Fergo and The Freak NRL & Rugby League Podcast · Fergo and The Freak

NRL Under Threat? The Rugby League Video Game? Question marks?

·1 hr 51 min·10 clips

Why are the Panthers resting Nathan Cleary and Isaiah Owen in a tight finals race?

This episode of Fergo and The Freak features hosts Andrew Ferguson and the League Freak discussing recent rugby league news and controversies. They open by explaining their recent absence was due to a technical failure during a recording with guest Johnny Liu. The hosts then critique the recent Paul Gallen versus Sonny Bill Williams pay-per-view boxing match, dismissing its significance and questioning its $70 price point. They analyze a proposed new rugby union competition backed by Middle Eastern investors, which has been linked to players like Kalyn Ponga and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Ferguson argues the next NRL TV deal will elevate player salaries enough to neutralize this threat. The conversation shifts to State of Origin, with both hosts expressing frustration over New South Wales' coaching, specifically targeting Laurie Daley's selections and tactics. They propose making representative coaching roles more attractive to top NRL coaches like Geoff Toovey. A significant portion discusses the newly released "Rugby League 26" video game, its $100 price, and the lack of pre-release reviews. The hosts read early user feedback on Twitter, which highlights bugs and criticizes the gameplay as outdated. They examine the game's player ratings, noting Nathan Cleary tops the list at 93. Finally, they analyze the Cronulla Sharks' recent performance, emphasizing Blake Brailey's running game and Nicho Hynes needing to run first. A surprising claim is that European rugby union authorities reportedly view the new proposed competition as a joke. An interesting insight is the suggestion to replace the City vs. Country Origin fixture with a Western Australia versus Victoria match to boost grassroots development. The hosts argue the NRL season is unfairly disrupted for nearly two months by the Origin schedule. They propose a dedicated three-week representative period that includes international and women's matches, halting the NRL season completely. A memorable moment is Ferguson's detailed breakdown of a specific Sharks try, crediting Brailey's dummy-half run over Hynes' finish. The hosts also humorously speculate the new union competition will become an "old man's home" for retired players like Sonny Bill Williams. The tone is highly conversational, candid, and filled with informal banter and humor between the two hosts. The style is opinionated and analytical, blending news commentary with personal rants and suggestions for the sport's administration. Rugby league fans interested in administrative critiques, on-field analysis, and gaming will enjoy this episode. Listeners seeking strictly factual news or those offended by strong language might prefer to skip it.

As heard by us

A blunt finals-race listen that keeps its focus on the cracks.

Virgo and the Freak spend this episode turning the NRL run home into a straight fight over who has enough steel left for the finals and who is about to fold.

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Why you'd press play

For a finals-race chat that threads the Sharks, Dolphins, and a Panthers rest call without pretending the ladder is calm.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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