League Of Our Own

The rugby league season has come to an end, and therefore, League Of Our Own wraps with a better-late-than-never Season Finale!The Kiwis absolutely destroyed Samoa in the second half of the Pacific Championships Final and it’s got Blairy & Goran excited for the Rugby League World Cup next year.  However, there are a few positions where depth is questionable, especially since Kieran Foran is no longer a halves option…  outside of Jahrome Hughes and our Golden Boot-in-waiting Dylan Brown, are we satisfied with the back-ups?  And where does Kodi Nikorima sit in all of this?Seeing as it’s the last episode it’d be rude not to make some kind of outlandish statement!  So here goes:  Wayde Egan will represent the KIWIS in 2026!  If he qualifies through residency, would he forgo a NSW jersey for the chance to play a World Cup for New Zealand?  He’d look very impressive behind that fabulous forward pack of ours!In other selection news, Maori All Stars head coach Blairy has put in a super-early request to Ricky Stuart for 4 Canberra Raiders players to be released - you might remember Sticky got a bit annoyed with Adam earlier in the year!  Great news to see that the All Stars clash is coming back to NZ for only the second time, but what is it gonna take to get the match to the far north?  It would be truly special for the likes of James Fisher-Harris, and Adam too.We look at the Warriors NRL draw, with a tough first 6 rounds, a long run-in to Finals of 9 straight matches, and a middle period of the campaign where they only play at Mt Smart Stadium once in 3 months!?  We make some predictions for the rugby league year ahead, put out a plea for more sponsors (as always!) and say a massive thank you to YOU for watching!  We appreciate every single one of you that has taken the time to watch, listen, engage with our social posts - it means everything to us.  Let’s do it all again from February next year!00:00  A toast to success! 02:49  The Pacific Champs WIN! What about that 2nd half v Samoa?!06:47  Depth chart: What positions are our SUPER STRONG Kiwis lacking in?10:02  WAYDE EGAN FOR THE KIWIS!15:27  Maori All Stars to WAIKATO NZ in February17:51  Why not Whangarei? For Blairy and Fish!19:33  Updating our LOOO Wish List - All Stars to Far North20:01  Hey Ricky Stuart, we want your Raiders please!22:55  Warriors Draw for 2026 - One home game for 3 months?!26:41  Warriors Draw for 2026 - The first 6 rounds29:32  Warriors Draw for 2026 - The LONG run-in to Finals31:57  Dylan Brown!  HOW GOOD?33:51  SPONSOR US in 2026!  Please??35:46  Rugby League WISHES for next year39:58  THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!  See you in February ‘26

Three big topics this week:  Kiwis vs Samoa PREVIEW.  Kiwis vs Tonga REVIEW.  And how did everything conspire so badly against former NZ Warrior ELIESA KATOA at Eden Park?Blairy had front row seats as Eli was taken away on a medicab, and the Kiwis assistant coach was shocked that the game had let down the star Tongan backrower to that extent.  The boys talk about how the Tongan officials and the Sky Sport crew could’ve worked together to minimize the damage that day.To the game itself, and the Kiwis produced a fine performance in booking their spot in Sunday’s final.  Blairy & Goran review the game, and single out a few individuals for praise such as Keano Kini and Naufahu Whyte.And finally, who will be the difference makers for their sides in the Pacific Championships final?  Blairy’s answers may surprise!  And we’ve got our last Betcha This Happens for 2025.  Enjoy!00:00  No rubbish bins this week!01:38  Blairy’s view on Eliesa Katoa’s troubles06:22  The players, the Tongan officials, the Sky Sport production11:31  Wow wee, Kiwi!  Tonga gets annihilated14:01  The thoroughly impressive KEANO KINI16:32  It’ll be all WHYTE on the night - Naufahu the destroyer19:22  Demetric Vaimauga shout out!20:39  KIWIS vs SAMOA! World Cup Final Preview?!24:11  Key Players!  Who are they?28:20  Betcha This Happens Kiwis v Samoa!30:09  Goodbye, good luck, and one episode to go?

Fun and games this week as Blairy & Goran scrape egg off their faces following last week’s Luke Metcalf prediction, and Adam leaves an important piece of his technical set-up back in Newcastle! But in all seriousness, it’s wonderful news that Metcalf has signed an extension to 2028 with the NZ Warriors, and the boys wonder if it can not only get the Wahs a Premiership, but help the pathways to produce the next big Kiwis playmaker - if you’ve got Stacey Jones, Shaun Johnson and Luke Metcalf involved at the Warriors,, imagine being a young playmaker coming through, learning from those 3?  Could be huge for the future of NZ league.It’s being reported that Eden Park will host Game Two of State of Origin in 2027.  How good?!  And also…  why not?  With NSW and QLD being made up of Samoan and Tongan internationals, and Auckland being the largest Polynesian city in the world, it makes sense, right?Sticking with Eden Park, that’s where the Kiwis face Tonga this weekend.  Blairy & Goran talk through the handful of changes, the kiwi approach, and why Big Nasty has lost his spot.  And still no Keano Kini?! 00:00  Blairy’s Rubbish Bin! SPONSORS PLEASE03:22  The Luke Metcalf prediction FAIL!09:09  No Wahs collab stitches up the Pod10:40  Injury-free, 100 gamer to influence pathways?12:55  Luke, Stacey, Shaun to develop next big Kiwis half?15:30  Origin to NZ!!21:32  Kiwis v Tonga this weekend25:46  Changes to the side29:08  Where’s Big Nasty?30:26  What’s the secret to beating Tonga!34:33  CNK vs KEANO KINI38:02  Betcha This Happens Kiwis v Tonga39:37  Goodbye and SPONSORS PLEASE!

