Six Tackles With Gus

Paul Gallen steps in for Gus as Mat Thompson previews a huge preliminary final weekend.  Can the Dolphins overcome the Roosters, and can Newcastle’s fairytale continue against Penrith? Gal gives his tips, assesses the Sharks’ season and explains why he’s returning to the boxing ring. Plus, a classic Ricky Stuart story and a quiz testing Gal’s knowledge of his own career. 00:00 Six Tackles with Gal: Gallen replaces injured Gus02:27 Why Gal is returning to boxing04:03 Boxing heroes and Mike Tyson stories06:03 Marathons, charity walks and a pie-eating contest07:29 Graduation celebrations08:44 Grand final entertainment and Nolsey’s Origin encounter10:48 Yes or No11:57 Can the Dolphins handle preliminary final pressure?12:53 Nathan Cleary’s fitness15:08 Why the Roosters are hitting their straps17:47 Who deserves Coach of the Year?20:46 Latrell Mitchell and the Perth Bears speculation24:48 What’s missing at the Sharks?28:48 Ask Gal: preparing for a preliminary final32:17 Ricky Stuart’s brutal training challenge36:09 How well does Gal know his own career?40:02 NRLW preliminary final predictions41:21 Dolphins v Roosters43:41 Panthers v Knights45:35 Gal’s boxing comeback and approach to trash talk47:46 Farewell  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With four preliminary final spots on the line, Gus and Mat Thompson preview Roosters v Sharks and Warriors v Knights. Can the Roosters bounce back from their bruising clash with Penrith, and will Kalyn Ponga inspire Newcastle to an upset in Auckland? Gus reveals the two key inclusions that could swing his Warriors tip, assesses the Dolphins’ premiership chances and discusses Nathan Cleary’s fitness. Plus, a look inside Canterbury’s end-of-season review and another chapter in the infamous skunk story. 00:00 Welcome: finals week two01:22 Wests Tigers’ NRLW turnaround02:51 Ranking the opening weekend of finals04:40 Gus: let the game breathe13:25 Can the Dolphins win the premiership?14:34 Herbie Farnworth and the Hammer’s strike power18:42 Will finals fatigue hurt the Roosters?20:02 Nathan Cleary’s injury concerns22:24 The science behind the skunk story23:39 Yes or No: Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter’s legacy25:45 Kalyn Ponga’s brilliance and leadership33:29 Are finals tickets too expensive?39:03 Ask Gus: which teams will regret their season?42:22 Inside the Bulldogs’ end-of-season review52:10 Gus shares his data and graphs56:13 Six Tackles Trivia58:45 NRLW finals and NRL preview59:36 Roosters v Sharks1:03:22 Warriors v Knights1:10:07 Potential preliminary final matchups1:10:23 Weekend coverage and farewellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 arrived01:19 Mad Monday then and now03:47 The Bulldogs’ legendary overseas trips06:06 Gus’s life lesson - don’t wrestle with a skunk10:40 Rugby league rallies around Jai Arrow13:19 Darrell Brohman joins the show14:10 Darrell tells the full skunk story18:02 Memories from the Bulldogs’ trip20:30 One final warning about skunks21:14 Yes or No - Canberra’s exciting future24:49 Should finals be played at suburban grounds?31:03 Isaah Yeo’s remarkable recovery33:38 Assessing the NRL finals contenders34:14 Penrith Panthers - strength, weakness and X-factor42:34 New Zealand Warriors - strength, weakness and X-factor48:03 Dolphins - strength, weakness and X-factor56:04 Sydney Roosters - strength, weakness and X-factor01:01:34 Can a bottom-four team win the premiership?01:02:02 Six Tackles Trivia01:05:59 NRLW Round 1101:06:34 Rabbitohs v Knights01:09:13 Warriors v Dolphins01:11:31 Sharks v Cowboys01:16:28 Panthers v Roosters01:18:04 Gus predicts the finals01:19:16 The infamous “Sic ’em, Rex” commercial01:20:45 Gus’s final life lessonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 race01:06 Bulldogs finish the season with promise03:06 Lachlan Galvin’s remarkable season03:26 Why young halfbacks need development time07:19 Galvin’s extraordinary leap into the NRL09:45 When halfbacks reach their prime10:48 Adam Reynolds’ Brisbane legacy13:11 Payne Haas prepares to leave Brisbane17:05 Josh Papalii’s Canberra legacy19:28 Jarome Luai’s complicated Tigers legacy22:25 PNG and the changing player market25:06 Can the Tigers replace Luai?27:39 Six Tackles team of the year41:46 Revisiting Gus’ preseason predictions44:24 Can Cronulla recover before the finals?48:48 The danger of resting players51:03 Six Tackles trivia53:01 NRLW news and Round 27 preview54:27 Titans v Dolphins57:21 Rabbitohs v Roosters and Jai Arrow’s milestone01:00:58 Warriors v Sea Eagles01:02:51 Cowboys v Raiders01:03:31 Sharks v Storm01:05:04 Dragons v Eels01:06:31 Panthers v Tigers01:08:24 The selection debate turns to golf01:09:04 Gus’ Bob Fulton golf-cart storySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 journey03:02 Jai Arrow’s emotional South Sydney milestone06:11 Freddy assesses the experimental kickoff rule09:30 Should Adam Reynolds receive a farewell game?10:38 Adam Reynolds’ remarkable career12:50 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 advantage20:37 Freddy ranks the premiership contenders24:31 Mat and Freddy select their team of the year25:45 Kalyn Ponga versus James Tedesco26:00 The NRL’s most underrated winger28:30 The best forwards of the season30:24 Freddy challenges Mat’s back-row selections31:58 Why Wade Egan deserves recognition33:20 Listener tactics and field goals every set36:02 Memories of Penrith’s 1991 premiership39:09 Six Tackles trivia40:07 Round 26 and NRLW preview40:57 Broncos v Storm42:04 Sea Eagles v Dragons42:51 Panthers v Bulldogs45:11 Titans v Rabbitohs46:06 Roosters v Dolphins47:27 Cowboys v Wests Tigers48:34 Warriors v Knights48:52 Eels v Sharks49:31 Final thoughtsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.