The NRL Reax podcast

For twenty minutes the Warriors looked awesome. They led the Storm 14-nil, the big crowd at Mt Smart was in fine voice, and they had all the ball. And then the Storm got their hands on the pill, and they did what the Storm have done for 16 matches in a row against the boys from New Zealand: just grind out a win. We'll hear what coach Andrew Webster thought of the performance. Also: Des Hasler and Ricky Stuart unhappy with their tea...

Warriors 42, Cowboys 12. Never in doubt this one. Coach Andrew Webster and skipper Tohu Harris were very relaxed, and happy at the post-game media conference. And for good reason. A big win and more troops returning in the next few weeks. Good times for Warriors fans. Not so good for Tigers coach Benji Marshall. And why was Craig Bellamy unhappy with the Storm's win over the Knights? We're out at the start of the week before sunris...

The Warriors had a bye, so we take the opportunity at the season's halfway mark for our report card of the Warriors in 2024, so far. The Cowboys are next, giddy-up! Craig's Raiders had a golden point win over the Dolphins. Kiwis legend Jordan Rapana got the Green Machine over the line, but Wayne Bennett was salty at the referee. We also hear from Warriors CEO, Cameron George, on the battle between rugby league and rugby union for t...

A few weeks ago, it was all doom and gloom for the Warriors. Now, they head into the bye looking good, and with a host of players set to return. Mt Smart was jumping, including Nik, Ben and Craig. Lots to get through this week. Warriors 24, Dolphins 20; Andrew Webster happy, Wayne Bennett not so much; Addin Fonua-Blake under a cloud; Origin teams named and who's going to make the finals? We're out at the start of the week before su...

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary bristled at a suggestion that his side lost to a "reserve grade team", but well, it almost was. Missing several stars, the Warriors beat the defending champs, 22 points to 20. How exciting for Nic and Ben, who have a spring in their step this week. Craig was happy as well with the Raiders win, and the nice tribute paid to Kiwis great, Quentin Pongia after the win over the Bulldogs. We're out at the start ...

British rockers, Status Quo, sum up the Warriors current problems best: "Down down deeper and down...". Roosters 38, New Zealand's finest, 18. No way to sugar coat this, the Warriors are in a hole. Ben and Nik do their best to find a way forward, but with injuries mounting, and the Panthers up next, it's looking grim. This is serious folks! Craig sat back, smiling, with the Raiders having a bye.  We're out at the start of the week ...

It's 4 o'clock on a chilly Monday morning, and the comfy studios of The Sound in Auckland resonates with disappointed Warriors fans, Nik and Ben. Another loss. Knights 14 Warriors 8. 14th on the ladder, and now they play the high flying Roosters. Craig was pretty chirpy after the Raiders comeback victory over the Sea Eagles, and he reckons the Warriors will beat the Chooks. We also hear from every NRL captain at their press confere...

Warriors coach Andrew Webster hasn't hit the panic button yet. He's given his players a few days off after their loss to the Titans. They play the Knights on Sunday, so they have plenty of times to lick their wounds. Nik and Ben pick apart the defeat, and sound a little gloomy about their prospects this week. Craig's Raiders got pumped by the Sharks, and he's also unhappy about the NRL trading on the ANZAC legend. We're out every w...

The Warriors led the way against the Dragons in all the statistics except the one that mattered: the scoreboard. St George Illawarra won 30-12. Maybe the Warriors' players had been reading the press, because everyone had jumped on the bandwagon. There's a big test coming up against the Titans, who are getting closer to an elusive win. Ben is pessimistic, Nik has the hope of an Emily Dickenson poem, and Craig does his best to steer ...

Warriors coach Andrew Webster said it "felt like a draw", and, um, it was. 22-14 to the Sea Eagles with two minutes left on the clock at Mt Smart, the fickle finger of NRL fate swung the home side's way, leading to a heart-stopping 22-all draw. Nik and Ben tell us where they were when their team started the comeback, and start the buildup to next week's game against the Dragons. Craig hardly slept after the Raiders last-gasp win ov...

We aren't saying the Warriors can win the title, but hope is a powerful thing. Nik and Ben can hardly hide their excitement. Wayde Egan is being spoken of as an Origin player, as coach Andrew Webster tries to keep a lid on expectations. Latrell Mitchell has been a naughty boy, but all is forgiven in the after-glow of victory. Craig was pretty happy about Ricky's Raiders after they ripped into the Eels. He is very angry about someth...

The Warriors took home the Easter chocolates, with a solid 20-12 victory over the Knights. 24 thousand home fans, and many more at home, were rewarded with a tasty effort from the boys. RTS had a blinder, and Nik and Ben gush over his form and what he brings to the team at fullback. But will he stay there? The Raiders surrendered an 18 point lead over the Sharks, and Canberra coach Ricky Stuart wasn't happy. Nor is Craig. How did N...

The Warriors land their first scalp of the season, with the vocal crowd in Christchurch getting them over the line against the Raiders. Nik and Ben do their best not to gloat, while Craig muses on the nobility of failure. He also explains his conspiracy theory around a possible second New Zealand team. We pose the big question: should coaches dress better at media conferences? The only podcast you need for your Monday trip in the c...

The Warriors had it - until they didn't. With a couple of minutes left on the clock against the Storm, the visitors had an eight point buffer, with the competition points seemingly tucked away, breaking their Melbourne hoodoo. Except the fickle finger of fate didn't see it that way. How do you explain that ending, and winning try? You can't, but we give it a red-hot go. Nik and Ben try and come to grips with the loss, while Craig i...

Buckle up for a wild ride through the thrilling twists and turns of NRL Round One, where the unexpected took centre stage, and home-ground advantage wasn't the win guarantee many teams hoped for. Feel the buzz alongside a die-hard Canberra Raiders fan – that's me – as we revel in their top-notch game, with a special nod to the values and virtues brought on board by newcomer Zac Hosking. The analysis doesn't stop there; our guest Be...