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Tackles and Tinnies - E37 - South Sydney Rabbitohs 2025 Review & 2026 Preview
17 Plays2 months ago
NOTE**: This epsiode with filmed on the 24/1/26. The Payne Hass bombshell has dropped in recent days so please be wary that we don't speak about this on the Pod for this epsiode. We will deep dive this conversation point when the Brisbane Broncos preview/ review drops.
Nonetheless,
Souths finished 14th in 2025 (9–15, -181) — a bottom-four year that somehow still felt like it had moments… until the wheels fell off through injuries and constant reshuffles. At one stage they had 13 players unavailable and couldn’t even name an 18th man — and the wider picture was ugly: 20+ unique players injured, 27+ injury spells, and a reported 180 “playing weeks” missed (worst in the league by that metric).
Now Wayne’s back in the mix and the roster’s got teeth again — David Fifita arrives, Brandon Smith becomes a massive swing piece, and the whole conversation shifts from “survive” to “how high can this go if they stay on the park?”
We get into:
- 2025 snapshot + why the attack was streaky and fragile
- Injury apocalypse (and whether it was bad luck or something deeper)
- 2026 ins/outs + what the recruitment signals
- Hardest draw in the comp + the Tigers-style round-by-round danger zones
- Best 17/19 with the new rule + selection pressure points
- Prediction: 6th–8th (ceiling top 5, floor bottom 4)
Cap or Fact: Souths’ biggest 2026 signing isn’t Fifita or Smith… it’s availability.
Rabbitohs fans — where’ve you got them finishing in 2026, and what decides it? 👇
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:00
Tackles and Tinnies
6.54 on a Friday afternoon, the 23rd of January. It's my birthday weekend. What a way to start it off with tackles and tinnies. I'm here with my good friend, Morgan. Some you might recognize him from 2025.
00:00:15
Tackles and Tinnies
I can't remember what podcast you're on, mate, but it was good fun and it was good banter. But Morgan, fantastic to have you back on the podcast. Can you just give a quick rundown who you are, what you do? And obviously you're a Rabideau supporter.
Morgan's Background and Rabideaus Fandom
00:00:28
Tackles and Tinnies
That's why you're on here.
00:00:29
Tackles and Tinnies
Give us a rundown.
00:00:31
Morgan
Yeah, I'm Morgan. i'm I've been mates with Ryan for the better part of probably 15, almost 20 years now. Went to school with him, played footy with him and currently working as like kind of a social worker at the moment.
00:00:47
Morgan
But yeah, big Souths fan, obviously, and keen to rip into things tonight.
00:00:48
Tackles and Tinnies
yep
00:00:52
Tackles and Tinnies
yep and it's going to have really good insight from you my friend because they had a pretty little mediocre season but I think I won't try to bash him too hard while you're here want to make you cry on camera so but who's your favourite player Morgan currently and who's your all-time favourite Rabideaus player
00:01:11
Morgan
All-time favourite player, GI.
00:01:14
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:01:14
Tackles and Tinnies
nice
00:01:15
Morgan
Just such a dominant, multi-position kind of player.
00:01:19
Morgan
You could probably chuck him in the forward pack and he'd do a job for you. But so dynamic, so powerful, so quick.
00:01:23
Tackles and Tinnies
Nice.
00:01:26
Morgan
the complete package and a perfect player to build a team around. Current favourite player, I think it'd be like splitting hairs between Luttrell and Cody Walker.
00:01:31
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:01:38
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
00:01:40
Morgan
Yeah, Cody, obviously, on that left edge, or both of them on that left edge, just carve it up. Both just like true footballers play what's in front of them.
Rabideaus' 2025 Season Performance Analysis
00:01:49
Morgan
Exciting to watch. Kind of rocks and diamonds, but I guess we'll get into that later.
00:01:55
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, that left edge and absolute gun-ho this year with more than likely Cody, Fafida, Luttrell and AJ. That's, tell you what, that's one scary looking left-hand side and obviously we'll delve into that very, very shortly.
00:02:10
Tackles and Tinnies
But I think we just get straight into it, Morgo. So looking at 2025, Tackles and Teeny listeners, 14th, not too good. And there's obviously a lot of reasons why that probably happened, but we'll get through their record first.
00:02:24
Tackles and Tinnies
Nine wins, 15 losses. They got 24 points with negative 181 points, which meant they were the 16th best attack, probably the nice way of saying it. In other words, they're the second shittest
Impact of Injuries on Rabideaus
00:02:38
Tackles and Tinnies
attack. And they were the 13th best defense, also not too red hot.
00:02:43
Tackles and Tinnies
They were one win off 12th and one loss off 15th. So again, so many things that could change to our change that whole entire thing. But overall, 14th and all things considering, can't complain.
00:02:53
Morgan
okay worry whereas based on where county test
00:02:57
Tackles and Tinnies
But another thing to look at is their record. So there were six from six wins at home, which overall is pretty good considering how many Sydney teams there are and all the injuries which we'll get into shortly.
00:03:01
Morgan
that sub goal
00:03:09
Tackles and Tinnies
But your away record was probably your biggest downturn, Morgan, for 2025 with a record of three and nine. But it was good to see that you guys came home strong and showed some passion for the colors and your jersey.
00:03:17
Morgan
departments that are states but
00:03:21
Tackles and Tinnies
with three wins and one loss. Obviously, Cameron Murray came at the very back end of the season.
00:03:24
Morgan
to plus cal study
00:03:26
Tackles and Tinnies
What are your thoughts on that, Morgo?
Future Potential of Young Players
00:03:29
Morgan
i think like we had some patches where i thought we played our potential uh top 14 and then we had some absolute catastrophic moments i think we had something like 13 players unavailable one round and when it's 13 out of your top 30 or whatever it's pretty hard to compete with some of those top teams especially with the caliber of those 13 players obviously the captain that's
00:03:36
Tackles and Tinnies
yeah
00:03:56
Morgan
also Luttrell, AJ at various points, pretty much the whole forward pack.
00:03:59
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:04:02
Morgan
Yeah, a few other outside backs out at various stages, which wasn't fantastic. Yeah, obviously it was great to see some young players like Jai Gray, Jamie Humphries get a crack, Ashton Ward towards the end there as well. I think he has a lot of potential. But exciting, lots of seeds planted for the future, but and we'll see how things go.
Season Recap and Injury Impact
00:04:26
Tackles and Tinnies
And Morgan, I didn't even... This totally blitzed me at the very start, but I didn't realize that you guys were actually four out of five wins from the start of the year, and you obviously you ended strong. So that middle part of the season was so detrimental to you guys. Like you beat Rabideaus. So Rabideaus beat Dolphins 16-14, and then you had a goal... Oh, then you had to 25-24 win against the Dragons at Wollongong, which is actually very good.
00:04:51
Tackles and Tinnies
Lost to the Sharkies, 27-12. You beat the Panthers. Obviously, they started slow, 28-18. And then you beat the Roosters, are also a a good team, 20-14. So, Morgan, you you might actually be onto something here. I think you might have been pretty unlucky with everything.
Detailed Injury Analysis and Changes
00:05:07
Morgan
hundred percent. I think like, did we beat the Bronx? I'm pretty sure we might've beat the, bronx I think we beat the Bronx in a close one as well.
00:05:11
Tackles and Tinnies
Pardon me?
00:05:15
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, I'll have a look.
00:05:16
Morgan
but yeah.
00:05:18
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, so again, I think just those injuries as they started piling up. Yeah, round 10, mate, 22 to 14 against the Broncos. And then you beat the Tigers 22 to 12.
00:05:25
Morgan
I think that was the naughty, that was the naughty drop goal.
00:05:27
Tackles and Tinnies
to twelve
00:05:30
Morgan
And then the, the try at the end to the trail from memory, but.
00:05:33
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, and i' that's one of my moments that I'm going to talk about later. But just going off a nutshell here, how I thought you guys were, I think, streaky players.
00:05:44
Tackles and Tinnies
And fragile is probably two words I'll use. Streaky in the sense that, as we just talked about, four out of five wins to start the year and then three out of four wins at the end of the year.
00:05:55
Tackles and Tinnies
It was just that middle patch. And the fra the fragile part comes down your injuries. I know Wayne Bennett has essentially done a full clean out in regards to the SNC program, so strength and conditioning.
00:06:07
Tackles and Tinnies
Something had to change. Something had to change. What are your thoughts on them pretty much cleaning house?
Brandon Smith's Personal Journey
00:06:13
Morgan
oh, think it's, it's going to be for the best. I think we got that Penrith trainer that walked in front of Jaden Campbell as well. So hopefully we, hopefully we get a bit of that action throughout the season, some of those close games.
00:06:21
Tackles and Tinnies
that's a guarantee yeah
00:06:26
Morgan
So, yeah, like you say, I think we had so many soft tissue injuries throughout the all of them, I think with a bit of, proper rehab probably could have been avoided.
00:06:36
Morgan
So see how things go.
00:06:37
Tackles and Tinnies
yeah
00:06:38
Morgan
But, Yeah, looking forward to it. I think we're still probably missing a bit in the forward pack. I think Totola had probably a bit of a mixed season coming back from injury himself.
00:06:52
Morgan
So probably missing another big body out there, but it'll be cool to see how he goes this season with a proper pre-season under his belt as well.
00:06:53
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
00:07:01
Morgan
What
00:07:02
Tackles and Tinnies
And obviously they've shown a lot of faith and we'll talk about contracts very shortly, but I think the injuries, mate, it's probably the biggest thing to look at.
00:07:05
Morgan
lot money.
00:07:10
Tackles and Tinnies
And when I was getting all the data for this script, It's quite concerning how bad it actually was. I'm just going to read it here and then we can have a little chat about it. But South in 2025, injury peak. So you had 13 players injured or unavailable at once.
00:07:25
Tackles and Tinnies
So 13 today, couldn't name 18 players at one stage of the season. That is crazy. Imagine not having an 18th man. Confirmed unique injuries. So you had 20 plus at some point of the season and you had 27 separate injury spells in 2025. Diabolical.
00:07:42
Tackles and Tinnies
diabolical In league comparison, this is where i wanted to dive into more. You had 180 playing weeks missed due to injuries in 2025. The next worst was 60 fewer weeks, and that was the Sydney Roosters. The league average was 84.24. So you guys almost had 100 more
Player Transfers and Team Dynamics
00:08:01
Tackles and Tinnies
playing weeks of injuries.
00:08:03
Tackles and Tinnies
That is crazy. What are your thoughts on that?
00:08:07
Morgan
in flat yeah I think it just speaks to how things went the whole season. You can't compete with teams when you don't have your top players. so Roosters were another team that probably missed out a bit at the start of the season and ended up scraping into the eight near the end there. But yeah, like say injuries are always going to kick your ass in NRL.
