
Episode #80
Reacting to the Knights' Prelim Upset & the Ridiculous Stats to Pick an NRL Grand Final Winner
Scotty and Eggo react to The Newcastle Knights pulling off a prelim final upset for the ages! The boys unpack Phoenix Crossland's send-off and the ugly online abuse that followed, whether it was really a send-off offence in a game that big, and then the stats that had socials in a spin: the 50-point hoodoo, why no side outside the top six has ever won it, and the one team in history to go from wooden spoon to a title. Plus a plea for every neutral to jump on the bandwagon (and a diehard Manly fan forced to pick a side), Mark Nawaqanitawase being from another planet, a swag of off-season signing rumours, and a lap around the grounds taking in Brisbane's AFL three-peat and Manchester City's 115 charges. Comment Club This is where we play your audio messages and read out your emails. Send a voice memo or an email and you'll make the show, plus you're entitled to merch. Get involved at talkingsportreport@gmail.com or @talkingsportreport on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Chapters 0:00 Still hoarse: reacting to the Knights' prelim upset 2:28 Phoenix Crossland's send-off and the online abuse 3:20 Was it really a send-off in a game that big? 6:00 The grand final stats that break the internet 7:55 Headline: Australia's relief at the halftime act 10:06 A plea to every neutral: jump on the bandwagon 13:54 The stat barrage: wooden spoon to a grand final and more 16:29 Dane Gagai, the ageless finals machine 18:19 The 25-year drought and the big-stage Knights 19:26 Crossland, the send-off hoodoo and the Roosters stats 22:53 The 50-point curse and Cherry-Evans' bookend 27:33 Kalyn Ponga's hit and the HIA that wasn't 29:19 What Caught My Eye: Nawaqanitawase is not human 31:14 Off-season signing rumours: Latrell, Bradman Best, Harry Grant 36:41 Around the grounds: AFL Warfy time and Brisbane's three-peat 39:52 Manchester City's 115 charges explained 44:55 Comment Club begins 1:00:50 Wrap-up: grand final preview Thursday, and sign-off Keywords rugby league, NRL, NRL finals, NRL preliminary final, Newcastle Knights, Knights v Panthers, Penrith Panthers, NRL grand final, NRL grand final 2026, Kalyn Ponga, Phoenix Crossland, Dane Gagai, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Sydney Roosters, Daly Cherry-Evans, NRL stats, wooden spoon, footy podcast, Australian sport, Comment Club, Talking Sport Report