Not the best news for NZ Warriors fans:  Luke Metcalf is about to test his value on the open market.  And for those in the know, the halfback’s value could be as great as ONE MILLION DOLLARS per season.  Can the Wahs produce a paycheck like that, or does the Aussie return home…  to the Dragons, the Perth Bears, or somewhere else?  Blairy & Goran talk through the factors a player in Metcalf’s position would weigh up, and then deliver their verdict:  Will he stay or go?And then of course there’s the Pacific Championships, where the Kiwis snuck past Samoa in a brutal encounter at Mt Smart.  Casey McLean was enormous, and Joe Tapine was even bigger, but it wasn’t the perfect performance from New Zealand and assistant coach Blair tells us why.And we look forward to Suncorp Stadium this weekend to see how the Samoans regroup ahead of another colossal clash against Tonga!00:00  Congrats on the win!01:40  Luke Metcalf is leaving?!04:46  Aussies will always leave Wahs for family 08:53  Injury prone so SHOW ME THE MONEY!11:42  If not Metcalf, who’s the Warriors 7?13:34  That’s why they re-signed TMM!15:11  Warriors Spine has the NEED for SPEED18:44  Kiwis SCRAPE PAST Samoa!21:50  Casey McLean the Mean Machine25:02  Joe Tapine is the MAN27:37  Kiwi work-ons?32:25  JMK injured…  Big Nasty at 9!35:29  Samoa v Tonga Preview!38:29  Betcha This Happens at Suncorp

League Of Our Own with Blairy & Goran is all about three big things:  NZ v Samoa in the Pacific Championships, Bunty Afoa signing for the Wests Tigers, and Alofiana Khan-Pereira joining the NZ Warriors on a 3-year deal.Let’s start with the former Gold Coast Titans flyer…  Blairy mentioned a few weeks ago that the Wahs needed a strike centre or a winger with speed, and they’ve secured the latter.  But what does it mean for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak?  Or, dare we say it, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck?We thought Bunty Afoa might be lost to the NRL after parting company with the Warriors, but Benji Marshall has offered Back Fence Bunty a one year deal - what can Marshall get out of Afoa, and is this a chance for the fan favourite to add a few more strings to his bow?And of course, the Kiwis welcome Toa Samoa to Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday at 6:05pm, and as Blairy is an assistant coach of the New Zealanders he tells you about the key selections, the pressure facing the men in black, and the best match ups in what will be an incredible spectacle to kick off the Pacific Championships!00:00  Blairy’s PRIDE! Back home for KIWIS!02:38  BIG NASTY: I’m playing fullback anyways!!06:15  Wahs sign WINGER WITH SPEED - Alofiana Khan-Pereira09:53  Does DWZ… or RTS make way?15:17  Attack vs Defence - tries galore, but defensively poor?18:33  Mt Smart is home to the Triple Banger League Name19:49  BUNTY AFOA to the Tigers!22:36  Can Benji Marshall improve Bunty’s skillset?25:14  KIWIS vs SAMOA this Sunday!29:17  Pressure?  What pressure!32:02  PAYNE HAAS and the battle of the middle35:37  Betcha This Happens for Kiwis vs Samoa!

After a NIGHTMARE last week when it comes to technology, time difference and sleep deprivation, the boys finally return with a look at the upcoming Pacific Championships!But before Blairy & Goran delve into that, a hypothetical:  What if Reece Walsh never left?We just witnessed ‘The Plumber’ deliver a Clive Churchill Medal-winning performance as the Broncos beat the Storm for the 2025 Premiership, but if he didn’t leave the NZ Warriors after the 2022 season, would the Wahs have had ‘their year’ by now?  Food for thought!Onto the Pacific Championships where Blairy is an assistant coach of the Kiwis, and the NZ boys look strong!  No Jahrome Hughes, but a fairytale ending for Kieran Foran.  Blairy & Goran talk about how impactful Kieran’s speech was after claiming the Ken Stephen Medal at the Dally M’s last week…  Seriously inspiring.We talk about the opportunity that lies ahead of Nelson Asofa-Solomona - wiped out of the NRL GF through suspension - how does he get things back on track to be an asset, not a liability for the country?  He only played 12 matches for the Storm this season.If there was a tug of war for the services of Leka Halasima between NZ and Tonga, you could say that the latter was victorious.  But Goran asks Blairy how hard did the Kiwis lean on Halasima to kit him out in black?Looking at the strength of the 3 squads, Blairy wonders whether it’s time to lobby the powers that be to give the fans the FOUR NATIONS…  NZ, Tonga, Samoa and Australia.  Who’s keen?00:00  Intro + We explain last week’s absence!02:58  Blairy’s Broncos beat Blairy’s Storm + Ben Hunt REDEMPTION05:12  What if…  Reece Walsh STAYED a WARRIOR?09: 21 The PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS are here!  Coach Blair on his Kiwi squad13:32  Kieran Foran’s last ride + his inspiring Dally M Awards speech18:07  Getting the best out of Nelson Asofa-Solomona24:43  Tonga, not NZ, for Leka Halasima27:40  Kiwi backrowers pretty strong though eh!29:21  Blairy on the sensational depth of Tongan rugby league33:09  Is anyone looking for DWZ?36:12  We need THE FOUR NATIONS of Rugby League!39:35  Adding to the wishlist + GOODBYE!