00:08:29
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, and I think it's almost a blessing to curse. And, mate, correct me if I'm wrong here, but the league at this year was pretty dominated by obviously your Melbourne, your Penrith, Doggies, Raiders, Bronx. Like those teams were pretty rock sold. Sharky's obviously up there.
00:08:48
Tackles and Tinnies
You started well, obviously, but it's kind of a good thing and a way in a way that, yes, you had these injuries, but you had to blood so many younger players or developing players or you gave people chances in positions but they might not have played. like The Keon Kulamatangi situation probably doesn't happen if you had a full contingent of players. Do you agree with that? No.
00:09:13
Morgan
Yeah, I think he he moved to the middle kind of mid-season and prior to that, I think you were scratching your head around whether he'd be like an origin player or not, whereas previous years, I think he'd be a shoe in.
00:09:22
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:09:25
Morgan
So yeah, I think it's definitely unlocked him going into the middle and having a bit more impact and hopefully they can keep him there this year as well.
00:09:34
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. And yeah.
00:09:35
Morgan
And also like players like Talis Duncan, I think he obviously had Campbell Graham out for most of the season, Isaiah Tars out at various stages.
00:09:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:09:43
Morgan
So he had that opportunity to jump into that left edge. And I think he was like the leading try score in the comp for a couple of over a few weeks. spans So yeah, rock solid and cool to see him kind of on the breakthrough year as well.
00:09:57
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, it's almost the analogy where you take one step back to go two steps forward. And I think it's honestly low-key, it's worked wonders for you because you've sort of cleaned out the guys you don't want.
Contract Reviews and Future Speculations
00:10:09
Tackles and Tinnies
You've got players, more game time. You probably shouldn't have had the game time last year. You mentioned Ashton Ward as a prime example.
00:10:15
Tackles and Tinnies
Obviously, we'll talk about player roster very shortly, but... Mate, I think I'm very high on the Rabideaus this year. So Souths fans, what are your thoughts on the injuries? Was that your was that the Rabideaus' biggest Achilles heel? Please let me know on in the comments below.
00:10:31
Tackles and Tinnies
Now, Morgo, you gave me a good shout when we were just having a back and forth chat about this podcast. And you told me to talk about the Brandon Smith situation. So what I've done, I've gone into Channel 9, I've pulled their article and I've synthesized it into my own dot points. I'm just going to read it out and then I'll get your opinion. So this is from Channel 9. So Brent Smith says he spent four weeks in a rehab facility to address his mental health plus alcohol abuse. He says he's 105 days alcohol free. He says his was his choice not forced by the club and called it the best investment he's made.
00:11:02
Tackles and Tinnies
He's saying he's putting the party boy incident identity behind him and rebranding as a professional athlete. He's saying he's attending AA, Alcohol's Anonymous and GA, Gambler's Anonymous. meetings and still sees a psychologist.
00:11:16
Tackles and Tinnies
He says South were supportive and teammates kept it private. The report also notes he is facing drug dealing and gambling charges in Queensland Court. Not sure where that is currently, but what's your thoughts on this whole Brandon Smith situation?
00:11:30
Tackles and Tinnies
Wayne Bennett currently him tipped to be starting the year at Hooker. So what a turn of events that is. What's your thoughts?
00:11:37
Morgan
Well, I think only other thing that's going to let us down beyond injuries is off-season or scandals or other shit that's going to get players suspended or stood down for a couple of weeks.
00:11:47
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:11:49
Morgan
So I think it's a big positive for South that they're starting to deal with some of those off-field things that might bring them undone in some way.
00:11:59
Morgan
Brandon's obviously an incredible player and I think when he's not having brain snaps or... doing silly things on field or off field. He's probably a top four hooker in the game as well. So I'm looking forward to seeing a full season of Brandon at South. And I don't know whether he stays at hooker if he kind of, I think that 14 spot spot. He just has so much impact off the bench. So we'll see how things go. But yeah, we're a solid player.
00:12:33
Morgan
going to see. how things go without the off field stuff. So, yeah.
00:12:38
Tackles and Tinnies
And it's a testament to the Rabideaus guys too, in-house, not really leaking anything. Like as it says here in the article, the Alcoholics Anonymous and the Gams Anonymous didn't really know about that, didn't know about the psychologist side of things.
00:12:52
Tackles and Tinnies
That's a good
2026 Season Outlook and Strategies
00:12:53
Tackles and Tinnies
sign about culture as well. So obviously the boys getting around him, supporting him. And as you mentioned, he has top – at least top five hooker talent, especially now with the World Cup coming in 2026 at the end of the season. He's got everything to play for and that could be huge just to rebrand his career and retool that. So yeah, good shout, Morgo. Yeah.
00:13:15
Tackles and Tinnies
What does it mean for South Sydney's in 2026? As you mentioned, does he stay hooker? That's going to be really interesting to see. I think he's probably going to be that type of guy who takes the sting in the first, let's say, 20 to 25 minutes and then maybe gets like Mamozales or maybe a Bud Sutherland to come in and hook a bit more zippy at dynamic and then he comes back on the field in the middle rotation. How do you see Brendan Smith's role in 2026?
00:13:45
Morgan
I guess could take like a little bit of a Salivia Harvey Lee kind of role where he, yeah, like you say, takes that sting out.
00:13:50
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
00:13:53
Morgan
He's a bit of a big body and then can just stay out there and ball play a bit out wide or through the middle as well. So see how things go. But yeah, I think props to him. I don't think anyone twisted his arm to make that decision to go into the rehab.
00:14:06
Morgan
And yeah, I think it's going yield some great results for him in 2025.
00:14:13
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, 100% agree. And I think obviously there with Wayne Bennett, that's just monumental for a guy like him. and He's obviously, by but Wayne Bennett's seen every character around the sun and obviously with his experience, it's only going to be good for him.
00:14:27
Tackles and Tinnies
got a lot of guys there too to support him, which is great. So well done there. We'll move on to roster move at Morgan. So I'll just talk about the gains and the losses. Then we can talk about the contracts going from there. So 2025 gains, what you got from the start of the year. You obviously got Jamie Humphries, huge get from Manly Seagulls.
00:14:44
Tackles and Tinnies
You got Ewan Aiken from the Finns. Louis Dodd, we're going to talk about him very shortly. Josh Shuster, another guy you could probably mention. You Bud Sutherland from the West Tigers, actually alone, but then he's continued on, which is kind of nice.
00:14:57
Tackles and Tinnies
You got Ravala who came mid-season, then
Building a Competitive Team
00:15:00
Tackles and Tinnies
he's gone again. But again, we'll talk about that. And obviously Brandon Smith, sort of a mid-season get as well. Probably those last three guys came due to the fact that all the injuries that you guys had.
00:15:11
Tackles and Tinnies
Some big losses though, you had Burgess go, Cook go, Ilias go, Hawkins go, Tane Mill, Michael Cheekam, few guys there. What are your thoughts on the gains that they theoretically got at the start of 25 year and the losses like guys like Cookie and Elias who are mainstays there for a bit?
00:15:31
Morgan
Yeah, I think looking at the games, I think Humphreys obviously had a big impact, particularly those first few games of the season.
00:15:39
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
00:15:39
Morgan
Again, and he's another big body that's pretty versatile. He can play hooker, play in the middle and did a great job at half, I thought, for the first part of the season. Aitken, I think he was a bit hot and cold with injury throughout the year, but again, another the player that can do a job in centre or on an edge as well.
00:16:00
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:16:01
Tackles and Tinnies
what do you think about Dodd, mate?
00:16:02
Morgan
I think, what about him? I think I saw maybe five minutes of footy from Dodd in all of 2025.
00:16:09
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:16:10
Morgan
So same with Ravalara. think he maybe played a couple of games himself. But yeah, pretty disappointing signings. I think Ravalara might have had hammies and whatnot throughout the year, but Dodd just didn't get a, I don't know if he got a fair crack or what, but yeah,
00:16:29
Morgan
Yeah, didn't really impress with the minutes he got. And, yeah, obviously disappointing with Schuster and a few of those other guys as well. No game time, but hopefully they can find their best somewhere else.
00:16:37
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
00:16:43
Tackles and Tinnies
It's like crazy to me because you spend, think it was like around $700,000, correct me if I'm wrong there, but $700,000 and a half back, unproven, coming from Super League. You're obviously see paying probably a little bit overs for unproven talent, especially coming from Super League.
00:16:59
Tackles and Tinnies
But I agree with you, man. like I don't think you got a fair crack. like As you said, probably what, paid 20 minutes and then got hooked and then never got another game again. so And with all those injuries that we talked about in that prior segment, that is just...
00:17:13
Tackles and Tinnies
It's just wild to me. And I think obviously the gang of Jamie Humphries is probably your biggest one. And moving forward, I don't know what his best position is. As you mentioned, he's a big
Challenges in End-of-Season Schedule
00:17:25
Tackles and Tinnies
body. Like bloody hell, he's like a bodybuilder. He's so jacked.
00:17:30
Tackles and Tinnies
I don't know where I see him. I think if Cameron Murray maybe wasn't there, you could definitely see him in a locked position, but he's very serviceable in the halfback position. But there are some guys going biting at his heels who we're going to talk about very shortly.
00:17:46
Tackles and Tinnies
What about the losses, Morgo? What do you think about Cookie leaving and Ilias?
00:17:51
Morgan
Yeah, I think you saw Cookie's impact over at the Dragons and obviously had a big part to play in some of their success throughout the year. Ilias is probably going to get the Titans to a grand final or something, i don't know, just because of that South Sydney pedigree.
00:18:07
Tackles and Tinnies
frying Yeah.
00:18:10
Morgan
Yeah, obviously missed out on some opportunities over at the Dragons, but it was a pretty solid half at South. I think he got them to a prelim and got them to the finals one year.
00:18:21
Morgan
So got to give him some credit.
00:18:22
Tackles and Tinnies
Yes.
00:18:26
Morgan
Tane Milne is another one that we probably missed heavily. We missed his swinging arms and yeah, that's pretty much it.
00:18:34
Tackles and Tinnies
He got that dog though. He's got that dog in him.
00:18:35
Morgan
Cheekham.
00:18:37
Morgan
Oh, 100%. I think you you need an enforcer in that team and someone to bring a bit of,
00:18:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:18:43
Morgan
fire to the defence if anything. So, yeah, glad he's enjoying himself over in the yeah UK at the moment, I think.
00:18:47
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:18:52
Morgan
And same with Cheekham.
