Special thanks to our sponsors!Equity Assets Finance. For all your ethical finance needs, get the right advice from the team that backs the poddy. https://equityassetsfinance.com.au/Bare Wolf. Look Sharp, Feel Good and Take on your world! Talk to the team today: https://www.barewolf.com.au/Invest Wholesum. Align your portfolio with your values for all your ethical investment needs. Start here: https://investwholesum.comElmo, Dibbo and Zaatar preview all the action of Round 4 in the NRL. They discuss:- Will the Roosters bounce back?- Can the Bulldogs attack click with so many players out?- Will the Dragons finally break their duck?- Much More!Be sure to follow us across our social media channels if you want to keep up with everything we're doing!🌐 Website & Forum: http://www.thekennel.net.au📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekennelpodcast📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennelpodcast/📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekennelpodcast🗣️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKennelForums

The NRL season seems to have gotten off to a slow start in 2026 with many teams that are tipped to finish at the top of the table playing poorly and sluggish to start the season. Elmo and Zaatar review round 3 in detail, including who is bombing and who has started the season.Plus we introduce some new segments to the show! Be sure to tell us what you think of the segmentsFollow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennelpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKennelForumsTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekennelpodcast

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The 2026 NRL season is officially in full swing, and Round 2 is serving up some absolute blockbusters! Dibbo, Zaatar, and I are back in the studio to break down all 8 games this week.

While the mighty Bulldogs are enjoying a well-deserved bye to recover from the massive Vegas trip, the rest of the league is going to war. We’re diving deep into the analysis, sharing our tips, and predicting exactly how this weekend of footy will play out.

Expect fireworks right out of the gate as the Broncos and Eels both look to bounce back from brutal Round 1 losses at Suncorp. We also preview the bitter foundation rivalry between the Roosters and Rabbitohs at Allianz, the Panthers taking on the Sharks out in Bathurst, and whether the Storm can keep their ruthless momentum going against the Dragons down in Wollongong.

Drop your Round 2 tips in the comments below—who are you backing this week?

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#NRL #NRL2026 #NRLRound2 #RugbyLeague #NRLPredictions #NRLTips #TheKennelPodcast #Broncos #Eels #Roosters #Rabbitohs #Panthers #Storm

The Manly Sea Eagles are the ultimate NRL anomaly. With superstars like Tom Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau’atu, why can't they find consistency? In this episode of The Kennel NRL Podcast, we dive deep into the Brookvale shake-up, the arrival of Jamal Fogarty, and whether Anthony Seibold is the man to lead them into 2027.

Is the loss of Daly Cherry-Evans to the Roosters the end of an era, or the fresh start the Sea Eagles desperately need? We break down the top 30, the forward pack concerns, and give our brutal 2026 ladder predictions.

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Timestamps:

• • 0:17 – Intro: The 2026 Manly Sea Eagles Preview
  • 1:03 – Welcoming DBO & Discussing Seibold’s Preseason
  • 1:35 – Losing DCE & Signing Jamal Fogarty
  • 1:42 – Kobe Hetherington’s Big Contract
  • 1:48 – Reviewing the Top 30: Speed vs. Consistency
  • 2:43 – The Tom Trbojevic Injury & Origin Debate
  • 3:53 – Is Tola Kola a Better Fullback Option?
  • 5:10 – Will Luke Brooks be Detrimental to Fogarty?
  • 7:11 – Life After 15 Seasons of Daly Cherry-Evans
  • 8:39 – The Hooker & Forward Pack Dilemma
  • 9:57 – Is Jake Trbojevic Holding the Club Back?
  • 10:57 – Player to Watch: Haumole Olakau’atu's Next Level
  • 12:08 – Anthony Seibold: Is He a Long-Term Coach?
  • 14:38 – Final Predictions: Top 8 or Wooden Spoon Contenders?

Are the New Zealand Warriors genuine premiership contenders in 2026, or was last season just a fluke? In this episode of The Kennel Podcast, we dive deep into the Wahs' roster, their "lucky" run last year, and drop some controversial takes on their biggest stars.

We discuss the return of Luke Metcalf, the scary reality of Wayde Egan's concussion history, and whether Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is actually a problem for the team's structure. Plus, we reveal the breakout rookies—Leka Halasima and Ali Leiataua—who are set to terrorize the NRL this year.

See where we predict the Warriors will finish on the ladder (Hint: It’s going to make some fans angry!).

Subscribe to The Kennel for more unfiltered NRL analysis!

CHAPTERS:

• • 0:00 - Intro: Are the Warriors frauds?
  • 0:23 - Welcome to the 2026 Season Previews
  • 1:52 - The hardest team to hate in the NRL?
  • 5:28 - The "Luck" Factor: Did the Warriors deserve their spot?
  • 9:36 - The Playmaker Crisis: Metcalf vs. Martin vs. CHT
  • 14:55 - HOT TAKE: Should the Warriors have cut RTS loose?
  • 16:01 - The Wayde Egan Concern
  • 21:43 - The Breakout Stars: Leka Halasima & Ali Leiataua
  • 24:22 - Will we see Jett Cleary in 2026?
  • 25:28 - Final Ladder Predictions: Top 4 or Miss the 8?
  • 28:50 - Outro

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#NRL #Warriors #UpTheWahs #RugbyLeague #NRL2026 #NewZealandWarriors #RogerTuivasaSheck #TheKennelPodcast

Welcome back to The Kennel! In this episode, we continue our 2026 NRL season preview series by turning our attention to our rivals, the Parramatta Eels.

