Episode 119: Welcome to the 2026 Finals

It kind of feels that way, and we have talked about that.

And, yeah, just the fact that there were so many years of pain.

You know, I started covering the team around 2010, especially 2011, and you thought, well, you've gone to the grand final, all three grades, made the last day of that season, so you go, here we go.

And then there was a horrible fallow period for years and years.

There was 2018 where they made the playoffs, and again, another fallow period for another five years, including COVID.

So...

There was a long time, so many players that didn't get near playing finals.

But in terms of opportunity, I think you're right.

This game is so exciting and so scary at the same time because I can't remember an opportunity like this, like the magnitude of what's at stake on Saturday.

If I just take you back to 2018, okay, they made the playoffs, but they were away in Sydney to Penrith, and you kind of knew they weren't going to do it, and they'd finished eight, so it was a long road anyway.

23, of course, they lost to Penrith first week, had a good win against Newcastle the week after, and then they had to go to Brisbane.

I was in Brisbane, and we're all hopeful, but we kind of knew the Broncos were going to be too good, and then last year, of course, the Panthers come to Mount Smart, and it's the Panthers, and the Warriors have been on a bad run during the season, but The thing about this one, mate, is the scales, is the seesaw.

You win this, you're in a prelim final at home in two weeks.

You lose it, your path becomes probably the Rabbitohs next week.

And if you win that, who do you play in the prelim? You play Penrith.

So, you know, it couldn't be more different.

If you win, you've got a prelim against who? Let's say the Roosters or maybe the Sharks.

in Auckland.

If you don't, you've got to take the high road.

So I think that just adds so much more to Saturday as well.

I totally agree.

Yeah, it's massive.

And if there was a prelim in Auckland, arguably, probably recency bias, but would be the biggest occasion for the sport in New Zealand, I would have thought, in rugby league history.

Like, I just can't, like, It's highly likely it'll be at Eden Park, almost certainly would be at Eden Park.

Best part of 50,000 people there.