00:18:52
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. had I think the Tane Mill thing is underrated. Obviously, he's a bit of a hothead and streaky at the best of times, but... He can pull off a for shot. He can pull off like, he's like Ronaldo Mulatalu in regards to energy, but obviously nowhere near as good. But he could do some things that like sort of lifted the boys. I think they missed that low key. Do you agree with that?
00:19:20
Morgan
I think the area they probably missed him the most is his yardage from peak returns and stuff like that.
00:19:26
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:19:27
Morgan
I think you had players like Tyrone Munro, AJ obviously, but really lacking in a bit of size and probably that explosiveness and weight coming back.
00:19:41
Morgan
So yeah, he definitely, he was probably one of our big meter eaters from 2024 and big loss last year, something that was definitely missing. Rabelau is probably the the other option there, but was definitely lacking in terms of minutes with his hamstring injury.
00:19:58
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Let's just have a look at the gain. So obviously a huge one in day for feeder on massive unders. I think Titans has paid close to $300,000 for him to pretty much leave the club.
00:20:12
Tackles and Tinnies
So yeah, you got him on a good undervalued contract. He's looking really, really good. i remember seeing some off season videos of him wrestling Latrell Mitchell one for one on the beach. And just saw a video they playing like two hand touch football and he stepped around a couple of guys and went for the corner. He's looking great. And again, we'll talk about him in great detail. Bronson Garlick, I think that's a pretty good underrated pickup as well. lot of versatility.
00:20:35
Tackles and Tinnies
i think you guys are going have a fair few origin players. so he could definitely be filling a role there. and Could be a smoky chance on the extended bench because we'll talk about the top 19 shortly. I'm probably going to butcher this Morgan, so feel free to correct me. But Mawala Graham Tafua, I haven't heard of too much about him. But Ed Cossie, I do know about him. He's a big outside back, can also play second row.
00:21:00
Tackles and Tinnies
Jonah Glover, smoky chance in the halves if everything hits a fan. Definitely potential chance. if Cody Walker goes down again. But we'll talk about that later on. And then you've some younger fellas in developmental. you got Sieg Wolt and Riddell. So any chat on those gains, Morga?
00:21:21
Morgan
I think it would be really interesting to see how Fafida goes. Obviously, for Titans, he had that weight of expectation around the big contract, probably didn't get the run he would have liked with injuries and probably felt a bit under himself throughout those few seasons there, struggling to find some combinations with all different halves and stuff the Titans had there as well. So keen to see how he goes with a new side around him, and I think he'll slot into that left edge very nicely.
00:21:51
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:52
Morgan
bronson garlic obviously did some wonders at the storm they a few injuries at various points over the last couple of years and he's kind of slotted in pretty seamlessly we'll do a job at hooker and probably throughout the middle forward as well could play half if need be don't know much about while a grand cowper either ed costy gives us a bit of outside back depth on the on the wing there i don't know if he'll be a starter but we'll definitely get a couple of games at some stage that season.
00:22:23
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
00:22:24
Morgan
I've seen a little bit of Jonah Glover's highlight for Dragons. He looks pretty solid. Has a pretty good kicking game, which I think we've been lacking for a couple of years. Even Humphrey probably has a bit of a lackluster long kicking game. So having someone that can be pretty accurate and pick the ball along will do us some favours.
00:22:45
Morgan
And, yeah, the other two obviously on development contracts. haven't had much time to watch them, but, yeah, excited with those couple of big signings at the top there.
00:22:54
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, and I'm hearing murmurs because obviously Jamie Humphries is going to be out for the first two games due to suspension. So we'll talk about that in the the top 19. But Jonah Glover was a smoky chance of probably starting. However, I'm hearing murmurs that more than likely Bud Sutherland will accompany Cody Walker at the start of the year. But again, we'll talk about that shortly.
00:23:16
Tackles and Tinnies
Again, you mentioned Ravalawa. He's gone back to the UK in 2026. Again, I think you had two hamstring injuries. I think one of them was a grade three, so that's like eight weeks, especially near the end of the year. And Ben Lovett, severely – oh, sorry, heavily.
00:23:31
Tackles and Tinnies
Again, I thought he was pretty good and very serviceable at times. Probably more of a middle, not much of a hooker, but again, definitely did a job. Shaq Mitchell. I guess the biggest things that we can say about their losses, Morgo, is that they're probably not in their best 17 to 19 players. Could you agree there?
00:23:51
Morgan
Yeah, 100%. and I think they're probably lacking a bit of fitness. A few of them have been playing a lot of reserve grade footy and stuff like that at various stages. I really like Kavili. I think he was very solid for us in the middle of various stages throughout the season. But some of those other guys, I think, will do good in the yeah UK.
00:24:13
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, 100%. Okay, so I've just got this from NRL.com and I'm just going to read out all the guys who are contracted for 2026 only and then I'll talk about the other guys who extended along or further than that.
00:24:28
Tackles and Tinnies
Surprising, there's only one guy extended past the 2028 season and we'll get to him very shortly. Have a guess in the comments, guys. But 2026 only, you've got Ashton Ward. You mentioned him earlier on, Morgo. We'll quickly touch on him first. Young, halfback, 5'8", looked like a baby, probably 15 kilograms soaking wet on the field, but i definitely played above his weight.
00:24:50
Tackles and Tinnies
What rating would you give Ashton Ward out of 10?
00:24:54
Morgan
think from the few games we saw him, there wasn't any moments that he got run over the top of. His ball playing was pretty good. He was pretty nimble and played that kind of eyes up brand of footy that we've grown to love from players like Cody and Luttrell. I think he gels with that team pretty well. It's interesting that Cody Walker is the only other player on contract for just 2026. So I think they're probably going to be vying for the same position throughout the year and It'd be really interesting to see where they go with it. I think he's got a lot of potential and I'd be pretty sad if they let him go, to be honest.
00:25:30
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, and again, obviously you've got Jonah Glover signed there now. So Ashton Ward, will they re-sign him? I'd hope so. He's so young. like You hate letting young halves go because they don't get – more competent to above average, like into like mid twenties at best. So yeah, definitely developmental guy. Another guy we just talked about just before you just mentioned Cody Walker there to 2026.
00:25:56
Tackles and Tinnies
Do you see Cody Walker extending another year or do you reckon this could be his swan song?
00:26:03
Morgan
I think it will depend on injuries throughout the year. If he gets another watered soft tissue injury like he had last season, I think he might call stumps. But we'll see how things go. Obviously, it doesn't take a lot to just pass the ball to Latrell or throw a long ball to AJ on that edge. So maybe he's good for another five years, we know.
00:26:25
Tackles and Tinnies
yeah and for feeder off his hip now as well don't forget that yeah i'm hoping he resigns and again you don't have to play him 80 minutes you could do what they did at the very end of the last year chuck them on for 30 minutes off the bench certainly an option there as well uh jamie humphries probably the guy you want to be resigning is also off at 2026
00:26:46
Tackles and Tinnies
How much do you reckon you have to get to re-sign Jamie Humphries more though? that's a tough question.
00:26:52
Morgan
I don't know.
00:26:54
Tackles and Tinnies
Is he over 500,000?
00:26:54
Morgan
Like, I think...
00:26:57
Morgan
wouldn't say so. I think, like, when you look at the halves on other teams at the moment, I think he's probably in that kind of bottom third of halves in terms of quality. If anything, I think his versatility probably gives him a few extra points. But at the moment, probably...
00:27:17
Morgan
He's probably a player we can see see how he goes this year and make decisions.
00:27:23
Tackles and Tinnies
And again, I think it could be a bit of a shootout with Ashton Ward as well. If Ashton Ward starts popping off and Humphreys maybe regresses a little bit, there's definitely a chance of... one guy taking the other spots, even potentially Humphreys, Ashton Ward, 2027. Again, that's a conversation have later on.
00:27:40
Tackles and Tinnies
Keon Kulamitangi, as we know, this is his final year. He signed with the St. George Illawarra Dragons on close to a million dollars until like 2030. Good for him. As we talked about earlier, Morgo went from second row to the middle.
00:27:52
Tackles and Tinnies
found a new lease of life. He was never keen to play in middle, but I tell you what, Keon, you'd locked yourself into a New South Wales jersey. You got that call up for the ashes at the back end of the year. You're not just going to be playing for Tonga anymore. you're gonna be playing for the green and gold. So well done, Keon. Again, we'll give some roses to him later on.
00:28:09
Tackles and Tinnies
Liam LeBlanc, 2026. Matt McCarthy, 2026. Graham Tafua, we just talked about him before, rookie, 2026. Sean Keppie, 2026. twenty twenty six Do you reckon they give Keppie another year or two?
00:28:23
Morgan
I think if it was between Kefi and LeBlanc for a middle spot, I'm 100% going LeBlanc. He's a rock solid player. He's pretty young himself, but has decent size and probably more brain cells than Kefi.
00:28:38
Morgan
So we'll see how things go there.
00:28:40
Tackles and Tinnies
The cappuccino. So that's the guys at 2026. Now we're just going to quickly rattle off the guys who are 2027, which is majority of the rest of the team. So Alex Johnson, more than likely going to be breaking the record within the first three games more ago, you would think.
00:28:56
Morgan
Yeah, for sure. Well,
00:28:58
Tackles and Tinnies
And do you think that they're going to run onto the field?
00:29:02
Morgan
it depends where they're playing, to be honest. I think if it's Ali Arndt, you'd hope that he gets a chance to be celebrated by the fans.
00:29:13
Morgan
But yeah, it'd be cool.
00:29:13
Tackles and Tinnies
That'd be sick.
00:29:15
Morgan
I think in the AFL, they had Buddy Franklin get his thousand goals or whatever, and the whole crowd stormed the field. It was amazing.
00:29:23
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:29:24
Morgan
the NRL would be missing an opportunity, marketing wise, not allowing something like that to happen. so
00:29:29
Tackles and Tinnies
Did you see that they said that last year, though? The NRL put like a public announcement out, like, please do not rush the field, like, player welfare, blah, blah, blah. It's like, piss off. Yeah.
00:29:39
Morgan
It's a bluff, surely.
00:29:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, it's got to happen. It's got to happen. Get there, South Sydney fans. If you're around, get onto the field. Do tackles and tinnies proud. We're doing it from afar here. Brandon Smith, obviously we've talked about him in detail already. He's there 2027. Boston Garlick 2027.
00:29:56
Tackles and Tinnies
Campbell Graham, he's had a rotten run of injuries in the past couple of years, but he's also there 2027. Morgo, Campbell Graham, where does he play? Is he center or wing this year?
00:30:07
Morgan
It depends if he can go back to that kind of early 2024 form. I'll probably see him at the right centre. But again, I think he'd be keeping out of the side, Jack Whiten.
00:30:19
Tackles and Tinnies
Jack one. Yeah.
