In our final episode for 2025, Tass, Clarkie and Guildy discuss their pretty crappy crystal ball predictions they made back in February; Their thoughts on the return of the Ashes and if Kevin Walters or Shaun Wane’s jobs will be safe; The Pacific Championships with the rise of Samoa and the unfortunate mishandling of Eli Katoa’s concussion; Buzz’s 10-point plan to make NRL even greater; Super League expanding to 14 teams and the NRL’s likelihood of taking over the English and International Game; World Club Challenge to return in 2026; NRL’s ambitious idea to create a “Global Round” in 2027; Rugby360 and the bans set by the NRL and World Rugby, plus which NRL players are on the hit-list; Perth Bears set to sign 10 players by Christmas; PNG Chiefs confirmed as the 19th NRL club with their national team winning the Pacific Bowl 3-peat; Rugby League World Cup 2026 and 2030 details; NRL’s new anti-tampering law explained; State of Origin to be played in New Zealand; NRL refuse to cover Koori Knockout injuries for NRL players; Tyrone Munro stood down; Bulldogs new logo doesn’t sit right; Which song would you play if you scored a try; and a wide range of player signings and rumours in both NRL and Super League… AND OH YES, THE SIDELINE STORY WILL BE RENEWED FOR A SIXTH SEASON IN 2026!

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro

04:02 - Episode Overview

06:18 - Revisiting our 2025 Crystal Ball Predictions

19:22 - Thoughts on the Ashes and Pacific Championships

47:52 - Buzz Rothfield’s 10-point plan to make NRL even greater

1:05:23 - Super League expansion; NRL to takeover SL; WCC return; NRL Global Round

1:16:09 - Rugby 360 and the 10-year ban

1:32:44 - NRL Expansion confirmed for Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs

1:44:56 - New anti-tampering law (aka the Gus Gould law)

1:48:02 - Rugby League World Cup details for 2026 and 2030 editions

1:54:29 - State of Origin to be played in New Zealand in 2027

1:56:07 - Koori Knockout dramas; Tyrone Munro stood down; Bulldogs new logo; Try song?

2:04:27 - NRL and Super League player signings and rumours

2:22:35 - Outro

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https://linktr.ee/thesidelinestoryrlpodcast

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Hosted by Daniel Tassone, Nicholas Guild & Ryan Clarke.

Podcast mixed by Daniel Tassone using Garageband.

Podcast distributed to all major listening apps using Spotify for Podcasters.

Music credit for this episode: ‘Chase’ [prod. Yrii Semchyshyn from Pixabay].

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Logo designed by Tahlia Zaccomer.

© The Sideline Story: Rugby League Podcast, 2021.

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“You're listening to The Sideline Story Rugby League Podcast: The Greatest View of Rugby League from the Sideline”