Join me, Dibbo, and Zaatar as we break down Jason Ryles' first full season in charge. We discuss the ruthless roster cleanup, the ongoing Zac Lomax contract saga, and whether the new halves pairing of Mitchell Moses and Jonah Pezet can actually work. Plus, we debate if the Eels are destined for the Top 8 or another bottom-four finish.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Zac Lomax "Rugby 360" drama and his eventual exit.
• Jason Ryles' impact: Cutting "dead weight" like Matterson and Lane.
• The new signings: Jonah Pezet, Jack de Belin, and Brian Kelly.
• Junior Paulo's incredible weight loss and form for Samoa.
• Our predictions for the Eels' 2026 ladder finish (Spoon or Finals?).

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#NRL2026 #ParramattaEels #TheKennel #NRLPreview #JasonRyles #MitchellMoses #Bulldogs #NRL

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro: Roasting the Parramatta Eels & The Centers Debate
01:36 - The Zac Lomax Saga: Rugby 360 & Contract Drama
06:33 - Jason Ryles’ Era Begins: Cleaning Up The Culture
08:11 - The Cleanout: Cutting Matterson, Lane & Cartwright
09:54 - The Mitchell Moses Factor: Can He Carry The Team?
13:09 - The "Weak" Backline & Center Pairings
14:07 - The New Halves Experiment: Moses & "Peasant" (Pezet)
17:50 - Junior Paulo’s Weight Loss & "Kung Fu Panda" Energy
20:25 - Breakout Players: Isaiah Iongi & Kitione Kautoga
23:34 - Predictions: Spoon, 12th, or Finals?
27:04 - The Pass Mark: Top 8 or Failure?

Is 2026 the year the drought finally ends, or is Benji Marshall walking into a trap? 🐯

In this episode of The Kennel, we rip the band-aid off the Wests Tigers' 2026 season. [cite_start]From the rumors of a "toxic inner circle" protecting the status quo to the absolute "Reality TV" drama of the front office[cite: 5, 51], we break it all down.

We look at the stacked new roster featuring Kai Pearce-Paul and the May brothers [cite: 3][cite_start], debate if Jarome Luai can justify his $1.2M price tag[cite: 169], and ask the hard question: Is Benji a genius, or just one of the boys?

👇 DROP A COMMENT: Top 8 or Bottom 4? Where do you have the Tigers finishing this year?

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro: The Tigers' "DNA" of Losing
[cite_start]3:15 - The Retention Crisis: Why Juniors Keep Leaving [cite: 4]
[cite_start]4:30 - "Reality TV Show": The Truth About the Front Office [cite: 51]
[cite_start]6:00 - Benji’s 3rd Year: Is He Actually a Good Coach? [cite: 66]
[cite_start]8:15 - The Stacked 2026 Roster (Luai, Fainu Bros, May Bros) [cite: 92, 93]
[cite_start]11:45 - The "60-Minute Team" & The Lachlan Galvin Saga [cite: 128, 144]
[cite_start]13:50 - Key Signings: Terrell May & Kai Pearce-Paul [cite: 84]
[cite_start]15:30 - The 1.2 Million Dollar Question: Can Jarome Luai Lead? [cite: 169]
[cite_start]16:45 - The "Toxic Inner Circle" Allegations [cite: 5]
[cite_start]19:00 - Players to Watch: Heamasi Makasini & Stafford To'a [cite: 246, 252]
[cite_start]20:30 - Ladder Predictions: Pass Mark vs. Failure [cite: 264]
[cite_start]22:45 - The Hooker Problem: Who Replaces Api? [cite: 287]
23:30 - Final Verdict & Outro

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The North Queensland Cowboys enter the 2026 NRL season at a fascinating crossroads. Known for their high-octane offensive capabilities and ability to score from anywhere on the park, the big question remains: can they fix the defensive lapses that have haunted their recent campaigns?

In this deep-dive preview, we break down the tactical shifts, roster changes, and statistical trends that will define the Cowboys’ 2026 season. As part of our 17-part NRL preview series, we’re leaving no stone unturned in analyzing how Todd Payten’s men stack up against the rest of the competition.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Roster Evolution: A look at the 2026 gains and losses. How do the new recruits fit into the Cowboys' fast-paced system, and is there enough experience to lead the young core through the Origin period?
• Tactical Analysis: We examine the Cowboys' attacking structure. Will they continue to lead the league in long-range tries, or will we see a shift toward a more conservative, field-position-based game?
• The Defensive Hurdle: For the Cowboys to be genuine Premiership contenders, their defensive efficiency must improve. We look at the personnel changes in the edge defense and the middle third work rate.
• Key Playmakers: A focus on the spine. With the competition heating up, how will the 1, 6, 7, and 9 combinations evolve to keep opposing defenses guessing?
• 2026 Schedule Breakdown: We look at their draw, travel schedule, and those crucial "four-point" games that will determine their Top 8 status.

Where do you think the Cowboys will finish in 2026? Let us know your ladder predictions and standout player picks!

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This is part of our 17-episode series previewing every single team in the 2026 NRL season. Make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss our upcoming analysis of the Bulldogs and the rest of the league!

#NRL #Cowboys #NRL2026 #NorthQueenslandCowboys #RugbyLeague #SeasonPreview #NRLPredictions #NRLAnalysis #TheKennelPodcast