00:30:21
Morgan
So, yeah, it's going to be a really tough one. I think he's a better player than Whiten on his day, though. And definitely off the back fence, he's been a big beater eater for us and Greg's tackles like nothing. So he was a fringe New South Wales player in 20, started 2024. So we'll see how things go there.
00:30:42
Morgan
think it'd be a shame if he was on the wing. Yeah.
00:30:44
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. It could be a resurgence, but, yeah, that again, you've got a wealth of depth in the outside backs now, which is nice. Fafido, we talked about him, 2027. Ed Cossie talked about Edemarie, 2027. Ewan Akin, 2027. Isaiah Tass, bit an unsung hero.
00:31:03
Tackles and Tinnies
Played majority of the year last year. Filled in a number of positions, so what on Tass, 2027. Jack Wyden, again, 2027. jack wa and again Yeah, he's not slowing down.
00:31:14
Tackles and Tinnies
i think he's always had to fill so many roles at centre and at times of last year. Where do you prefer Jack Wadden, Morgo? Maybe in the Fords?
00:31:25
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:31:31
Morgan
Probably lacks a bit of pace to be an outside back, particularly with some of those other teams in the comp at the moment. But still a very rough solid player, great ball player and a hard defender as well.
00:31:37
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:31:43
Morgan
So does a job for us.
00:31:46
Tackles and Tinnies
I wouldn't mind seeing if like Talis Duncan or Fafita went down. Wouldn't mind seeing Wyden go there because then obviously we've got the Ty Munro situation we could talk about. But yeah, guy like him could obviously get an opportunity back on the wing. And then as you mentioned before, Campbell Graham could then shift to center. That's definitely an option later on.
00:32:02
Tackles and Tinnies
Jai Arrow shifted between lock, front row, second row, played majority of the year. And for a guy who's had many injuries in his career, I thought he was a fantastic. were thoughts on Arrow for 2026?
00:32:16
Morgan
I think he played half the season last year with no shoulder, so, and did a job for us.
00:32:19
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:32:21
Morgan
He's a great leader in the team of and of that pack in particular. And he's probably one of our main hopes for 2025, but yeah, 2025 with a good pre-season, no injuries under his belt, I think will have a big impact.
00:32:31
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:32:37
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. hundred percent. Do you prefer him a middle or on an edge?
00:32:41
Morgan
It's a tough one. I'd probably say in middle. I think he runs hard enough. He's a big enough body and a great defender as well. So take the sting out of that opposition pack when we can.
00:32:55
Tackles and Tinnies
I've been saying this on several of the other podcasts I've been doing and looking at like the the modern day front roll I think he fits it perfectly he's not so bulky and not fleet of foot I think he's all the above for that i think the aggression that he provides as well through the middle and he can play a bigger minutes as well sort of like a key on now he's obviously moved to the middle as well great example definitely prefer in the middle for sure So then we've also got guys 2027.
00:33:25
Tackles and Tinnies
Bud Sutherland, he was potentially leading, but he's re-upped, potentially starting a halfback. But again, we'll wait shortly for the top 19. Jonah Glover, talked about him coming over. Latrell Mitchell, 2027. Morgo, it's one of your favorite players.
00:33:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Where does Trell Mitt play? Obviously, started in year at center. I've said in the past I wouldn't mind seeing him play at 5'8". He's obviously can play fullback. Do you just want to play Luttrell at center so he's not doing as much work so hopefully get more games out of him What are your thoughts there?
00:33:58
Morgan
I think if we're to try and pick the best players for this team, Latrell's got to play centre at the moment. That said, I don't think he has as much impact at centre as he would from fullback, if that makes sense.
00:34:12
Morgan
I just think if you're fielding your best team, he needs to be centre.
00:34:13
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:34:16
Tackles and Tinnies
Do you reckon he's going to get that roving center position again?
00:34:21
Morgan
Yeah, I'd say so. I think it's in the best interest of the team. Jai Gray, obviously, we'll get to him a bit later, but I think he's still yet to find his offload game and his passing game. Once he has that, I think we'll be having a very different conversation. But at this point, I think the trail to centre, Jai Gray, doing his thing out the back. but Obviously, a very exciting time with that edge.
00:34:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Do you think if Cody Walker retires end of this year, would you like to see Latrell at five eight
00:34:49
Morgan
I think he'd do some damage at 5'8". He's obviously a great ball player, very solid kicking game. And like we've seen in defence, he's a game changer there as well.
00:35:01
Morgan
So, yeah, I'd love to see him at 5'8".
00:35:01
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:35:04
Morgan
And I think it's still going to be a very ectical edge to defend if you've got Luttrell feed her potentially.
00:35:17
Morgan
White and AJ running at you on one side. so
00:35:21
Tackles and Tinnies
crazy Stacked. Absolutely stacked. I love it personally. i think it's like you said Greg Inglis is your favorite player all the time. He's Greg Inglis 2.0, obviously not getting to the heights of what he's had terms of longevity, but Latrell's upside is definitely GI potential. So yeah, would love to see him get the ball more and maybe less running because again, he's at five eight But we'll talk about that later on. Peter Mamazales, he's there 2027. Does he start? Does he come off the bench?
00:35:54
Tackles and Tinnies
Time will tell. We'll talk about that in the top 19. Talis Duncan, you mentioned him before, Morgo, in regards a bit of a breakout sort of year when he got the opportunity. Can fill in in the middle, can play on the edge, can play center. Definitely love him on the edge.
00:36:10
Tackles and Tinnies
Definitely think he's starting. What letter grading would you give Talis Duncan for the 2025 season, Morgo?
00:36:19
Morgan
I don't think he's anything less than an A. He did nothing wrong.
00:36:22
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:36:24
Morgan
played Played his role both at back row and at centre. So great footwork, good speed and decent size, rock solid in defence.
00:36:35
Morgan
He's probably one of my standout players for last year.
00:36:39
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Couldn't agree more, mate. Couldn't agree more. Thomas Fletcher, 2027. And then the Ty Munro situation. He just gives me Lothie Camporera vibes. Like when he's on, he's on, but he's inconsistent to the best of the times. You got any quick comments for Ty Munro? Yeah.
00:36:56
Morgan
I think he probably won't start for the first part of the year. He's obviously lightning fast. He's got like bird shoulders or something. I think he's like injured his wing about a thousand times in the last two years. So hopefully he can overcome whatever's going on for him personally and overcome his weak shoulders as well and hopefully have a decent run at the season.
00:37:22
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Again, on his day, he could match up with anyone in regards to speed. and He's obviously had a couple of collarbone injuries, as you just mentioned, which is devastating to see.
00:37:32
Tackles and Tinnies
But the guys who are past the twenty twenty seven there's only one, two, three, four guys who are lucky enough to get that contract pass in. Your captain, your lock, New South Wales,
00:37:44
Tackles and Tinnies
slash Australian representative Cameron Murray, dearly missed coming back from that Achilles rupture, had no reason to play in the last game or the last two games. I come i think it was just one game you played. But anyway.
00:37:57
Tackles and Tinnies
He just shows the leadership that he has, again, being the captain, wanting to get out there for the boys, wanting to get that win, not wanting to be near the bottom of the table.
00:38:08
Tackles and Tinnies
What are your thoughts on Cameron Murray coming back and how do you project him to play in 2026?
00:38:17
Morgan
I think with a good pre-season under his belt, he's probably going to be around that 80-minute player, get back to where he was at pre-Achilles. Yeah, obviously, I think his reputation speaks for itself.
00:38:31
Morgan
He's rock-solid in defence. That quick play of the ball has been pretty crucial for us in previous seasons.
00:38:35
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:38:38
Morgan
So instrumental with a player like Mamazellas coming out from half behind him. I think we've got someone really fleet-footed like him. playing hooker, we're going to get a lot of opportunity from that, the way he plays footy. So looking forward to it. Hopefully doesn't sign for the Wallabies and play Unions.
00:38:58
Tackles and Tinnies
That's true too. And I honestly, man, I reckon if Cam Murray was healthy and he played for New South Wales, I don't think Queensland win personally. He's that much of a difference maker. So yeah, Rabideau's again the darling back there.
00:39:11
Tackles and Tinnies
Lachlan Hubner is another guy signed from 2028. I thought he had a breakout year. Didn't know too much about him besides this year. then my God, he's earned his stripes. He was a absolute workhorse through the middle tackle bot. He didest did his job. What quick thoughts on Hubner?
00:39:29
Morgan
Yeah, think Wayne dragged him down from the fins. He just looks like he's absolutely out on his feet from minute one, pretty much. I don't know how he can play as long as he does just ripping in defensively the way that he he did last year. So, yeah, I think he's a great player. I think he'll develop more in attack this season as well. And I'm looking forward to another season of the Hubbinator.
00:39:55
Tackles and Tinnies
I love that. Tavita Tertola, another guy signed to 2028. As you mentioned more he had a bit of an up and down season coming back from that injury.
00:40:06
Tackles and Tinnies
When he is healthy and he is confident in his body, he is one of the probably top 20 front rowers in the league. Still has upside. Quick word on Tertola.
00:40:19
Morgan
Yeah, I think like if he can get back to his form from maybe 2022, 23, he's going to be very helpful for us. We need a big body in that front row, so having someone like him out there is going to hopefully dint that line a bit more for players like Cody and Luttrell to play out the back of.
00:40:37
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:40:38
Morgan
That was something we missed a lot of last season. and We were moving backwards a fair bit, struggling to break that advantage line.
00:40:42
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:40:44
Morgan
Yeah. having some bigger forwards 100 metres is going to help us out.
00:40:49
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. 100%. And then the guy who signed the longest, the only guy signed until 2029, It's your fullback. It's the guy who's making all-star playing Latrell Mitchell move positions. It is Jai Gray.
00:41:03
Tackles and Tinnies
There was definitely murmurs probably one third of the way through the year that he was potentially moving to R360. Obviously, that all went to shit, and then he stayed and re-upped before that announcement was made. Yeah, what can you say about Jai Gray?
00:41:18
Tackles and Tinnies
He was leading the Dallium at some point throughout the year, so that's obviously huge. Meter eater, tackle bot, plays above his weight. Yeah, I thought he was very, very good and bit of a super coach darling as well. What your thoughts on the underdog, Jai Gray?
00:41:37
Morgan
Yeah, think like like you say, punches well above his weight. I think I was probably splitting hairs with my favourite player for the rabbit-o's between Cody and him for the last year.
00:41:48
Morgan
Obviously not Cody, he played two games.