We are down to the final four in the NRL for 2025 and we have Kiwi representation across the board.  Blairy & Goran discuss the Storm’s selection of Jahrome Hughes - back from a forearm fracture - and how he can weaponize former Warriors backrower Eliesa Katoa when Melbourne meets the Sharks.Blairy recognizes that the career of Isaiah Papali’i has serious similarities to his own; they both went to the Tigers from clubs that were performing well, only to find that positive results didn’t follow them.  A move to the Broncos saw Adam reach a grand final - now the Iceman is 80 minutes away from doing exactly that with the Penrith Panthers!  A tale of redemption for the former Wahs man!On the subject of the Broncos, we shine a light on former Kiwis coach Michael Maguire, who was subjected to a barrage of criticism mid-season yet here he is on the verge of another GF.  Blairy talks about what makes Maguire such a good coach and motivator, but also has a word of warning when it comes to his approach to training long-term.And when it comes to the Warriors?  There’s a reserve grade final this weekend against the Dragons, we reach into the mailbag to discuss last week’s ‘Final Ingredient’ for 2026, and Blairy has an idea for Luke Metcalf’s halves partner:  GET JONAH PEZET!00:00  INTRO00:51  Straight sets defeat for Joe Tapine’s Raiders!04:25  Blairy’s Ricky Stuart apology + request for Maori All Stars06:07  Do Storm need to risk Jahrome Hughes?09:45  Unleashing Eliesa Katoa + the benefit of the week off12:01  Spotlight on ISAIAH PAPALI’I14:10  Blairy & Iceman are one and the same19:39  Michael Maguire tames the Broncos26:17  Riki and Staggs mismatch vs Casey McLean?28:55  Wahs Reserves Grand Final bound!!33:01  Erin Clark in the Players’ Dream Team!36:03  Does Erin start at 13 for Kiwis?37:09  MAILBAG! Is there a fullback in the post?39:21  Blairy’s plan to get Jonah Pezet to the Warriors46:08  Betcha This Happens - NRL Finals Week 3

Turns out 2025 wasn’t “Our Year” after all.  Following defeat to Penrith, the 2025 season comes to an end for the NZ Warriors in Week 1 of the NRL Finals.  Let the review begin!  Best place to start?  Looking at Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s 4th Simon Mannering Medal win, edging out ‘buy of the season’ Erin Clark.  What was it that gave RTS the edge, and what more could Clark have done?The campaign is easily broken down into two parts:  The first 15 rounds, where the team was flying high with Luke Metcalf guiding the ship, and then what came next in trying to find his replacement as the wheels began to come off… How do we score the Warriors’ year?We theorize as to what Andrew Webster meant when he said the team still needs a ‘final ingredient’ to challenge for an NRL Premiership - is it luck, further player development, a big name signing?  And if they get the cheque book out, what position are they filling?But most importantly…  WAS IT A FORWARD PASS?!00:00  INTRO00:55  Was it a forward pass?04:14  RTS wins 4th Simon Mannering Medal!08:39  Leka Halasima wins Rookie of the Year11:04  SEASON REVIEW - Great start, tough finish17:47  One last TMM rant.  Sorry.22:36  LUKE METCALF - a blessing and a curse27:50  What will 2026 bring for Taine Tuaupiki?31:27  Creating the Wahs’ version of Isaiah Iongi34:00  The FINAL INGREDIENT for NRL PREMIERSHIP success37:30  Goodbye Dallin…  or RTS?!40:06  Betcha This Happens - NRL Finals Week 244:42  Goodbye + Lets Gone Warriors 2026!

It’s NRL Finals time and the Warriors meet the Penrith Panthers at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on Saturday!  As daunting as Ivan Cleary’s side appears - 5-straight Grand Final appearances, 4-straight NRL Premierships - Coach Blair lays out the blueprint for a Wahs victory.  Yes, it IS possible.Blairy & Goran also believe that the team Andrew Webster named on Tuesday will look a lot different at first whistle - the changes that need to be made are revealed!We talk about the influence of Penrith’s ‘second halfback’ Isaah Yeo, what Nathan’s brother Jett Cleary can do to help the Warriors, and ask if the real James Fisher-Harris would please stand up against his former side.As always we’ve got Betcha This Happens and a 4-leg multi…  where we push the boat out big time and splash the cash!  Comparatively.  All this and more on League Of Our Own.00:00  Blairy’s fastest NRL try beaten by JFH!03:44  How the Warriors can take down the Panthers!08:06  League Of Our Own’s Warriors team for Saturday08:43  Kurt Capewell vs Liam Martin?09:57  If Kurt moves, who plays CENTRE?11:16  Come on down, TAINE & TE MAIRE!  Please?14:02  Ivan v Webby - Master and Apprentice16:39  Will James Fisher-Harris bar up for this?20:51  Why is ISAAH YEO the REAL danger man?24:32  Jett Cleary conspiring against big brother Nathan26:30  Dylan Edwards with a case of the dropsies29:13  ROCCO BERRY - injury prone, tortured genius, mismanaged, all of the above?34:27  Betcha This Happens, Finals Week 135:25  STORM v BULLDOGS37:15  WAHS v PANTHERS39:54  SHARKS v ROOSTERS42:00  RAIDERS V BRONCOS

We’re into the final round of the regular season and the NZ Warriors face a daunting trip to Brookvale Oval to keep faint hopes of a top 4 finish alive.  With so much at stake, Blairy & Goran go back to the well once again:  in order to give themselves the best possible chance, Te Maire Martin MUST start.  However, coach Andrew Webster has again picked Tanah Boyd alongside Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves to face the Sea Eagles.  So if it were you, what would you do?  Stick with Boyd and CHT, or introduce the spark plug that is TMM?With that in mind, the boys talk about X-factor playmakers in the NRL, having seen one last week in Mitchell Moses, and coming up against another in Daly Cherry-Evans in Round 27.  In the absence of Luke Metcalf, has Webster’s selection been a little too safe?  DCE may be in the twilight of his career but in his farewell match as a Manly player, he’ll undoubtedly pull out all the stops to get the win.Elsewhere we urge the kiwis on the Gold Coast to show up in their thousands to support Kieran Foran in his final NRL game this weekend, as the Titans meet the Tigers…  Dylan Brown takes back the 6 jersey one last time in his Parramatta farewell against his future team the Newcastle Knights…  Goran asks Blairy if he’s doing okay after a tough week in Newy…  and we celebrate our glorious success in Betcha This Happens after picking 8 from 8 last week!00:00  INTRO + We picked 8 from 8!02:47  NZ Warriors team selection = TOO SAFE?05:05  Pull the trigger!  Te Maire Martin MUST START12:27  DCE at centre of Sea Eagles’ point-scoring blitz17:30  Loss of Wayde Egan + Sam Healey’s chance19:00  POSITIVES! The Wahs are back playing finals footy!22:43  Farewell to FOZ - Kieran’s 318th NRL game27:08  Dylan Brown’s unlikely Eels farewell vs Knights29:40  RUOK?  Blairy’s difficult week in Newcastle

