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Down the Sideline | Rugby League Podcast

Down the Sideline | Rugby League Podcast

ROOSTERS ARE PREMIERS! GRAND FINAL DRAMA, PONGA CONTROVERSY & TEDESCO’S LEGACY

Oct 5, 2026 · 44 min · 13 segments

The 2026 NRL season is over, with the Sydney Roosters crowned premiers after a dramatic Grand Final win over the Newcastle Knights. On the season finale of Down the Sideline, we unpack the Grand…

The 2026 NRL season is over, with the Sydney Roosters crowned premiers after a dramatic Grand Final win over the Newcastle Knights. On the season finale of Down the Sideline, we unpack the Grand Final from every angle. Did Newcastle let the premiership slip away? How did the Roosters turn the match around? And where does this decider rank among the great Grand Finals? We debate whether Kalyn Ponga should have been sin-binned, whether the Grand Final was refereed differently to the regular season, and who really deserved the Clive Churchill Medal. There’s also the big legacy discussion: where does James Tedesco now rank among the greatest fullbacks of all time, and what does a premiership-winning farewell mean for Daly Cherry-Evans? Plus, Tim reacts to the wall-to-wall Knights coverage, we compare the NRL and AFL Grand Final entertainment, and finish with our way-too-early predictions for the 2027 season. * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2026 NRL season is over, with the Sydney Roosters crowned premiers after a dramatic Grand Final win over the Newcastle Knights. On the season finale of Down the Sideline, we unpack the Grand…

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Show signals: Audience≈11 followers

Speakers: Adrian MancaHostDavid BoldemanHostTim MicallefHost

Top entities: Kalyn Ponga×16 James Tedesco×17 Sydney Roosters×53 Billy Slater×6 Clive Churchill Medal×7

Roosters Win a Thriller2:35 – 6:32

David BoldemanHost

2:35

But yeah, uh, 19 points to 18.

David BoldemanHost

2:38

Tim, your reaction.

David BoldemanHost

2:39

I guess let's let you go first.

David BoldemanHost

2:40

You are the winner.

David BoldemanHost

2:42

How do you feel the grand final went? How'd you see it?

Tim MicallefHost

2:47

Oh, it's so good to win.

Tim MicallefHost

2:50

Like, let's face it-

David BoldemanHost

2:51

Oh, oh.

David BoldemanHost

2:51

[laughs]

Tim MicallefHost

2:52

It's so good to win.

Tim MicallefHost

2:54

Um, it was a tough game and, you know, I've, I've watched it four times today.

David BoldemanHost

3:01

Four times.

David BoldemanHost

3:03

[laughs]

Tim MicallefHost

3:04

Yeah.

Tim MicallefHost

3:04

Newcastle's defense was unbelievable.

Tim MicallefHost

3:08

Uh, but we just, we stuck to our strategy, which was strangle them.

Tim MicallefHost

3:15

Um, and I think Newcastle, the ambush was on when they're up 12-nil, and what Newcastle didn't do was m- get out of playing the Roosters style of football.

Tim MicallefHost

3:28

And, um, yeah, we got 'em.

Tim MicallefHost

3:31

[laughs] We got 'em.

David BoldemanHost

3:33

Oh, yeah, you're just about lost for words, aren't you?

Tim MicallefHost

3:36

Oh, I'm lost for words.

Tim MicallefHost

3:37

Yeah.

Tim MicallefHost

3:37

[laughs] I'm still pissed.

Tim MicallefHost

3:39

[laughs]