00:41:50
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:41:50
Morgan
But yeah, obviously runs a lot of metres, breaks a lot of tackles for a small bloke. And I think once he can develop his pass and his offload, like he obviously breaks a lot of tackles, but when he can get a ball away,
00:42:03
Morgan
to an outside back for an edge, I think he's going to create a lot more opportunities for us. So hopefully that's something he's been working on in the off-season. And, yeah, obviously, off-office player on his day, super quick.
00:42:18
Morgan
Aside from him and Munro, I think speed is something that this team really lacks. So, yeah, we need him out there and looking forward to another season of giant fullbacks.
00:42:30
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, 100%. And I think having, yeah, Jai Gray bursting at the back, he's just the energizer bunny. He's got that work rate, which Latrell Mitchell is like a Hamiso, more of a Ferrari. It's kind of good to get that other guy in there where Latrell can just be his best in short of bursts. I think that complements him really, really well. I think if Jai Gray can develop that passing game as well, maybe a bit of a grubber to just round out his game a little bit more,
00:42:58
Tackles and Tinnies
the so like the sky's limit in my eyes. So yeah, doesn't matter how big you are. just proves that. What is he? 5'5", Morgan something?
00:43:05
Morgan
I think he's my height, which is sad.
00:43:07
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, youre like crazy. Well, mate, there's still a chance. We're at 30, but there's still a chance. But guys, that's the contracts moving all the way forward between to 2029 with Jai Gray. But looks like by 2027, guys, you potentially have a lot of cap space to either revamp your roster completely or, yeah, get some marquee signings with current core.
00:43:30
Tackles and Tinnies
So that's interesting to note. We've talked about some guys and gave their roses in detail, but I'd like to go over some unders and over performers just quickly again, Morgo. I had some bright spots here with Jai Gray. We just talked about him, so I don't have to over too much, but he was fantastic. All the roses to him.
00:43:46
Tackles and Tinnies
We talked about already Arrow and Kulamatangi. Both of them were mainstays in the forwards. the Pretty much the only two guys who didn't get injured in the forward pack and both had to shift from the second row into the middle out necessity. i thought they were great.
00:44:02
Tackles and Tinnies
Alex Johnson, so close to try scoring record. And considering he had so many guys in and out of that team and obviously he had some injuries here and there as well. I thought he was still very good, all things considering his age as well. And the other guy I want to give some roses to is Talis Duncan. You glazed him before, and I couldn't glaze him enough as well. On his day, he could do it with the best of them, arguably one of the best of them. So, yeah, Talis Duncan was is fantastic. Have you got anyone to add or comment on top of what I just said, Morbs?
00:44:37
Morgan
I think he hit the nail pretty well on the head. I think Jamie Humphrey throughout that first part of the season was pretty instrumental to our success.
00:44:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
00:44:46
Morgan
I think he ended up at halfback out of necessity as well and kicking game was pretty handy, obviously good in defence, big body. Yeah, played pretty well. Yeah.
00:44:58
Morgan
hats off to him and yeah Duncan like you say I think he's going to be a fringe representative player in 2026 sky's the limit to him as well he kind of reminds me a bit of a Liam Martin just like a bit of a madman would run into a burning building for your team so yeah looking forward to him 2026.
00:44:58
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:45:05
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:45:11
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. True. Like that.
00:45:17
Tackles and Tinnies
I love the a love how he wears the headgear that takes it off or doesn't have that headgear on that puts it on.
00:45:18
Morgan
twenty twenty feet
00:45:23
Tackles and Tinnies
I like that little psychological warfare that he does with the opposition. So we're about to go through the underperformers, but it could be underperformers or question marks because expectations obviously high for the guys I'm about to mention But injuries, the caveat of injuries is a big thing. But Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker couldn't stay in the park.
00:45:44
Tackles and Tinnies
Both had multiple soft tissue soft tissue injuries. When they were healthy and they were playing, they were monumental to your team. And there's going to be a moment that we're going to talk about later for the good and bad for Latrell Mitchell. Again, Cody Walker on his day is arguably one of the best halves, has to do so much for the team in attack, but delivers in abundances when he is healthy.
00:46:08
Tackles and Tinnies
Definitely question marks moving forward for 2026. Can they stay healthy? The spine obviously had plenty of injuries. You're testing out Latrella at the back. You had Jack Widen in there, Jamie Humphries, Peter Mamazales. Yeah, you had just guys left, right, and center. Again, that came down to injuries. so And Lewis Dodd, another guy you could chuck in the spine for the 20 minutes, but he was a big talking point for majority of the season due to the fact that he was on big bickies and, yeah, he just didn't fit into the culture. So,
00:46:37
Tackles and Tinnies
They were disappointing. Hopefully, Morgan, I think you agree with this, obviously, but Latrell and Cody, if they're there and they're healthy and they play, let's say, 20 out of the 24 games, you guys are probably top eight, correct?
00:46:48
Morgan
Yeah, 100%. I think like with a player like Bethita and possibly Duncan, if he stays on that edge out there, it's going to take a lot of the work rate off them, particularly on that edge, and they'll be able to take a back step, maybe rest their hamstrings for a couple of minutes.
00:47:08
Tackles and Tinnies
Agreed. Yes, that's and and under and over performers. Now I've got some best moments and Morgan, I knew you were coming on eventually. So I got two moments and...
00:47:19
Tackles and Tinnies
For the non-South Sydney fans, you're probably going remember this one and like this one, but this one was in round 11. It was against the West Tigers and Uppy Coruscant got the ball off the ruck and it was one-on-one with Latrell Mitchell and just did left, right, goodnight. And Latrell Mitchell literally you got ankle broken like an NBO 2K.
00:47:39
Tackles and Tinnies
Love to see it. Coruscant went all the way through and scored that try. However, they did... win the match, the Rabbitohs, but i thought that was a funny moment.
00:47:49
Tackles and Tinnies
But do you remember that game,
00:47:52
Morgan
Oh, yeah. How could you forget? I think, like, obviously I'm a huge Luttrell fan, but I love that. I think seeing a good kind of footwork moment in NRL is like the pinnacle for me. So, yeah, hats off to Appy. Obviously a very crafty player and obviously didn't do many great things when he was at South. But, yeah, good to see him performing at Tigers and hopefully they have a good year this year as well.
00:48:20
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Tigers, I just did that podcast of Chris, guys. So by the time you're listening to this one with Morgo, you'll see the one with Chris. We just did about an hour and a half talking West Tigers. So again, that's going to be in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, you know where it is. Go check that one out and all the other reviews that we have in Tackles and Tinnies.
00:48:39
Tackles and Tinnies
But, Morgo, the actual best moment, I think you just mentioned it too earlier on the podcast, but it was round 10 against the Brisbane Broncos. It was Latrell Mitchell's 49-meter two-point field goal. My God, what a kick.
00:48:53
Tackles and Tinnies
What a kick. It looked effortless, man. Like, what would what was your moment? do you Are you similar or are you something different?
00:49:00
Morgan
I think like between that one and the Broncos win over the Raiders, were the two most incredible things from the season for me. yeah, obviously kicking a 49 meter field goal is no main fate.
00:49:14
Morgan
I think I've tried it at TRL a couple of times and I've probably managed maybe 4.9 meters. So, yeah, it was incredible.
00:49:21
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, 60-degree weight.
00:49:22
Morgan
And then the little cheeky try at the end, I think after the siren, um, siren,
00:49:25
Tackles and Tinnies
Oh, yeah.
00:49:28
Morgan
Yeah, just fantastic.
00:49:28
Tackles and Tinnies
That's definitely worth an noting.
00:49:29
Morgan
And if you're a super coach fan and had him in your team, it was a an extra special moment. So yeah, that's awesome.
00:49:37
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, the junk points at the end there with that little flop over try. Yeah, that was a bit of a debacle. I remember dissecting that on the tackles and tinnies with Gazzy early on in the season. But yeah, that's funny as... But man, I think that kick went 70 metres. It was just flying. It was still going. It went past the post and it was still going up in the air. like That's what I'm saying at five eight man. There's monumental upside with this kicking game.
00:50:00
Tackles and Tinnies
If you just get like, again, you could Cody Walker, for example, at halfback on the trial, Mitchell does all the long kicking. It could work long-term. It could work long-term. But yeah, that's my favorite moment. And Morgan, I'm glad you are similar, but the Broncos, man, might have to get you back on for that one. I think I'm going to have about 10 boys glazing the Broncos when we do that review. And we're going to do one last on tackles and tinnies just before the season starts.
00:50:23
Tackles and Tinnies
But we've got rookies and players to watch. We talked about these boys before. You talked about LeBlanc. We talked about Jonah Glava, Ashton Ward. Ty Munro, I think, probably has the most upside for this team.
00:50:35
Tackles and Tinnies
It's inevitable that one of the outside backs is going to go down. Ty Munro is arguably the next guy up.
00:50:42
Tackles and Tinnies
Attacking prowess, speed to burn for days. definitely a guy and has a good career ahead of him. He can sort his life out. Is there anyone else or players to watch that we should be looking at Morgan for 2026?
00:50:57
Morgan
I think we might have mentioned him earlier, Ashton Ward. If he can get a good season under his belt and maybe get a few minutes, hopefully not at the expense of Cody or any of our other star players, he's going to really shine. and I think having a player like him working with Cody and Luttrell is going to be a fantastic kind of combination for the team and good for his development as well. Yeah.
00:51:24
Morgan
We've touched on Talos. I think he's already kind of at that borderline superstar level. But, yeah, I think it's it's going to be exciting times. We haven't got a lot of good South juniors out there at the moment that we've re-signed.
00:51:37
Morgan
I think we've poached a bit from the Dragons and stuff. So it's going to be an exciting year nonetheless.
00:51:40
Tackles and Tinnies
yep
00:51:43
Morgan
I think I'll probably tune into a few more reserve-grade games and suss it out.
00:51:50
Tackles and Tinnies
100%. So that's our players to watch. Now, guys, for the ones who haven't heard of our podcast before, just tuning into these reviews slash previews for every single team, what I've got here is the 2026 Strength of Schedule from Fox Sports. So what I've done, or what they've done, I should say, they've collated all the data in regards to home games, away games, when they're playing it, is it during origin time, when are the buy situators, like is that near origin time, is the buy at the start of the year, like round one, is it in round 27? What teams are they versing in the top eight from 2025, the top four 2025 and the bottom four 2025? Essentially, they collate all that data as well as the teams they verse twice and collate that into a numerical number.
00:52:35
Tackles and Tinnies
So one being the hardest and 17 being the easiest. So for example, when I did the Manly Sea Eagles review, the Manly Sea Eagles had the 17th number, which was the easiest draw in the comp.
00:52:41
Morgan
<unk>
00:52:48
Tackles and Tinnies
Morgan, for you, my friend, the Fox Sports strength of schedule has designated you as the number one hardest strength of schedule. Before I get into the data, what's your thoughts on that?