After a much-needed week off due to sickness in the Paladin household, the boys are back!  And what a story to come back to regarding Brandon Smith…  he’s alleged to have supplied a drug dealer with inside knowledge of Bunnies’ team selection to place a bet, as well as hooking up some former Roosters teammates with ‘nose candy’.  Allegedly!  Blairy & Goran talk about the sensational headlines that seem to follow the Hectic Cheese throughout his career, and wonder what the deterrent is for players to avoid scenarios like this?Away from that, the focus turns to Warriors v Eels on Friday night, pitting Goran’s two favourite teams against each other.  The boys talk about where Parramatta are most dangerous, the temporary role Dylan Brown finds himself in at left centre, and how it has the potential to be a long night for RTS and Adam Pompey with Mitch Moses kicking to Zac Lomax - one of the best in the NRL under the high ball.There’s a stroke of genius from Ivan Cleary (or is it a big middle finger to the fans?), a possible return to the NRL for Kiwi winger Will Warbrick, and we predict Round 26 with Betcha This Happens!00:00  Intro + Did Blairy screen-record Goran on his sick bed?!02:11  Brandon Smith’s unwanted headlines05:00  Why do NRL players get caught up in undesirable scenarios?08:05  CREDIT TO THE WAHS! Top 4 with 2 rounds to play!!10:54  A trip to Canberra?  Or Home Final Week 1?12:20  Wahs v Eels = Goran’s nightmare15:04  Shutting down Mitch Moses and the kick to Zac Lomax18:26  Dylan Brown… the left centre! 21:12  Wahs kicking game vs Ryley Smith’s kick pressure22:46  Rocco Berry’s return, and Tanah Boyd gets running!26:00  Is Tanah vs TMM no longer a thing?28:56  Betcha This Happens + Panthers rest EVERYONE for Bulldogs clash31:45  Welcome back WILL WARBRICK36:29  Goodbye!

Following a disastrous loss to the Bulldogs, the NZ Warriors now sit outside the NRL’s top 4.  The record of late has not been pretty; 3 straight defeats, and only 2 wins from their last 7 appearances.  Outside of the obvious (injuries to Luke Metcalf and Mitch Barnett) Blairy & Goran discuss the deeper reasons for the worrying slide, and then attempt to plot a path back into the 4 by regular season’s end.Wayde Egan returns to action this week which is a massive relief for everyone… bar former All Blacks fullback and winger Israel Dagg.  On radio this week he stated that Sam Healey “offers a little bit more” than Egan.  While we are extremely encouraged by Sam’s efforts after 4 games of first grade, and a grand total of 154 minutes in his burgeoning NRL career, Blairy explains why Egan is the go-to guy for the Wahs in the 9 jersey!And after being dropped last week to NSW Cup, Tanah Boyd is back wearing the 7 jersey against the Dragons in place of Te Maire Martin, who is going through his return-to-play protocols (concussion).  Is the superior kicking game of Boyd better than the X-Factor Martin offers?  And when TMM is back in the selection mix for the final 3 weeks of the season, is it Tanah or Te Maire leading the Warriors’ charge to finals…  who have you got!?And inspired by Mitch Moses, Blairy reveals his all-time favourite spray!00:00  We need sponsors!  As our high tech set-ups are revealed…01:55  Blairy’s best spray. Shock horror: it involves Craig Bellamy!05:43  “Just effing have a crack!” - a message for outside backs.08:08  OUT of Top 4: How worried should Wahs fans be?13:22  What’s happened to the Warriors’ footy style?!16:58  Can the Warriors make it BACK to the Top 4?26:33  ISRAEL DAGG: Sam Healey offers a bit more than Wayde Egan.32:53  Rocco Berry returns next week…  or not?36:15  Te Maire Martin over Tanah Boyd - who ya got!39:31  Betcha This Happens for Round 24

The NZ Warriors go into Round 23 knowing they could slide down the NRL ladder as far as SEVENTH if results go against them, but thankfully some of the cavalry returns for an all-important match against the Bulldogs.  Jacob Laban however may have played his final minutes of the season, fracturing his leg last week against the Dolphins.  Blairy & Goran talk about the role Felise Kaufusi played in this, and wonder how he’s only been banned for two matches?  Shouldn’t we expect much better from such a seasoned professional?!We give credit where it’s due, handing out bouquets all over the place - one goes to NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster for his team selection in Round 22.  It begs the question though:  why didn’t he shift Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to centre previously?  Roger Tuivasa-Sheck picks up some flowers also - he ran for 335 metres against the Dolphins.  Is he shaping up as the NRL’s Dally M Winger of the Year…  and will he add another Simon Mannering Medal to his trophy cabinet at season’s end?  Or perhaps that gong will find a different home in the forward pack?Meanwhile on the other wing, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak produced his best performance of the season in arguably a match he shouldn’t have been selected in.  He’s done enough to earn selection against the Dogs…  is the ‘noise’ beginning to quieten down around him?