David BoldemanHost

3:41

Well, Tim and Adrian actually-

Kalyn PongaPersonAustralian rugby league player
99%16 mentions
James TedescoPersonAustralian rugby league player
98%17 mentions
Sydney RoostersSports TeamRugby league team
96%53 mentions
Billy SlaterPersonAustralian rugby league player
94%6 mentions
Clive Churchill MedalEntityAward
93%7 mentions
Sam WalkerPersonRugby league player
91%5 mentions
Wests TigersSports TeamRugby league team
89%9 mentions
Daly Cherry-EvansPersonAustralian rugby league player
88%11 mentions
St. George Illawarra DragonsSports TeamRugby league team
86%2 mentions
Brisbane BroncosSports TeamRugby league team
84%4 mentions
Grand finalEntity
83%6 mentions
Ivan ClearyPersonAustralian coach
81%3 mentions
Fletcher SharpePersonAustralian rugby league player
79%8 mentions
Motor neuron diseaseEntityDisorder
78%3 mentions
AFL Grand FinalTourist AttractionSports league championship
76%2 mentions
National Rugby LeagueSports OrganizationLeague
74%5 mentions
Lindsay CollinsPersonAustralian rugby league player
73%4 mentions
Performance indicatorEntity
71%1 mention
Manly Warringah Sea EaglesSports TeamRugby league team
69%5 mentions
Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSports TeamRugby league team
68%10 mentions
Jai ArrowPersonAustralian rugby league player
66%6 mentions
Jett ClearyPersonRugby league player
64%2 mentions
Michael MaguirePersonAustralian rugby league player
63%1 mention
Gold Coast TitansSports TeamRugby league team
61%2 mentions
Benji MarshallPersonNew Zealand coach
59%2 mentions
Australian Football LeagueSports OrganizationLeague
57%1 mention
Trent RobinsonPersonAustralian coach
56%2 mentions
Andrew FifitaPersonRugby league player
54%2 mentions
Spencer LeniuPersonRugby league player
53%4 mentions
AcastCompanyAdvertising agency company
51%2 mentions
Todd PaytenPersonAustralian rugby league coach
49%2 mentions
Sean RudderPersonAustralian footballer
48%3 mentions
Naufahu WhytePersonNew Zealand rugby league player
46%1 mention
Penrith PanthersSports TeamRugby league team
44%7 mentions
Cameron MunsterPersonAustralian rugby league player
43%4 mentions
QueenslandAdministrative AreaAustralian State
41%3 mentions
Melbourne StormSports TeamRugby league team
39%3 mentions
Daniel TupouPersonRugby league player
38%2 mentions
Clive ChurchillPersonAustralian coach
36%1 mention
Graeme LanglandsPersonAustralian footballer and rugby league player
34%1 mention
Bradman BestPersonAustralian rugby league player
33%2 mentions
Adam GeePersonReferee
31%1 mention
Dom YoungPersonRugby league player
29%1 mention
Super LeagueSports OrganizationLeague
28%1 mention
Jack WightonPersonAustralian rugby league player
26%1 mention
Thomas JenkinsPersonAustralian rugby league player
24%1 mention
Aaron WoodsPersonAustralian rugby league player
23%1 mention
NFLSports OrganizationLeague
21%1 mention
Braydon TrindallPersonAustralian rugby league player
19%1 mention
Boyd CordnerPersonAustralian rugby league player
18%2 mentions

Rugby League TacticsSports > Rugby League
Roosters victory over Newcastle KnightsSports > Rugby League > National Rugby League > NRL Grand Final
Sports OfficiatingSports > Rugby League
Sports MediaMedia
Grand Final defensive and attacking strategySports > Rugby League > Rugby League Tactics
NRL match officiatingSports > Rugby League > Sports Officiating
Player Performance and AwardsSports > Rugby League
Clive Churchill MedalSports > Rugby League > Player Performance and Awards
NRL Media CoverageMedia > Sports Media
Grand Final broadcasting and entertainmentMedia > Sports Media > NRL Media Coverage
National Rugby LeagueSports > Rugby League
NRL Grand FinalSports > Rugby League > National Rugby League
Rugby LeagueSports
Sports
Media

Roosters Win a Thriller2:35 – 6:32

David BoldemanHost

2:35

But yeah, uh, 19 points to 18.

David BoldemanHost

2:38

Tim, your reaction.

David BoldemanHost

2:39

I guess let's let you go first.

David BoldemanHost

2:40

You are the winner.

David BoldemanHost

2:42

How do you feel the grand final went? How'd you see it?

Tim MicallefHost

2:47

Oh, it's so good to win.

Tim MicallefHost

2:50

Like, let's face it-

David BoldemanHost

2:51

Oh, oh.

David BoldemanHost

2:51

[laughs]

Tim MicallefHost

2:52

It's so good to win.

Tim MicallefHost

2:54

Um, it was a tough game and, you know, I've, I've watched it four times today.

David BoldemanHost

3:01

Four times.

David BoldemanHost

3:03

[laughs]

Tim MicallefHost

3:04

Yeah.

Tim MicallefHost

3:04

Newcastle's defense was unbelievable.

Tim MicallefHost

3:08

Uh, but we just, we stuck to our strategy, which was strangle them.

Tim MicallefHost

3:15

Um, and I think Newcastle, the ambush was on when they're up 12-nil, and what Newcastle didn't do was m- get out of playing the Roosters style of football.

Tim MicallefHost

3:28

And, um, yeah, we got 'em.

Tim MicallefHost

3:31

[laughs] We got 'em.

David BoldemanHost

3:33

Oh, yeah, you're just about lost for words, aren't you?

Tim MicallefHost

3:36

Oh, I'm lost for words.

Tim MicallefHost

3:37

Yeah.

Tim MicallefHost

3:37

[laughs] I'm still pissed.

Tim MicallefHost

3:39

[laughs]

David BoldemanHost

3:41

Well, Tim and Adrian actually-

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