00:53:02
Morgan
oh i think looking at the teams we're versing we've got dolphins garbage roosters garbage bulldogs garbage freighters all right knights garbage storm all right heels garbage sharks garbage so i think we're probably i don't know where they got that data from i think we'll be doing pretty well to be honest i think roosters are going to have a side this year doggies did a bit last year
00:53:28
Morgan
And I think it'll be really interesting to see how Eels go with Pezzet at half and hopefully some a few minutes in the legs for Moses as well. So, yeah, it's going to be a top tough draw.
00:53:38
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:53:42
Morgan
But again, I think it looks a lot harder because of how unders we were last season. So, yeah, we'll see see how we rock up in round one and see where we think that that draw sits then.
00:53:48
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Very true.
00:53:57
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Well, from a non-biased point of view, so the teams they play twice as Dolphins, I actually got them top six. I think they're going to be absolutely unreal. They've got depth in every single position. I think Dolphins are going to be absolute smoky chance for top four, personally. I think they've got that type of upside.
00:54:17
Tackles and Tinnies
Roosters, Recy Robson, DCE, Tedesco is there. Walker's obviously had a full season back now post ACL. All their young forwards, they're going very, very good. Bulldogs, does Steven Crichton play fullback? Guys, I just posted a YouTube slash TikTok slash shorts, you know, the bloody drill. But I just posted a video regarding the Bulldogs and their best 19.
00:54:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Does Steven Crichton play fullback? I think he does. Morgan, do you reckon Critter's going to play fullback for the Dogs this year?
00:54:49
Morgan
I think when you look at that dog side, Connor Tracy is good and is I guess, tradesman like he was out on the field throughout last season.
00:55:03
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:55:06
Morgan
Obviously, he runs a lot of metres, depends okay, but if you've got someone like Critter out the back, I don't know i don't know hey you can leave him out of that position.
00:55:16
Morgan
Definitely a go for round one, see how he goes. He might move back to centre, but
00:55:21
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:55:21
Morgan
Yeah, obviously has so much impact. He's quick, he's got good size, so, and the work rate as well. I think I wish I had fullback with the work for I have Jai Gray, but
00:55:28
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
00:55:32
Tackles and Tinnies
yeah But he's got the size too.
00:55:35
Morgan
an above five foot fullback with that work rate.
00:55:36
Tackles and Tinnies
He's got the size. Yeah. And, i mate, I posted two videos yesterday and I've just got people absolutely rage baiting me in the comment section just saying, Crit is the best center in the game. He's the best defender on the edge. I'm like, you don't understand. Like in the last five weeks of the season before he got injured, he was shifting to fullback in the red zone. Connor Tracy was going to center. That's one clear indicator. He signed until the end of 2031. He's 25 years old.
00:56:04
Tackles and Tinnies
at the position where they're lacking, as you just mentioned, like he has the X factor. Connor Tracy's solid. He's probably like a B rated player. Stephen Crimes is an A plus rated player and he's your captain.
00:56:12
Morgan
Okay.
00:56:16
Tackles and Tinnies
you're going to have influence all around the field. Not saying Connor Tracy can't make tackles, but bloody Stephen Cridom one-on-one. Good luck. Good luck. That's what I'm saying. Tell me if I'm wrong, Tackles and Tinnies listeners, because I reckon Critter's going be at fullback. I'm going to time stamp this, and when I'm right, I'm going be laughing because he'd be straining my super coach team at $600,000. Center wing, dual position. If you know, you know.
00:56:38
Tackles and Tinnies
Raiders, top four still, Morgz? Surely.
00:56:42
Morgan
Oh, it'll be interesting to see how they go without Bogarty at seven. I think he obviously had a few pretty lackluster moments throughout the back end, but he's just a reliable half, good kicking game, good speed and a good game manager as well, which I think complemented Ethan Strange super well. But yeah, it depends who's in there next. I think Kobe Black they're saying might be half or...
00:57:12
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, so Kobe Black has, just saw today, actually NRL Physio posted something on his Instagram. He's actually got nerve damage, so he's not going to be there for the start of the season.
00:57:23
Tackles and Tinnies
Ricky Stewart also said in the media that Ethan Sanders will be taking the goal kicking, so so it's a pretty clear indicator that Sanders will have first crack. Then obviously Kobe Black will be the two IC there.
00:57:35
Tackles and Tinnies
or quickly run through this. Newcastle Knights, they should be better. Obviously, they've got Caelan Ponga back healthy. Dylan Brown, huge recruit. Fletcher Sharp coming back from that devastating injury.
00:57:47
Tackles and Tinnies
Not so deep in the forward pack, but and they've obviously lost Kai Pierce-Pool, but I still think they'll be okay. There won't be a walkover. Melbourne Storm, still clinical. Might be getting Zachy Lomax. Who knows what's happening there? They're going to court. Did you see that, Morgz?
00:58:04
Morgan
Yeah, I say hope hope the NRL and the Eagles win that one. I think it's a pretty long move from him, but we'll see.
00:58:15
Tackles and Tinnies
Oh, mate, surprisingly the NRL might get involved if the Eels don't let him play. i think it's the other way around, which is funny enough.
00:58:23
Morgan
the
00:58:23
Tackles and Tinnies
But I think it's a bit of a piss-poor effort that the Melbourne Storm only offered $200,000. And I didn't know this, but the $200,000 that the Melbourne Storm give to the Parramatta Eels isn't salary cap relief.
00:58:37
Tackles and Tinnies
It's only just like, here's $200,000 cash. You can use that to get a new sauna or you can use this to get a new staff member. it's nothing to do with players. So I didn't know that, which was interesting.
00:58:49
Tackles and Tinnies
Anyway, Parramatta Eels, I can't pick them, bro. i don't know if you heard my podcast for their review slash preview. I got them like 16th, 15th.
00:59:00
Tackles and Tinnies
I can't pick them. on They could be bloody top eight. But if Mitchell Moses goes down, they got Pezzit there. But I just think there's so much depth throughout the league. Like South Sydney, for example, they could be bottom four or they could be top four. And I think Parramatta are on the exact same boat there.
00:59:16
Tackles and Tinnies
Crazy to pick. And then the Sharkies, obviously Craig Fitzgibbon done a fantastic job there in the past couple years. Top four regularly, just missed out off for and against this year.
00:59:23
Morgan
<unk>
00:59:28
Tackles and Tinnies
Almost got to the prelim final. Sorry, they did get to the prelim final, just lost to Melbourne Storm in the prelim. Again, pretty good. But Gainesville's 2025 top eight teams. They've got 13 Gaines, South Sydney. Gainesville's top four teams, seven in Gainesville's bottom four teams.
00:59:46
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Again, I think the league is going to be so good and transparent like it was this year. I don't think that really matters, to be honest. I think any team on their day is going to win. But there's some things to note.
00:59:57
Tackles and Tinnies
So they've obviously got your buy rounds. got an early buy in round four, which isn't too ideal.
01:00:00
Morgan
I'm out of there.
01:00:03
Tackles and Tinnies
Then you've got a buy in round 13 and 16. So you're going to have a lot of games. So round 17 to 27, about 10 games there, are all going to be back to back to back to back with no break.
01:00:15
Tackles and Tinnies
It's also worthy to note you haven't got a home game until round five, which is also going to make life hard. However, you do finish well. You're going to have a core from 24, 25. You go to in round then back to a core versus the round that right?
01:00:32
Tackles and Tinnies
twenty seven so pretty hard there yeah we'll see again
01:00:37
Morgan
Sorry, I might have to quickly chat this on charge.
01:00:40
Tackles and Tinnies
so i was that night
01:00:43
Tackles and Tinnies
I'll keep rambling.
01:00:43
Morgan
I'll be back. I'll just get the chargey going.
01:00:44
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep. Yep. Yeah, so we off there. So I think let's make the schedule.
01:00:49
Morgan
yeah
01:00:50
Tackles and Tinnies
Again, that's going to be quite difficult. But we'll pause the podcast there, guys. I'll let Morgan come back and we'll go from there.
01:00:57
Tackles and Tinnies
All right, Tackle Tinnies, we are back. Morgan's technical difficulties, stock standard there, mate. But yeah, interesting to note, obviously, their strength of schedule, I think every team's pretty cooked, not going to lie. I think that's the biggest variable for the Rabideaus, Morgs, is their round 17, round 27. No buy, no break.
01:01:15
Tackles and Tinnies
They could just be in the depths of it, and they're probably going to have to win, definitely against the Roosters. Bulldogs and Warriors, all those teams, maybe in the Eels, Sharks, Storm, my God. Like you get a pretty horrid run. a lot of those teams be fighting for top eight. So you might not be able rest.
01:01:31
Tackles and Tinnies
That's really interesting to note. So again, Tackle and Teeth listeners, if you have a list of my other podcasts on the other teams reviews and re previews, what I've been doing is getting the top 19 players. So the people who do not know this,
01:01:48
Tackles and Tinnies
the NRL has pretty much stamped it. They don't care what the teams think in regards to management and or coaches. They're making a rule saying we're going to have six players on the bench and only four out of the six players will be able to play each game. So for example, if Jersey 14, 15, 16, 17, as per normal play, Jersey 18 and 19, who are the extended bench, will then be the emergency reserves if case there's HIAs or any misdemeanors from foul play.
01:02:17
Tackles and Tinnies
So... the way teams now have to structure their benches will be slightly different. You won't just have to rely on a guy like Connor Watson or a Bud Sutherland. You'll be able especially Bud Sutherland, more related to the Sassani Rabideaus, but now you actually be able to get guys who can be on that extended bench as an outside back or as a designated half or as a designated hooker. So it's going to be more user-friendly for all viewers and it's going to be more competitive, particularly if a half goes down.
01:02:47
Tackles and Tinnies
So what I've got, Morgz, and we'll go through each position. just want to give me a yes, no, if you think they are going to be in the team. And if you've got someone different there, just come butt in straight away.
01:03:00
Tackles and Tinnies
Again, this is for round one, and I'll also give you their best 19 because obviously Jamie Humphries will not be there in round one. So at fullback, Morgz, I've got Jai Gray. Any rebuttal there?
01:03:12
Morgan
No, not solid.
01:03:13
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, lock and load, 100%. Okay, on the wings, currently their best squad. I've got Alex Johnson on the left, Campbell Graham on the right. Any rebuttals there?
01:03:25
Morgan
If I'm able to get Campbell Graham into centre, I am. But yeah, as we're going to get to it, I think you've got Whiten there at the moment, whether he stays there or maybe goes to a to an edge or Yeah.
01:03:33
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:03:41
Morgan
It tends to be seen. But, yeah, Campbell Graham, I think, may be more of the centre.