Can you believe it… if the loss to the Titans wasn’t bad enough, the Warriors have received MORE injury news.  They’re heading into the Dolphins clash this Friday without James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan and Chanel Harris-Tavita, joining Mitch Barnett, Luke Metcalf, Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua in the casualty ward.  Half of their first-choice starting side - GONE!  Blairy & Goran pose the question: Can they retain their spot in the Top 4 come season’s end?  After the Dolphins, it’s a visit to the Bulldogs which won’t be easy.  With the Panthers running red hot, it’s an uncomfortable ride to the finish line!Somehow through it all, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak retains his place on the right wing.  And it’s shaping up to be a tough day at the office for DWZ against the slick left-side attack of the visitors, especially given that Kodi Nikorima returns from injury.  Watch him unleash Herbie Farnworth and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on Dallin and Kurt Capewell!  Oh dear.  Or perhaps DWZ can rediscover his best form in the nick of time?Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes has a dislocated shoulder, and while he WILL return for the Storm around finals it’s looking like the Kiwis will be without his services… if the club says he needs end-of-season surgery.  So, who is the Kiwis halfback in the absence of the reigning Dally M Medalist?  All this and more in League Of Our Own!

Wahs fans have seen enough and they are letting their feelings be known: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak must be dropped from the NZ Warriors.  On Tuesday night, the team to face the Gold Coast Titans was revealed featuring a returning Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and immediately there was a strong online reaction from the fans… how has DWZ retained his place in the side over Taine Tuaupiki?Blairy and Goran discuss why Andrew Webster would prefer Dallin over Taine, his defensive struggles, and how rapidly the Flying Mullet’s stock has dropped in 2025.  What do you think?  Let us know in the comments!Also on the agenda?  Leka Halasima and yet another star turn against the Knights!  What a stunning solo try it was.  We review the efforts of Tanah Boyd in the same game, the role of the bunker in a few try/no try situations, and talk about Kieran Foran’s kiwi farewell as an NRL player as his Titans come to Auckland.

Kalyn Ponga…  is he a Kiwi, an Aussie, an All Black-in-waiting in a rugby league superstar’s body?  Who better to ask about all of the recent column inches and viral pundit videos dedicated to KP than Blairy, who has a reasonably close association with the Knights skipper.  Blairy’s hunch for ‘what happens next’ with Kalyn might surprise you!An interested spectator for all of this might be Kiwi’s five-eighth Dylan Brown, who signed a 10-year deal for the Knights earlier in the season and may not get the chance to play with Ponga upon arrival.  Complicating matters for Dylan and the Knights, is that last week the soon-to-be halfback played only limited minutes at hooker and lock… and this week he’s 18th man for the Eels!  Not great for the Kiwis either, as Brown faces the prospect of 3 months without footy before the end of year tests.And of course, there’s the Warriors!  We review Tanah Boyd’s performance on club debut against the Tigers, lament yet another injury to Rocco Berry, and ask if there is anyone else who scores THAT short-side try from Leka Halasima?! 

Warriors coach Andrew Webster has put us all out of our misery and selected Tanah Boyd to play halfback in the injury absence of Luke Metcalf.  Is this the right or wrong call?  Te Maire Martin had heavyweight support, including the rugby league god himself Phil Gould, but it’s the former Titans playmaker that gets the nod.Benji Marshall brings his Tigers to NZ to face Tanah and the Wahs, happy to get a win at long last against the Roosters, and probably even happier to get out of Australia.  ‘Benji-Bashing’ is a daily occurrence in the Aussie media and on social media too.  Not all of us would experience life as a high profile player or coach in the NRL, so Blairy speaks about constant negativity in the media, personal attacks from ‘fans’ and how that impacts a sports person… and their family.Elsewhere, the Brandon Smith comeback was short lived, and it’s opened up the weekly discussion about hip drops as well.  How come Matt Lodge wasn’t charged, yet Scott Sorensen was (and banned for two games) for his tackle on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak?  And how in the world is DWZ listed to play this week?!  He was supposed to be stuck in the casualty ward until Round 22!! And for a laugh, we go again with Betcha This Happens for Round 19.

It's the news no Warriors fan wanted to hear:  Luke Metcalf’s season is OVER.  Has his ruptured ACL also dashed the NZ Warriors’ hopes of a Grand Final appearance?  And who takes the #7 jersey in his absence?  These are the two HUGE questions Blairy & Goran hope to provide answers to!The halfback battle looks to be a straight shootout between Te Maire Martin and Tanah Boyd.  But what are the factors at play causing possible confusion for Andrew Webster?  We weigh up the pros and cons.By comparison, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s injury news was so much better than Luke Metcalf’s - he’ll only miss TWO matches.  But he joins Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Ali Leiataua in the casualty ward all the same.  So the boys look at a possible backline for the short term: where and how does Taine Tuaupiki fit into it?Blairy & Goran also try to find the silver lining to Luke’s injury, talk about Ed Kosi’s efforts against the Broncos, and have another crack at Betcha This Happens for Round 18.  Get well soon Luke!

Plenty of burning topics on the pod this week after the Warriors lost to an understrength Panthers outfit at home.  Blairy & Goran discuss the hip drop that has ruled Dallin Watene-Zelezniak out of action for 4-6 weeks with injury, and given fellow kiwi Scott Sorensen a 2-game holiday.  Was it as bad as the ban suggests?And in the wake of DWZ’s early exit against Penrith, did coach Andrew Webster shuffle his deck correctly?  The boys suggest a different looking backline that may have had more success.Moving to this week and the Warriors play the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, a classic matchup that Blairy has been in, and on both sides!  He tells us why it’s such a brilliant fixture to be part of, and looks forward to the battle of the best big men:  James Fisher-Harris going one-on-one with the great one, Payne Haas!Jacob Laban has been named to start against Brisbane while Leka Halasima is on the bench.  Given Blairy’s time working with the youngsters at the Wahs, Goran asks who has the highest ceiling of the two?  And of course, there’s another Betcha This Happens Multi ahead of Round 17!

