Your Sports Week & Weekend Preview: Blues Win Great Escape in State of Origin, Neale Daniher's Legacy & NRL CEO Exits

We break down Game 1 of 2026 State of Origin. QLD Maroons rushed out to a 20-0 lead before halftime. Before the NSW Blues mounted a come back after Kalyn Ponga got sent off with 23 minutes to go. Qld lead by 20-6 at this point, but NSW won the game 22-20 in the final minute through a James Tedesco special try off the back of a Nathan Cleary clutch kick.A week of significant news across Australian sport. Neale Daniher — one of the great figures of Australian rules football — passed away on Monday 25th May at the age of 65. The Essendon legend played 82 games, coached the club for more than 220 games and spent over a decade fighting MND with extraordinary courage and grace. His charity Fight MND raised over $141 million. A giant of the game — remembered forever.Essendon have also parted ways with coach Brad Scott after just one win from their last 24 games, with Dean Solomon stepping in as interim head coach. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has announced his resignation after more than six years in the role — staying until at least July 15th as the NRL's broadcast deal negotiations continue. The New York Knicks are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 after ending a 27-year drought. And the NSW Swifts have opened recruitment for their 2027 head coaching position.This weekend Daniel previews the NRLW State of Origin Game 3 as NSW aim for a historic clean sweep, the AFL top of the table clash between Fremantle and Brisbane, Super Netball's biggest game of the season as the Thunderbirds and Vixens meet at the top of the ladder, and the NRL's number one vs number two clash between the Panthers and Warriors — with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's career ending through ACL injury adding heartbreak to the occasion.Episode 8 of The Sports Playbook Thursday Preview. New episodes every Monday and Thursday.Follow The Sports Playbook on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.