01:03:45
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep. Again, this the Gold Coast Titans trying to fit all these gun players into one position. You can't just do it. So yeah, Campbell Graham at the right wing, accompanying him on the right hand side. I got Jackie Whiten.
01:03:59
Tackles and Tinnies
Again, we could go to second row. It could go to five, eight. Yeah, it could be anywhere. Jackie Whiten is a gun footballer and then Latrell Mitchell on the left. Any debates on the centers?
01:04:10
Morgan
No, I think yeah other than the white and grey and thing, pretty dang on.
01:04:16
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep. Currently I've got Cody Walker at number six, could definitely play number seven if need b but be, but are happy with Cody Walker at five, eight, start the year?
01:04:25
Morgan
Yeah, for sure.
01:04:27
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep. So I've also at number seven, I've got Bud Sutherland to start the year because Jamie Humphries is not there, but in a perfect world, Jamie Humphries would be the halfback. Any rebuttal there?
01:04:42
Morgan
I think maybe between Bud, it'd be cool to see Ash and Ward get a run there. Obviously kicking game a little bit untested at this point, maybe with a bit more of a quadricep on him, he'll be launching them a bit further.
01:04:57
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:04:58
Morgan
But yeah, it'd be cool to see him get a run. Sullivan, i think he he obviously did a great job for us for the first half of the year as well.
01:05:09
Morgan
think he got us the win in that Roosters game too. So happy to see him there. But yeah, it's pretty solid. Can't argue with that.
01:05:16
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Agreed. Again, it's kind of good too because we've still got a month to go in the offseason. My girlfriend's just been absolutely silly bug is right in front of me. But yeah, Ashton Moore, definitely smoky chance to get there as well.
01:05:29
Tackles and Tinnies
Competition for spots is always fantastic. Front row, Morgz, I've got Jai Arrow and Keon. Any rebuttal there?
01:05:37
Morgan
No, I think that's a bit of a lock there or maybe Totola over the Arrow, Arrow off the bench, possibly.
01:05:42
Tackles and Tinnies
Hmm. Yep. Don't mind that either. Both could be good. But yeah, got Arrow and Keon front row at Hooker. All reports say Brandon Smith. I'd love to see that redemption story. Obviously, we had that bit of the segment earlier on in the podcast. If you're just watching the short form video of this, guys, check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts to our see the Brandon Smith segment there.
01:06:08
Tackles and Tinnies
But yeah, thoughts on Hooker position? Are you going to Peter Mamazales maybe or...
01:06:14
Morgan
I think splitting hairs between Brandon and Peter. I think Brandon may be off the bench, but like you say, I think taking the the sting out of that forward pack to begin the game might do us some favours in the back end.
01:06:27
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep. Yep. Yeah, it could be much of a muchness. But yeah, I think Brandon Smith starts the game and then Peter Mamazales, as we talked about earlier, will just be that more of an impact guy, a bit more leg speed.
01:06:38
Tackles and Tinnies
Second row, I don't think there's any rebuttal here, mate. But Fafita on the left, Talis Duncan on the right.
01:06:44
Morgan
No, I think that's the best 11, 12 and 13 in the conference.
01:06:48
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. And then obviously Cameron Murray at lock. He's captain. He's your mainstay. He's your hero. Yeah, he's just a gun. So yeah, your Ford pack all of a sudden in out of nowhere with Arrow, Smith, Keon, Fafita, Duncan, Murray, that's pretty formidable. And it'd be interesting to see, Morgan, if we looked at all the Ford packs and compared them all, where would the Rabideaus rank? Going off name alone, top five maybe?
01:07:17
Morgan
Yeah, top five. I think maybe Bronx, Storm are up there. i don't know if you can pick many teams above them. Maybe Raiders.
01:07:25
Tackles and Tinnies
Raiders maybe, yeah.
01:07:28
Morgan
Yeah, no, they're pretty solid side.
01:07:28
Tackles and Tinnies
Sharks maybe, Warriors maybe. Yeah. But yeah, unreal. Upside in particular with your back row and Key on there. Now, the bench. This is a big debate. And again, I'm going to be a bit chopping and changing because we've got the ideal 19 players and then I've got the round one players.
01:07:48
Tackles and Tinnies
So what I've got here, and I'm just going to change the numbers on the fly here, Morgz, but I've got for round one due to suspension, I've got Peter Mamozalas at jersey 14. If not, I would actually have Bud Sutherland if Jamie Humphries was there.
01:08:05
Tackles and Tinnies
i That just depends. That's like your utility sort of player. If Bud Sutherland is also starting, i would actually like an an outside back on the bench. And that outside back could either be Isaiah Tass, Ty Munro, or Ed Cossie. I currently got Ed Cossie because I think he's a bit more versatile than just having a winger.
01:08:31
Tackles and Tinnies
I guess you could have Tass there. He's pretty good. Who would you have as your arm outside back utility, Morgz?
01:08:38
Morgan
I think Munro might be in jail and Tars might have an ACL for the rest of the season.
01:08:42
Tackles and Tinnies
Oh, for that task.
01:08:42
Morgan
So I think we're going to be struggling in the outside backs for depth, but maybe Cossie, maybe Aitken.
01:08:43
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
01:08:47
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
01:08:52
Morgan
And again, I think like, yeah, it'll be interesting to see what they, what they do with the, like Whiten could potentially go into a bench position as well and do that utility kind of,
01:09:04
Morgan
edge slash center role as well. So, um, So,
01:09:08
Tackles and Tinnies
yeah What about Tassay? Yeah, ACL. Yeah, good shout there. So we'll refund the bench, but I've got as my front rowers, I've got Totola and I've got Ewan Aiken and I've got Hubner.
01:09:24
Tackles and Tinnies
And I don't know who I'm going to pick for my last spot. Is there a guy off the top of your head, Morgz, who would fit that spot? You could get like a Liam LeBlanc in there. You could get like a maybe a Bronson Garlic.
01:09:38
Tackles and Tinnies
Who are you thinking?
01:09:40
Morgan
I'm thinking LeBlanc, to be honest.
01:09:42
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:09:42
Morgan
And Garlick as well. I forgot about him. He could slot into that 14 pretty easily as well.
01:09:47
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. I'm going to go this on the fly. Do you think Garlick is a bit redundant with Bud there and Mamazellas?
01:09:59
Morgan
I think it's going to be a tough one with him and Mamazellas. I think he's more of a yeah classic kind of hooker player. He's a bit more solid than Mamazellus.
01:10:11
Morgan
Could probably do like a a bit of a hybrid Brandon Mamazellus kind of job out there.
01:10:16
Tackles and Tinnies
Hmm.
01:10:17
Morgan
He's got speed, bit less size than cheese, but big enough to not get steamrolled like Mamazellus might get in the middle.
01:10:26
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:10:28
Morgan
So, yeah, I think, yeah, splitting hairs with him. Mamazellus, obviously, so dynamic from hooker.
01:10:34
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:10:35
Morgan
kind of plays a play pretty similar role to Cookie in that sense. But yeah, tough one. Bit redundant, maybe.
Team Selections and Lineup Suggestions
01:10:43
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Okay. Well, obviously Hubner's a lock. And I think the blessing is that you can start Brandon Smith and then he could probably come on as that next middle forward. So I guess that's good.
01:10:55
Tackles and Tinnies
You can even potentially chuck Talis Duncan off a feeder in the middle as well if need be. They've both done it in the past before as well. So i'm just going to go off what I see round one Morgs and intervene here. So this is my 19 now. I've got Ed Koss is my utility back, Tevita Totola, LeBlanc, Habner, Mamazalis, Aitken.
01:11:20
Tackles and Tinnies
Would you have anyone instead? Maybe Sean Kepi potentially?
01:11:27
Morgan
keppy can stay as far away from my team as possible
01:11:28
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Yeah.
01:11:33
Morgan
uh nah i think other than garlic munro if he's cleared by a judge might be able to slot into that team munro would be my winger if he was good to go and no legal struggles so
01:11:40
Tackles and Tinnies
yeah
01:11:50
Morgan
And then that would leave me with a bit of a headache around the Campbell Graham, Jack Whiten thing. But for once in probably three years, we've got a bit of depth, which is good.
Importance of Medical Staff and Player Positions
01:12:01
Tackles and Tinnies
Yes, 100%. Well, guys, as you as you can tell, the yeah going back and forth in Morgo, we are struggling. So we want to hear from you, the bench for you guys. I think your starting third team is pretty lock and load, but especially with this top nine team with those six players and position-specific guys now,
01:12:20
Tackles and Tinnies
you might be lacking in some certain areas. Who would you guys pick in your top six? Let us know in the comments. Definitely interested to hear that one. Now, probably the biggest storylines, health, Morgz. Again, we talked about earlier on the podcast regarding the full clean out of the SNC medical staff.
01:12:42
Tackles and Tinnies
Surely it's got to be better. The troll at center, if that doesn't work, does he go to 5'8 to accommodate some other players? If Cody Walker goes down or they decide to shift him to the bench, The Dave Fafita effect, is he going to finally get back to prime Fafita mode or is he still washed? Going off all footage, definitely not washed.
01:13:02
Tackles and Tinnies
Is the Jamie Humphries, Cody Walker situation going to gel? Can Humphries get that contract extension? going to come to the bench? he going to play middle?
Team Cohesion and Key Player Roles
01:13:12
Tackles and Tinnies
Another question there. And is the hardest draw in the comp? going to be too much of a hurdle to overcome for the Rabideaus to reach their full potential. Going off some of those storylines there, Morgz, what do you think is gonna be the biggest one and most influential then for their success?
01:13:30
Morgan
I think, yeah, going off last year, obviously staying on the park, if we can keep that team together and get some cohesion working with our, particularly that left edge, I think the years prior to that, that right edge really fired as well with Graham. So getting those combinations back is going to be huge.
01:13:48
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:13:48
Morgan
I think we showed a lot last year that when we when we had all the players on the field and we were having the trail throw and cut out passes from halfway down the field it's it's getting us results so yeah looking forward to that and then I think obviously for feeder coming into that side as well it's really sad to see Kualmatangi obviously leaving season but having feeder come in a cap space I think it's going to be a really promising season and
01:14:21
Morgan
hopefully he can live up to his potential, play by some of that Broncos footy and get us the premiership.
01:14:25
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:14:30
Tackles and Tinnies
Do you reckon for feeders getting back into origin this year?
01:14:34
Morgan
Honestly, like, it's going to be so hard to tell. I don't think he ever was kind of origin level when he was playing at the time, maybe a season or so, but...
01:14:47
Morgan
Yeah, if he can get some combinations happening with his halves, there's no, his ceiling's obviously so high. So if he can play some good footy consistently, then yeah, I see no reason why he can't get back into that origin spot.
