 The controversial Tigers no-try 37:18 Can the Cowboys find their best football? 39:37 Verdict on the experimental kick-off rule 43:25 Melbourne&rsquo;s exciting young winger 45:26 Sharks face a dangerous Storm side 46:42 The biggest games of Round 27 47:37 Finals preview

Knights’ Grit vs. Superstar Hit: 2-0 Despite the Chaos

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