Thanks to Origin 2 being in Perth and the Wahs hosting the Panthers so soon afterwards in Auckland, the match is missing not only Kurt Capewell but FIVE Penrith players!  Now, it sounds like a guaranteed win for the Wahs, but as a league fan are you happy to miss out on some of the best names in the game…  thanks to what seems to be a rogue scheduling error?  Blairy & Goran discuss this, and despite the encounter missing some rockstars it’ll be a huge occasion for James Fisher-Harris facing his old club, and our boy Te Maire Martin who brings up 100 NRL games.A League Of Our Own viewer by the name of Alex Hirini commented on our video last week about elevating the international game through the State of Origin period.  We liked the comment so much, we thought we’d talk about it!  So: How do we get the Kiwi side in action against England (or Samoa, or Tonga) through the NRL season and bring New Zealand’s national side back to prominence?We talk about the sickening hit on Taine Tuaupiki, there’s a shout out for an NRL team in Christchurch, and we give the Betcha This Happens Multi yet another go.  Cheers for watching and listening!

Even in a BYE week for the NZ Warriors, there’s still SO MUCH to talk about!  Starting off with Kurt Capewell’s selection to the Queensland Origin team for Game 2.  While some would say that his form warrants the call up, others would point to his unwanted league-leading stat - 75 missed tackles - and wonder how that translates to good defending.  So Blairy explains it!  All the best to Cape-Wah in Perth against NSW.Refereeing & Match Review Committee decisions are in the spotlight, with Benji spraying the ref after the Tigers were beaten by the Panthers…  and Kiwi Dylan Brown accidentally contacts the ref during the Eels’ loss to the Dogs and cops a one match ban!  WTF?  As Mitch Moses says, the MRC are just making up charges these days.And there’s been so much chatter over the last year or so about Kalyn Ponga; will he play for the Kiwis?  And how soon could it happen?  Blairy & Goran wonder if he should be forced to pick between State of Origin and New Zealand - perhaps he, and others like him, should be allowed to do both!

Since the NZ Warriors confirmed the extent of co-captain Mitch Barnett’s season-ending ACL injury, we can’t help but wonder how it’s going to hinder the side for the rest of the campaign.  So, with that in mind, we ask the BIG question: Has the Premiership window closed on the Wahs for 2025?Without Mitch however, it provides an opportunity for not only Jackson Ford to start against the Sharks, but a number of others to come into the selection frame during the backend of the season.  Tanner Stowers-Smith is on the bench, Tom Ale in the extended squad…  and what about Bunty Afoa?Rocco Berry can’t catch a break, because he’s broken down again.  The Real Big Dog has tweaked his hammy.  When will he be injury-free and get a decent run of games?!And because we are at the halfway point of the regular season, we reveal our Form Kiwi 13, as picked by League Of Our Own selectors Blairy & Goran.  Our choice of dummy half is what we’d call an innovative choice!

Blairy returns home this week, which means he and Goran are reunited - in person - for the first time this year!  Blairy talks about the significance of his journey back to Aotearoa, leading a team of young men from Australia with Maori heritage to not only play rugby league, but to develop an understanding of their identity and culture.  Wish him well in the comments!!On the menu for discussion this week: Is DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK doing enough to hold his wing spot, given TAINE TUAUPIKI’S solid start to the year?  Why is LEKA HALASIMA on the bench for the Bunnies this week - he was a locked and loaded starter last week!  What on earth were the RAIDERS up to post-match when they were giving it to the NZ Warriors FANS?And the big one…  if he isn’t satisfied with the minor minutes he’s playing, we’ve found TE MAIRE MARTIN a new home.  Welcome to Parramatta!!

Following four matches on the road, the NZ Warriors are finally back at Mt Smart Stadium to face the Canberra Raiders in a 2 v 3 battle!  But there’s no James Fisher-Harris through suspension, and his co-captain Mitch Barnett has been rightly selected for New South Wales in Origin One.We can’t say the same though for Wayde Egan who has missed the Blues squad entirely.  Blairy has a theory as to why, and who specifically is to blame!  Despite being in career-best form, and the Wahs in 2nd spot on the ladder, the crafty hooker will roll out against the Green Machine instead.  Which is probably a relief for Warriors fans given the key absentees in the front row!Who likes the left edge of Halasima, Pompey and RTS?  Who gets frustrated with DWZ jamming in?  And how about this for a hypothetical: if the 2025 Warriors had Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris and Addin Fonua-Blake…  would they be this high up the ladder?!Another week, another hopeful Betcha This Happens multi from Goran…  but at least there are only 5 games to pick this week!

Blairy & Goran begin by thanking the many viewers who provided feedback and ideas around the first-choice NZ Warriors’ backline. But then, the discussion morphs into the makeup of the back row.  The question this week:  Has LEKA HALASIMA - after 13 first grade games - become a definite starter if everyone is fully fit?  Have your say in the comments!With State of Origin One just around the corner and squads set to be picked, we look at our WAH-rigin hopefuls.  Mitch Barnett, Kurt Capewell, Wayde Egan, Jackson Ford and even Dally M Medalist-in-waiting Luke Metcalf!  Who’s picking up the good news phone call?Lewis Brown’s made an awesome Wahs jersey, Brandon Smith is bouncing off to the Bunnies, and the Fossil returns!  As well as another (potentially poor) attempt at the Betcha This Happens Multi.