01:15:03
Tackles and Tinnies
I think, yeah. the ceiling is just through the roof. Arguably, he's the best attacking seconder on the game.
Predictions and Concerns for Upcoming Season
01:15:10
Tackles and Tinnies
And I love how Broncos even at the tight end, 10 meters out, penalty, quick tap, day for feeder, just barnstorm straight over the line. Like if they're five to 10 meters out, every single time the time is like day for feed is tapping and going, tapping and going.
01:15:24
Tackles and Tinnies
I don't think it's, yeah, it's to interesting, be interesting. So tackles titties viewers, I want you to tell us, what is the most influential moment or a situation that's going to happen for the Rabbitohs in 2026? Let us know in the comments.
01:15:39
Tackles and Tinnies
There's so much to discuss. So again, that's going to really help us gain some traction in the algorithm. one of the last things want to talk about, Morgan, is our 2026 ladder prediction.
01:15:51
Tackles and Tinnies
Okay, so again, we could look at talent on the park. We could look at depth. We can look at strength of schedule. We can look at... injury consistency, we can look at upside and all these things synthesized into one little idea to get our prediction.
01:16:08
Tackles and Tinnies
I've got mine, Morgz, and I think their prediction or there where they're going to rank on the ladder is sixth to eighth. I think they're making the top eight health pending where you got them.
01:16:21
Morgan
One.
01:16:24
Tackles and Tinnies
That's cat.
01:16:25
Morgan
No, I don't mind six to eight. I think, like you say, it's going to take them a little while, I think, at the start of the season to get their combinations gelling again. Yeah, if they can stay on the park, I think maybe five and under. I don't see them making top spot. But, yeah, can make they get into the finals, they can pretty much go anywhere. Yeah.
01:16:48
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, agreed.
01:16:49
Morgan
I'm looking forward to it. I don't see it them going bottom four again. I think they've got a bit of depth this season. Obviously, a new strength and conditioning team. I think that side with 60% of the players running on the field every week is going to probably be top 10 and up.
01:17:09
Morgan
But, yeah, hopefully these new trainers from Penrith can do some wonders. and Yeah, maybe... run in front of some kickers or something and get us a few wins.
01:17:20
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Go ask Jaden Campbell, that one, for sure. But as you mentioned, man, bottom four was their floor.
01:17:25
Morgan
Yeah.
01:17:28
Tackles and Tinnies
Until they can prove they're healthy, man, it's like literally two years in a row they can't stay healthy. You'd think the new S&C staff would be beneficial to them. I want to see it.
01:17:38
Tackles and Tinnies
I want to see it. Dave Favita hasn't been healthy
Comparison with Top Teams
01:17:40
Tackles and Tinnies
either. Cody Walker, Latrell, proven soft tissue injuries left, right, and center. Got some older guys in there. Yeah, Keyon's had a lot of wear and tear from last year. Jai Arrow, same thing.
01:17:52
Tackles and Tinnies
It would definitely be interesting. Definitely interesting. But do you reckon they could get top four? It's pretty stacked this year.
01:18:00
Morgan
Yeah, I don't know. You've got, I think Roosters are probably, Roosters Roosters might be the team this year to beat with DCE and Robson in there.
01:18:10
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:18:11
Morgan
Crichton's last year, the Roosters as well, so he'll have everything to play for.
01:18:17
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
01:18:18
Morgan
Broncos, probably the benchmark last year. I don't think they've really lost any anyone from that premiership winning team. Raiders, I think, are going to be kind of They could go either way. don't see them getting that one spot again without Fogarty, but Saunders or Black have both been pretty promising.
01:18:40
Morgan
i think I've watched a couple Origin under-20s games or whatever, and they've absolutely lit it up.
01:18:45
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
01:18:46
Morgan
So it'll be interesting to see what that young team will do.
01:18:47
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep.
01:18:50
Morgan
I think they're going to be like a future kind of Penrith side.
01:18:54
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep, definitely.
01:18:54
Morgan
a bit of a dynasty with all their young players coming through. It's a bit scary. but And
Player Position Changes and Longevity
01:19:00
Morgan
again, like i think...
01:19:00
Tackles and Tinnies
Sharky's in dogs, mate, too. Like the Stephen Croydon, here he goes, pull back there. Upside's going to better. That's going to be a tricky one. Sharky's obviously there and about. So top four, I think a lot of things have to go their way.
01:19:14
Tackles and Tinnies
And again, man, i as I said at the start of the episode, they're all like one or two wins from almost last place and they're one or two wins from like 12. So, so much can happen. So this is what we always do in the podcast, Morgz. We get ChatGPT to ask. We ask it some questions regarding 2026 predictions and we call it the capital fact segment. So cap being that's not happening, fact being 100%, that's definitely happening.
01:19:37
Tackles and Tinnies
The first one, Morgz, I'll get you to answer. Cap or fact, South's roster got better, but the draw keeps their bottom four away. Anyway, sorry.
01:19:48
Tackles and Tinnies
Cap or fact.
01:19:50
Morgan
Definite cap. Yeah, I don't see him going bottom four with the injuries even this year. So, yeah.
01:19:58
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, I say cap too, man. I... Too much talent.
01:20:00
Morgan
Top four or nothing.
01:20:02
Tackles and Tinnies
not Let's say top eight. Let's not get carried away, champ. Yeah, I think definitely top eight talent, 100%. Not too confident on the bottom four. So definitely, definitely cap.
01:20:15
Tackles and Tinnies
Next one, Morgz. Cap or fact? Latrell at centre is the move that saves their season for 2026. Cap or fact? cap or fa
01:20:23
Morgan
I think if it lets them unlock Jai Gray a bit more and, like I say, he learns how to throw a pass or an offload, I think it's going to, yeah, definitely be a fact in that instance.
Strong Player Combos and Impact
01:20:39
Morgan
I don't think he loses anything playing at centre. Obviously, like seeing him at fullback kind of popping up on that left and right edge, but left edge has proven time and time again to be the the most deadly thing in the NRL. So keeping him there is going to be yeah very positive.
01:20:58
Tackles and Tinnies
I agree. And he's when they get to the red zone, regardless, he's going to be swooping around the ruck, so it doesn't necessarily matter. But yeah, I say fact too. I think it's just going to help save his legs. And he's had so many soft tissue injuries in the past couple of years.
01:21:12
Tackles and Tinnies
Need him on the park. And thinner on the park, I don't see Rabideau's making top eight, unfortunately. He's that monumental to your team. Next one, Capra Fact. Walker and Fafita is the best left edge combo in the comp, if healthy. I'll even extend that to Latrell and AJ.
01:21:28
Tackles and Tinnies
Cap or fact?
01:21:30
Morgan
I think fact. I've already said it, so yeah, definite fact.
01:21:34
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:21:35
Morgan
I can't really think of any other left edges that have dominated as much as those four, so yeah.
01:21:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. aye I 100% agree. I think it's fact 100%. Top of my head too, maybe now the Roosters. That would be Tupou, Billy Smith, Gus Crichton,
01:21:55
Tackles and Tinnies
And DCE potentially up there. Yeah, I'd think they're by far on the way the best left edge. So that's definitely a fact. And last one, Morgz. Cap of fact, if they're not top eight by round 16, it's curtains. Reason being round 17 around 27 is they have no buy.
01:22:15
Tackles and Tinnies
So cap of fact there.
01:22:19
Morgan
Yeah, I'd probably say fact. Yeah, again, the origin period will probably oh dent this team a little bit as well. Yeah, yeah and I don't think even if we get a good run at the end of the season, I think, yeah, it's going to be too far
Maintaining Top Position by Round 16
01:22:36
Morgan
gone by then. We've got a pretty tough draw at the end, like you said, as well. Fact.
01:22:39
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. I think like not having rest with the Origin boys, like you're going to have Cam Murray, Latrell Mitchell, Definence, Keon Definite, that's three.
01:22:42
Morgan
Fact.
01:22:50
Tackles and Tinnies
Dave Fafita, maybe four. Jai Arrow, maybe five. Yeah, that's far the top my head. So that's going to be pretty scary and rough for you guys. Yeah, i'm going to say fact.
01:23:01
Tackles and Tinnies
I think the league's just so stacked, man. I've been saying this every single podcast. I'm struggling where these predictions are going to be landing because I think, again, I've said it multiple times, one win from top eight, one win from top four, one loss from bottom four slash wooden spoon.
01:23:14
Morgan
Thank
01:23:16
Tackles and Tinnies
So who knows? We need you guys to help us here. Is that capital fact? Tell me in the comments below. But more go. That's Tackles and Tinnies. Rabbitohs 2025 review slash 2026 preview. Aaron, 25 minutes of pure smack talk.
01:23:34
Tackles and Tinnies
A lot of propaganda from Morgan pumping up the Rabbitohs out of nowhere. Maybe i have to pump the brakes a little bit. But it's really good to get insight, man. Really appreciate it. and know the fans are diehards with you. I know they are wanted some of your bias points of view because mine were not going to be probably the same.
01:23:55
Morgan
No, thanks for having me on. Really appreciate it.
01:23:57
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah.
01:23:57
Tackles and Tinnies
Thank you.
01:23:59
Morgan
If you ever need any propaganda, know who to call.
01:23:59
Tackles and Tinnies
See
01:24:03
Tackles and Tinnies
you more. Yes. That's it. And Laura's talking smack in the background. So love you all, guys. Again, we're going through the draw 0-1.
01:24:15
Tackles and Tinnies
We had to skip the Tigers and the Rabbitohs, but we're back on to normal programming. The next one up will be the Canterbury Bulldogs because I'm leaving the Brisbane Broncos to very last.
01:24:28
Tackles and Tinnies
That's what it has to be. I'm going to get a bloody full panel on. Supercoach is open. It's completely open for everyone. Jake, Chris, Adam, they want to do their team previews. Maybe Morgan can show his full 17 players of Rabideaus that he's selected in his Supercoach team.
Closing Remarks and Supercoach Tips
01:24:43
Tackles and Tinnies
Have you done your team yet, bro?
01:24:43
Morgan
Nah, nah, and I've been so garbage the last few years that, yeah, i don't know. I'll have to put a bit more thought into it this time. It'll take me a little while to come up with something.
01:24:56
Tackles and Tinnies
i can get I'll give you one give you one tip. Keanu Keeney, 500,000. Lock them in your team. Dave Fafita, 485,000. Lock them in your team. They're my two. I'm not telling anymore.
01:25:07
Morgan
Yep, easy.
01:25:08
Tackles and Tinnies
All right, guys. Thank you very much. Enjoy your viewing and listening. See you later.