Ep. 13 Why Does Origin Feel So Flat This Year?

State of Origin is almost here… so why does rugby league suddenly feel flat?In the debut episode of Down the Sideline, David Boldeman and Adrian Manca break down the strangely quiet build-up to the 2026 State of Origin series, the impact of split rounds on the NRL season, and whether the game has lost some of its momentum during its biggest moments.The boys preview Game I of Origin, debate Nathan Cleary’s pressure heading into the series, discuss the changing rivalry between New South Wales and Queensland, and ask whether the “mate vs mate” hatred that once defined Origin still exists.Also in this episode:Andrew Abdo’s shock move to Tennis AustraliaWhat happens next for the NRL CEO role?Vegas teams announced for 2027Is the Vegas concept actually helping the game?Ricky Stuart vs the refereesDolphins resurgence and finals chancesSouth Sydney’s struggles without Latrell MitchellWarriors vs Panthers discussionUpset AlertFull NRL Round TipsDown the Sideline looks at rugby league through the lens of media, money, momentum and what the biggest stories actually mean for the game.Live every Monday @ 8:30PM AEST on YouTube.Audio episodes available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.