Blairy & Goran have gone off very early here, but…  Luke Metcalf will win the 2025 Dally M Medal.  Call us crazy, excitable, call us every name under the sun if you want to, HOWEVER…  the Warriors halfback is playing the house down and has received maximum points in voting three times already this season.  Hear us out!We give the Wahs a report card after Term One - 8 games down, 16 to go in the regular season - and we predict great things in 'Term Two' given their opponents over the next month of footy.And unbelievably, when we thought it was all said and done, when we thought we could move on…  as RTS prepares himself for a return to action after injury, we wonder if he’ll play at CENTRE against the Dragons!  Say it ain’t so?!There’s a shock twist in Goran’s Betcha This Happens multi, and has Blairy found the time to chat with Ricky Stuart yet?

Hot on the heels of Kiwi international Scott Sorensen contesting the grading of his Grade 2 Shoulder Charge at the NRL judiciary and LOSING - receiving a 3-game ban for his shot on Manly's Nathan Brown - Blairy & Goran talk about the state of the game at the moment, and how head high contact is being interpreted.With fans and pundits copping 18 sin bins during Round 8, the boys wonder how rugby league can find the right balance; sure, penalize illegal contact, but how do you redefine the role of the Bunker in all of it?  If the status quo remains, Magic Round in Brisbane will be more TRAGIC than anything.The boys have a chuckle about their debut in a Warriors social media reel about CNK's re-signing, which ultimately leads to Taine Tuaupiki's path to cementing a first grade spot - should he leave the club to lock in a starting fullback spot?Wahs v Cows is Egan v Robson for a NSW Origin jersey, and Goran goes off on another tangent for a wild Betcha This Happens Multi!

With the Warriors set to play their traditional ANZAC Day fixture this Friday, Blairy & Goran wonder if a match against the Newcastle Knights in Christchurch carries the same weight as an annual trip to Melbourne to face the Storm.  What would you rather?Luke Metcalf earns praise for his massive stones against the Broncos, Jackson Ford does too after stepping up in the absence of Te Ika, The Fish - James Fisher-Harris.Poor Benji Marshall has brought back Lachlan Galvin for the Tigers, so the circus at Wests gains momentum!  How, as a coach, do you integrate back into the side a player that has caused such huge disruption?  That's one of the many predicaments facing Benji right now.And Goran takes a different approach to the Betcha This Happens multi...  all on this episode of League Of Our Own!

As the Warriors prepare for their 30th Anniversary match with the Brisbane Broncos, the news that nobody wanted to hear: co-captain James Fisher-Harris will be sidelined for between 4 and 6 weeks with a pectoral injury. Blairy & Goran discuss how his absence will be felt, and the leadership void in general given he joins RTS, DWZ and CNK as 'unavailables'.However, in some good news, Te Maire Martin is BACK via the bench! While Goran looks forward to how he can influence the game, Blairy has a unique perspective on what Coach Webster will do with him!And with the Lachlan Galvin story exploding across the ditch, we spare a thought for Benji Marshall and how he negotiates yet another difficult period in his short head coaching career in the NRL.

After a decade of torment, Blairy & Goran attempt to plot a course to victory for the NZ Warriors against the mighty Melbourne Storm!  Blairy talks about his experiences in this fixture, having played for both sides, and how Tawera Nikau was a big factor in building him up for matches AGAINST the Warriors when he played for Melbourne.  We discuss the head to head battle of the 9s - Wayde Egan versus Harry Grant - a match up we may see again in the Origin arena, the importance of winning the battle in the middle where JFH and Mitch Barnett will lead the way, and ask whether Eliesa Katoa will be at the Melbourne Storm for the rest of his playing days - given his incredible performances under Craig Bellamy.  Goran has another crack at the Betcha This Happens multi, Blairy threatens to come out of retirement, and there's a debut for Newcastle's Tyrone Thompson in the latest episode of League Of Our Own!

Blairy & Goran navigate the minefield that is April Fool's Day pranks and realise that the rumours about Te Maire and Charnze have some validity. Where are they potentially going, and how much would the NZ Warriors miss them? Also, HOLY HECKA Leka Halasima!! Following a star turn against the Tigers, we wonder what his positional future holds. Is Leka a prop, a backrower, a wing, even a 6?! Other questions include: Is Wayde Egan destined for Origin in 2025? What's Benji Marshall on about? And will we ever nail the Betcha This Happens multi??

The NZ Warriors have been rocked by a hamstring injury to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, but that's been offset slightly with the return of 'The Real Big Dog' Rocco Berry.  Awesome timing - given the relationship between canines and felines - with Benji Marshall's Wests Tigers the next opponent of the Wahs.  Blairy & Goran talk about the threats of a rejuvenated Tigers outfit, the impressive performance of CNK vs Roosters, and try (once again) with an impossible multi in Betcha This Happens for Round 4!

Once again, the drums are beating for Kalyn Ponga to represent the Kiwis, so it's all very convenient having Blairy at the Newcastle Knights for this episode! What's it going to take to get the '23 Dally M Medal winner in black and white? Elsewhere, Brandon Smith is close to signing with the Rabbitohs, Nelson Asofa-Solomona returns from suspension for the Grand Final rematch: STORM v PANTHERS! But on a Thursday night? C'mon! And we'll talk Dylan Brown some more as well.

Goran's worst fears became reality this week when Dylan Brown decided to leave his Parramatta Eels and take up the richest contract in NRL history by joining Blairy's Newcastle Knights from 2026. The boys discuss everything about the move - how the Eels recover, what it means for Dylan's footy and financial future, and whether he can actually play halfback?Blairy & Goran also chat about the Warriors vs Sea Eagles, where Andrew Webster has named an unchanged side.

And with one game against the Canberra Raiders under the bright Las Vegas lights, the NZ Warriors turn us all into Worriers! What went wrong, who was to blame - maybe CANBERRA were just too good? How does Andrew Webster address the issues before a very fit Jazz Tevaga turns up with his Manly men in Round Two?  All of this and more, plus the fallout from a shocking first-up effort in Goran’s Vegas multi.

It's time for the 2nd Season of League Of Our Own! Blairy has moved across the ditch to take up a job at the Newcastle Knights, but that won't stop us from talking the great game of rugby league from a Kiwi perspective. We talk the war of words between he and Ricky Stuart, fighting our best mates ala Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies, RTS is FINALLY out of the centre position, and Goran has a warning for Blairy: HANDS OFF Dylan Brown!

Adam and Goran may not have picked them to win, but when the finals roll around, the Panthers always pounce. Like Goran, you might have burning questions about this year's NRL season, and we’re here to tackle them, dishing some players more heat than others. If you’re feeling a bit worn down, spare a thought for the injured players heading into surgery in the coming weeks, as well as those jumping straight into the Pacific Championships later this month. Thanks to everyone who’s tuned in throughout the season. It might not have been our year, but here’s hoping that whichever team you support, next year will be yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Regardless of this Sunday’s final score, the Melbourne Storm are closing the season on a high note. Craig Bellamy secured his 7th Coach of the Year award, Kiwi Jahrome Hughes claimed the prestigious Dally M Medal, and Xavier Coates took home both the Drinkwise Try of the Year and the Peter Frilingos Headline Moment of the Year. Hosts Adam and Goran unpack the highlights of the Dally M award ceremony, share their picks for the NRL Team of the Year, and place their final bets on who will reign supreme. Will the Penrith Panthers clinch their fourth consecutive NRL Premiership, or is this the end of their golden era? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A slight change in release schedule for this week's ep. Goran explains the reason why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kiwis assistant coach Adam Blair talks about the honour of representing your country in sport, but Kalyn Ponga's withdrawal from the Kangaroos suggests not everyone shares that sentiment. Goran questions whether predictability is such a bad thing with the top four play-off teams mirroring the round robin standings. And as the competition intensifies, Goran and Adam also debate where to draw the line on offensive contact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melbourne Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona gives us a glimpse into the inner sanctum of the table's top team. Our very own Adam Blair (Assistant Coach of the Kiwis, no less) teases the Kiwis lineup for the 2024 Pacific Championships. Plus - is it time to fix our spine issues and invest in developing homegrown halves and hookers? All that and more on this week's League of Our Own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dally M winner-in-waiting Jahrome Hughes interrupts his dinner plans to discuss why another award would mean more, the Storm’s premiership prospects and whether his future might involve the Warriors. Plus, where can Benji Marshall take the Tigers after a wooden spoon first season? And Blairy and Goran lock horns over a shock pick for the playoffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Warriors have plenty to chew over after a season that failed to meet lofty expectations. In a rare interview, skipper Tohu Harris joins Blairy and Goran to talk frankly about why they finished outside the eight, where they go from here and what his future holds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Young gun Jack Howarth is poised for finals footy with the minor premiers Melbourne Storm. He beams in from Victoria to talk playing for the NZ Māori, copping one of his coach Craig Bellamy's legendary sprays and whether he'd pick the Kiwis over the Kangaroos. On a similar note, Blairy and Goran discuss Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's decision to play for Samoa, and have another crack at finding solutions to the ongoing inconstencies in decisions by match officials. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the NRL set to name its 14th Immortal, the odds are stacked against New Zealanders joining the list of all-time greats - Blairy and Goran discuss the importance of representation. They also preview Shaun Johnson’s final home game as a Warrior and refereeing inconsistencies around field goals and blocking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blairy and Goran’s enthusiasm for rugby league ‘nose’ no bounds. So it’s no wonder they couldn’t keep their snouts out of two huge yarns rocking the great game this week. First - Kyle Flanagan’s ban for biting Stephen Crichton’s conk, and second the allegations swirling around Souths superstar Latrell Mitchell. Plus a rip-snorting preview of the big Dally M showdown - will a Kiwi be snubbed again?!? And as the NRL grows like Pinocchio’s schnozz, the boys make the case for a second Kiwi team.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of Kiwi league's greatest talismans' decision to end his playing career shocked fans, players and pundits - including Blairy and Goran. In this week's show they consider the timing of Shaun Johnson's announcement, his legacy with the sports and its fans, what he'll do next and how the Warriors can replace him. Plus Blairy recalls the emotion surrounding his own retirement - and how he had to be talked out of doing it from a Covid hotel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

133-game Warrior Jazz Tevaga beams in on the way to a fishing trip and stuns the boys with a huge announcement about his future. Plus, Blairy explains what he'll bring to his new role as Kiwis assistant coach; Goran opens up on the reason he's a looooooooong-suffering Eels fan; and why the Dolphins are the Wahs' ticket to the top eight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The One NZ Warriors sit in 14th place on the NRL ladder, five points outside the top eight. With opportunities to accrue points rapidly running out, is their season effectively over? Opinions are divided. Blairy and Goran also speak to the Newcastle Knights' young Kiwi forward, Leo Thompson. And speaking of Blairy, he tells us what he really thinks about the Wests Tigers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Warrior five-eighth has endured a stop-start career blighted by serious injuries. In an exclusive chat he provides an update on his latest recovery, reveals Shaun Johnson's role in bringing him to Auckland and shares how he spends his downtime. Plus: Blairy and Goran discuss RTS' shift to the wing, the impact of Tohu Harris' season-ending injury and whether breakout back-up fullback Taine Tuaupiki should quit the Wahs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices