Weekly wrap: Will Nathan Cleary be suspended from NRL finals series?

0:00Look at the counterattack, Lewin. To Tylan Mai, to Rueba Looms. Flickboss, we're back to 2005. To Rueba, can he excel the rights? He's got to pour. Bo-la! Bo-la! Oh, the cry is amazing! Can I count for you? Ah! Oh, that was as good as it gets. Hello and welcome to the SC Playbook Weekly, wrapped for the first week of finals in the 2026 season for NRL. And a Toyota Hilux on the line as the major prize for Supercatch finals. So, plenty of people playing it. So we're going to touch it on the Supercatch scores from this round and the players to watch moving forward. And also, we're going to have a bit of a chat about the NRL and some of the games and how they went. So, having a look at the first game in Newcastle, Nights, 20 points to 10 winners over South Sinny Rabbit,

1:01as always an upset. Plenty of hype around the Rabbit, as plenty of talk about how they were a big game team and they were going to step up and it was their time and they were the team from the bottom of the 8. They were most likely to make the run. Certainly on paper, they looked that way. I feel like the trail came back a little bit underdone, like he wouldn't have been out of the dual light with his back injury. So, and Gago really got in his face. They're probably a little bit lucky. The Newcastle Nights, that Gago didn't get sent off for that rabbit punch. But I think it's set the precedence for a pretty good final series because they weren't going to, you know, they just told the boys to behave. So I was going to let the best team win the game and I think Newcastle clearly showed that they were the best team on the night. In terms of Supercatch, you had Kalaumatangi had a massive stand. He just took unbelievable amount of runs. I think he might have played the whole game. Just having a look at his stats. It was 86. He had a tri-contribution, but 35 tackles, couple of tackle breaks, a couple of offloads.

2:05And he got 43 points in runs. So, phenomenal amount of runs. I think it was like 26 runs that he took. So it was definitely the best front row for it. I was tossing up between him and Adam Finnell Blake. And I thought I'd put him down, but I might have had too many sales in my side. I had a few iterations of my team and I ended up going Adam Finnell Blake. Unfortunately, I'm regretting that a little bit. Ken Murray, who I probably described as the inform player of the competition. He wasn't as so influential on this game. They handled him quite well. The Newcastle Pack, which was probably the biggest question mark over them. He got 69 Supercatch points. Dave Fafeta 58, the trail Mitchell would have been a pretty popular vice captain or captain just the way he scores. I liked him. I put him down as vice captain. Actually, I went pretty hard on this game. I went vice captain Mitchell and captain for Kalon Ponga, which I'm not I'm not unhappy with the captain on Kalon Ponga.

3:05On the Mitchell one, probably a little bit disappointed that I can go for someone who maybe had more upside, but coming into it, I thought, I just had to score more points to get goals and he'd be part of it. Maybe try his stage, so I think you've had pretty solid foundations for going it. In terms of other players, Tellestuncan was a little bit disappointing. Didn't see much ball 38. They actually had more joy going to the right hand side. So that's a testament to how well Newcastle defended their right side defense. Alex Johnson, 34, Cody Walker, one obviously he had, he was on there maybe for close to a half of 40. We know he can be fairly low scoring, but yeah, he obviously had that injury and that played a big part in the game also. Like the fact that he went off injured with what looked like a calf. I don't think it was an Achilles. He didn't look to be in too much pain there, but he clearly tore his calf or did something

4:07where he wasn't going to be able to play any more part in the game and subsequently any more part in this season. So, you know, we're concerned for the rubber days moving forward when they dissect and go back on their season. They do have a lot of problems with injuries to big name players and in a way they did really well to battle through and win some games when they had their big name players out. The trail was out for a lot of the season. When he was there, he was absolutely awesome. We know that. The Super Coach, I think, was averaging over 100 of some crazy like that, but it's just the ability to keep him on the park and like I think his injury sort of came out of nowhere as well. Like people didn't really see it coming and then he was just out for an extended period of time. So, they will get pain loss next year. So, that's going to be a huge acquisition. They do lose Colón Matungi. They've got a few gaps to fill there, the rabbit oes, but you probably feel confident that they're going to kick again and be at top 8 side if they can have those key players

5:11on the field the majority of the time. I think it's pretty well sort of locked in now that let's say I was going to play left center. He's not going to play in that key position or fallback. They've got a couple of good options there. Mat Duffty and Joey Gray. So, there's plenty of options there and the game is moving more towards the smaller fallback I guess, just because of the demands of running and we've seen it with the larger fallbacks the ones that have the big bodies like Turbo and with Trail Mitchell, possibly there's an inability there to maintain the running load that you need because their bodies are too big. I don't know. That's probably something that I was speculating about for the night, Storm Young. After that right hand side had a bit of a field day, it probably helped them that Alex Johnson was clearly hampered by an injury again and injuries played a big part in South Sydney's season. But I don't want to take anything away from the Newcastle nights because I thought they

6:12were very, very good. Dan Gagoy, like I said, had an outstanding game. 96, Jermaine McEwan. 96. How good are the second row stocks for Newcastle? They've got Jermaine McEwan, they've got Francis Manu, Lay Lua and they've got Dylan Lucas who's out. I don't know how they fit all those into their side next year but it's good to have for Coach Holbrook. Ponger, look, I feel like it's his time. Over the next three to four years, he is in a side that is really in its window of opportunity to challenge for a Premiership. It might even be this year who knows. It's not been done before coming from the bottom of the eight but who's to say that they can't with the player, the caliber of Ponger, I just feel like when he unleashes his running game if he gets a dry track which is going to be a big determining factor in New Zealand or what's the weather like when they play at In Park. He can tear apart any team. He's just such a threat to the three man when he gets to the outside of him.

7:16He puts so much pressure on him and he can do it either side. He does it. He's equally adept at doing it left side and right side. There was a time in his career when he was purely, you know, like he would favor the left side, he'd to heaps more but I actually think he's almost better on the right hand side. So I obviously am a massive fan of Ponger but I do believe he's a generational talent in that this is his time to step up with his team. He's had some down years. He probably had three or four games leading into the final series where he was down but he really stepped up for this game and just some of his stat lines. He didn't get a try. He didn't get a try. He didn't get a try. He just got two try contributions. Twelve tackle breaks. So 24 points and tackle breaks, two offloads, two line breaks and 32 in hit ups and that's the type of involvement that you want from a player of Pongers caliber. Cody Hopwood was pretty good. Obviously not really relevant to Super Coach but Hathori played a really good game and

8:20he was a big part of the reason why Newcastle were able to compete him in Tyson, Prasel stepped up. They obviously don't have Saifiti, they don't have Tramuni. You know, some would argue that they'll pretty light on in the middle forward stocks anyway so for them to be continuing to compete is huge but they do come up against different gravy when they play the Warriors and the Warriors should be really leaning on their pack and almost bullying the Newcastle Knights when they come out. Similarly, the Newcastle Knights will back themselves to expose the Warriors, edge defense which actually held up not too bad against the dolphins they had that one laps in kick chase with Leyvin a bit on the hammer and that sort of broke the game open, Herbie and Hammer and then you know, a couple of kick tries. I think it was to Jack Bostock who's very dangerous in the air. So I thought they held up quite well the Warriors, edges but they are definitely something

9:22that's going to be targeted by opposition teams. Greg Marzo, 49, Frances Manu, Leilua clearly hampered by that elbow injuries playing through it. I think he dislocated it two weeks ago so it's pretty phenomenal. I mean, I think I have the best 43, Fletcher Sharp 42 wasn't really a game for him but all in all excellent performance by the Newcastle Knights. They go through it next week. There are a lot of chance against the Warriors. They'll believe they have ultimate belief in themselves and that's a credit to Justin Holbrook and the job that he's done like it's so stark the comparison from the side they were under Adam O'Brien to the side they are this year under Holbrook and he's brought in some younger players. He's had a next man up mentality, similar to Webster at the Warriors and he hasn't made excuses for him but he's not a heart. He doesn't seem like a hard line coach.

10:24He's a coach that sort of will put his arm around and use a lot of positive reinforcement and encourage players to use their skills. He's certainly unlocked the talents of a Kalim Ponga and even just the attacking talents of those players around him like you see players and you can see that their game, their roles are being simplified and their game is definitely tailored around what they do well. Players like Best and Marzu and Gagoye, Dom Young, Dom Young had a seasonal tour over it. The roosters where he didn't go as well and now he's come back to Newcastle and he's absolutely killing it again so that's the credit to the coaching staff and the environment they got there and they're setting up. It's going to be tough to go over and play the Warriors at Eden Park but yeah look I give the Knights a chance because they don't fear anyone and they'll probably think about that game when Sofie Degot sent off, they were up 16 nil.

11:24They absolutely blitzed the Warriors in the first bit and it's not like there's been a big change to their edges. If anything we're lucky going down in the warm up I'd say he'd be questionable for this week if it was a hamstring so the Warriors will you know they'll have to have a good look at that and come up with a plan to counteract it because Newcastle will shift the ball. They'll go side to side. They'll test you on the edges better than probably anyone in the competition. Okay on to the New Zealand Warriors took on the dolphins and the dolphins. What an impressive win 26 points to 16. Sort of the same tale of the Dolphin season they start games but particularly of late they start games slowly but they don't lose their way. They finish games really strongly. I don't know if that points to fitness or points to a confidence where when they find their way in the game they really feel confident in what they're doing.

12:27They're obviously a very strong forward pack and they have a skillful spine that have X-Factor. There's no doubt about that. Like Ham I didn't do much all game I think just before he broke away for the line break that broke the game I heard someone say on the commentary he'd had six runs for 39 metres which is sort of unheard of in the modern day fullback but he's not a high volume fullback but he reduced when they needed it he created something out of nothing on a probably a broken kick chase or just an arrow of leaning into one of his steps a little bit too much with Laban and they were ruthless. It felt like the Warriors had dominated the game but they took the two so many times which you sort of couldn't really knock at the time because it was the right call as they took two to go to till in front and then they took two at some stage you go to six in front and you're in finals and then they took two to go eight in front so in isolation

13:30I don't think you can knock any of that but it also kept the game pretty low scoring and gave the Dolphins the opportunity when they were able to capitalize laden the game to come home and win it. So it'd be interesting to see what the Warriors learned from that. Tain to a peak he was awesome. He looked like from the Warriors he looked twice as fast as anyone on that side of the ball when he touched it he was really sharp, 116 Super Coach points. He's a live option I mean he's available at center wing fullback you'd have him in the flex. They obviously come up against the Knights who aren't a great defensive side throughout the season so he could be in a big in for a big one next week. James V. Shaharis was outstanding 78 that's right up there with the highest scoring front road forwards. Mitch Barnett 59 Aaron Clark 53 Laban 49. Tomorrow Martin was a little bit quiet I think you have an injury there but I think you'll

14:31battle through 48 and not too much else. I'm not there for the Dolphins I think I tried. I faded her be and obviously that was a mistake because he came out and absolutely blitzed it but he would have been interested to see a live sort of warm of his score. I think it would have been fairly low early on in the game but the second half of the game he put on plenty of points. 151 Supercourage points he got a try he got two try assists 12 tackles 11 tackle breaks two off loads two line breaks a line breaker assist and 42 points in run so yeah look her be he's a world class center like I honestly believe he's probably the best center in the world and it's really hard to determine his worth that's the problem they're going to have because he's not a spine player but he's such a good player as a center he produces more than any other center in the game I believe in terms of week on week in game volume

15:36generating rough speed generating tackle breaks coming out of trouble he's a sensational player and he it's like he's allergic to getting tackled he just fights and scraps and you know all the way through to playing the ball which is very helpful for those bikes taking the run the next run after him it is team I suppose absolutely love him so he was 151 the next best was at the hammer was 67 and then Finafuwiarki 61 boss stock 61 so pretty typical sort of games for those guys Max play at 59 to remain a Saco 58 so it's probably just showed what a team effort it was by the dolphins look I think the dolphins are put them in self in a really good spot they get the winner of roosters and cronola and look there's a fair argument I thought the roosters were pretty good I think they should

16:37take care of cronola but it's always a tricky game like the sharks and cowboys game was knowing the quality of maybe the other three although I thought the night's south was clearly above that quality but it probably wasn't the quality of the other two the warriors dolphins had a lot of stoppages in it a lot of flare ups which I don't think probably suited the warriors but then the warriors got a lot of calls go their way so it was really it was a really strange game like that so look I think the dolphins have set themselves up they won game away from a grand final they're probably ahead of where they are they've got plenty of belief in themselves as a side and now they win two games in a row they've won a competition and I don't think there's any doubt in their mind I think they're playing with house money to a certain degree because you know if they go out people say yep dolphins had a great season made the finals for the first time made the top four made a prelim but their expectations all themselves are going to be

17:40pretty high and if they continue playing the way they do you'd have to think they'll go into that game against roosters or you know roosters or cronola as pretty decent favourites I hope it's probably the roosters because I think that'd be a cracking game they played a really physical game a couple weeks ago and the dolphins really stood up to the roosters and probably started the rot with the roosters where the roosters at one stage look like they're going to finish first and definitely would finish top two but then they sort of fell off a cliff a bit had the sand walker injury and see how they go but yeah in terms of the dolphins I think they will enjoy the week's rest rests some battered bruise bodies I don't think there's any injuries that I can think of no major injuries there the worries they have to regroup they they get to stay at home so they've been at home for a while now it's probably just more dealing with the pressure going out there

18:41and executing and you know finishing off the game they're going to get a new castle side that's a little bit I don't know about banged up I think newcastle is probably a side that's just backs against the wall typical like traditional newcastle nights and they don't have a lot to lose so it is a real danger game for the Warriors they could go out the back door in straight sets which would be a very disappointing season I think if you get to a pre-lame then you give yourself some chance but if you go bang bang out the back door that's really tough mentally to deal with particularly how well they played this season and a lot of the hype around the Warriors so yeah look the Warriors were going as favorites against the Nights but it's a real match of conflicting styles the Nights are going to back themselves to shift the ball and get get the Warriors on the edges and the Warriors will like to sort of keep it compact and expose

19:43the the Nights lack of experience and probably so as a strength in the middle of the field the Nord VPN security play of the week who is Isaiah Papa Lee and when I say security I'm talking those base and power stat base that don't need to find attacking stats to secure you a strong score each round he scored 85 on the week and he gets the tie which had three tackle breaks 13 runs 36 tackles two off loads 65 in base and power in total a bloke I've wanted all season and have been yet to own in actual super coach of the time could be now if you're after security online we can know further than Nord VPN we know the enormous benefit to having your private data protected online you can also read the other benefit at the moment if you're leaving the country in stream every game of NRL or any sport live and clear through your Nord account through any accounts that you do have around those sports you won't miss a minute premium cybersecurity for the price of a cup of coffee per month you get the best discount off your Nord VPN plan go to NordVPN.com forward to usc playbook a link to that will also give you four extra months on the two-year plan there's no risk with

20:46Nord 30-day money back guarantee the link to that is in podcast episode description box okay on to the other elimination final and the sharks 26 defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 16 look not an overly strong game compared to the other three I thought it was like quite a bit down but if you're still in it you're still a chance so sharks fans well done in terms of the Cowboys Scotty drink water 102 he was in all the good stuff I think you might have thrown the intercept pass that sort of turned the game though that Cianna Katoa took so that was a little bit disappointing for him but he's a gunsling he came back out and just kept kept throwing it Bradenburn 79 perju I think you might have finished it the top scorer for 58 positions so if you got him well done 62 he'll him looky 60 just solid John Bateman 60

21:53well I think he'd be heading home I'm not sure if he's still signed by the Cowboys now Tom did in 45 Nanoi 35 so not too much to ride home there about the North Queensland Cowboys in terms of the sharks Nico Heinz 81 top scorer for the heartback position could have had Nico could clear he wasn't too much difference there Cianna Katoa 80 will Kennedy 73 Sasefa Tallah kai was outstanding he got 69 at a great game Adden Fennel Blake a little bit unlucky with the double movement try there I had him as my front row I think if he gets the try he's probably up near Keon but he didn't need that attacking stat so Keon did it without any attacking stats he got 59 Jesse Katoa who's playing some good footy but only 51 for him well it's Halo 49 Blake Brailly a little bit down on what we would have expected him 44 so I think probably the yeah like it's different each

22:56week but the Sasefa play was Max Platten there wasn't a big scorer in cooker okay in terms of the teams the Cowboys I mean it's probably say Peyton his job the fact that they had a bit of a resurrection there throughout the season they were never really convincing I thought they could have beaten Crinola on their day but yeah they'll be disappointed with that I think Peyton was asked earlier in the season even when they were gone bad and I full respect to him for coming out and saying this he said oh look at home a home final top four is going to be part for the season so in that respect by his own admission I'd say it's been a little bit of a disappointing season for the Cowboys but when I look at their roster I think they're at bottom of the eight side like I think they should make the eight like they did but I don't know if they're too much better than that they do have some gun players in there but they also have some things so they need to work on so it's interesting few interesting acquisitions there next year they got a couple of Crinola

23:57boys going there Katoa and Jesse Ramiin so they're a couple of experienced veterans now so that should strengthen them they've got some good young players coming through Perju probably goes to fullback Perju or Chester you think so they've cleared the way for that and it'll be a bit of a new year with our drinky there in terms of the sharks look they've been two prelims in a row and they won game away from another prelim day sort of in terms of over the last few years they've been the model of consistency but can they get over the hump it doesn't really look like their year they weren't playing great 40 coming into the finals but they might get some confidence out of this when like it's funny it's a funny thing confidence no one knows where it comes from and no one knows where it goes and look I think the roosters will probably look back on their game before they play Crinola and realise it was a way higher intensity game and that if they

25:02all things been equal if they play close to their best they're good enough to take care of this Crinola shark side but if there's a little bit of a hangover it was a physical game you know we saw it with it was a sort of exciting end a lot of emotional sort of output in it when we saw last year with camera and the Broncos there's a chance that they they go out the back door in straight sets so I don't think they will the roosters I don't know if the sharks are good enough but they're definitely a dangerous side so I think the roosters will be too strong in defense and I just don't I just don't think that the sharks will challenge them enough but it's been a surprising final series as it is so it would be interesting to see what happens moving forward okay onto the last game 19 points and 12 this was a cracking game definitely the game of the round from one well refereed he's probably putting himself into the box seat Sutton with the way he's

26:05refereed I think it's out of Sutton and G obviously they refer to top four games G was pretty good in the roosters first worries game like there's a lot of flare ups and he tried to take control of it and there was some challenging ones like he gave a lot of panellies but there was I think a lot of those panellies were legitimate so you can't really knock him on that but yeah the refereeing is is an interesting part of it because it can determine how games go but I do think they go on the best those two that's two reps at the moment so 19 points to 12 for the Panthers Dylan Ed was just one of his iconic games he was just everywhere he stepped up and Cleary got Sinbind Isaiah Papalee was really dangerous as well 81 Liam Martin scored that try he was fired up he was in the face as there was a lot of verbal between the Panthers and the roosters and Liam Martin was right in the thick of it 78 Cleary 75 with the Sinbind so probably shows you how dominant he was he made a break early in the

27:10game he sort of set the standard but he was in everything Cleary we'll talk a little bit about that pivotal moment where he got Sinbind and what's it's going to look like moving forward Brian Tyro got the intercept try the end and sealed the game 67 Tillangi in the center 55 Liam Henry 50 oh he came off the bench 49 playing with a torn peck Tom Jenkins 35 he was very close to scoring a couple times I think he stepped back in it's amazing like I think he probably overestimated Mark Noonganita Waza's pace I think he should have beaten him on the outside for a try there but he didn't he stepped back in and yeah Mark Noonganita Waza is just an outstanding player he's he's so good to watch I'm so disappointed that he's going I'm actually not that disappointed with Rugby in because like we can actually watch him when we cheer for Australia and Rugby in I don't watch the Rugby in game for five years I don't think like ever since they took it off Fox Sports but I

28:15watched the one more before years like I whenever the last World Cup was on it was that a decent time I probably would have watched a few games and I'll definitely be watching Australia with Mark Noonganita Waza player for the Roosters Tadesco had a good game 96 Super Coach points Rob Toya very dangerous he probably got the points decision over case him a clean had a lot of trouble with Toya 80 Nap butcher 72 Mark Noonganita Waza 69 Jiz it looked like he played a lot better than he did some outstanding things see while 168 Victor Radley 61 and Nathwhite 45 not too much else there of relevance but look yeah what a game what a game it was I mean it looked like Panericks were going to come out and bomb off the park but the Roosters stepped up and they went with them and they got in front and off first days there they looked like they were going to be the better

29:20side and they probably didn't capitalize when Cleary got sent to the Simbin it was it was clearly a Simbin to Nathan Cleary but it's going to be interesting to see what charges coming out they might already be out but will he get charged or will he just get a fine like it wasn't a heap of contact but traditionally they really do not like a player getting in the road of the kicking leg and checking it and that's exactly what he did and I think he knew how bad it was if he gets rubbed out for a week like of course they're going to contest it but that's just yeah he's just changed the competition they they they could probably I guess who would they play they've got that who's on that sort of the draw I think it's they'll have to play the winner of Warriors and Knight it would open up the draw a little bit for the winners of the Warriors and Knight you give

30:21yourself a bit more chance not a bit more a lot more chance if you're playing a team that was Nathan Clearyless so yeah and you've obviously got Koga who's been suspended as well I don't know when he comes back so if a charge comes out for him it's going to make it very very interesting and it could be a season defining suspension I imagine it'll only be one game but it might be the one game where it gives teams an opportunity to not pant as out of it and that would be pivotal it sort of reminds me of the year that Cam Smith got rubbed out of the final for Grappletacca or something like that and mainly went on to Flogham in the grand final he's that pivotal to his team so yeah it's it's a weight and city there because in some ways well it might have been better if they they lost I guess because they would have got a chronolicide where you probably would back

31:24panorath to beat chronola and then Cleary gets a chance to serve his suspension but with a week off now that they won he won't get that he'll have to serve that suspension in a pre-limp final against a Warriors or a Newcastle night so anyway it might be jumping at shadows we'll have to wait and see what happens there in terms of the upcoming games look I think this week probably showed that in your flexion probably want two fullbacks or two Sano wings because the Sano wings went really big and they're the upside players also for your vice captain and your captain you've got to go balls out alls out you know you don't he's not really much point plan it safe I think you've got to go and chase the big the big points and I think the roosters have got a good match up I think Tedesco, Toia, Nahuanganita Waze, Savala's kicking so he could be a left field option he's

32:27available at 5-8 5-8 some novely strong position so I'd be looking at him as a possibility as well in terms of for the chronola team I would probably fade most of them because I think the roosters defense is pretty good if I was going to pick anyone no I don't really like maybe Nico Hines at half but I would probably not do that I'd probably yeah look he might yeah I'm just trying to think he might actually be the best option so you'd have tomorrow Martin as an option as well and then whoever the night's got Smith yeah look he might be you might might be worthwhile going Nico Hines half I think it's going to be a tough position for the warriors I think Tane Torepiki is a great shot he's available in center wing and fallback I also think tomorrow Martin is an excellent shot and then looking at the wingers is Dallin we're telling the Zalazniak back will they bring him back

33:30for this must-wing game or will it be Chan's nickel cox that because he can finish quite well as well so he could be on the wing just having a look at a few options there maybe even a Laban if Leckin was to come back he'd be tempting to to bring him in as well for the nights look there's some great attacking options there you just have to break down where you think they're gonna score maybe have a look at the previous games that they've had with the warriors how they've broken them down Dom Young, Kalim Ponga and then maybe that left side I think they had a bit of success against the Marzu Braden and Best there two are rest options as well you know you've got Jackson McEwan I'd probably be a bit reluctant with his elbow with Frances Manu Leleucus I think you could go at any time it's very heavily strapped but your sharpest is sort of high risk high reward but I'd probably avoid him as well so all in all great great week of finals

34:3440 in week one of 2026 and hopefully you scored pretty well in your super coach course I don't have a league or anything to tell you how the SC Playbook royalty went but I got 673 had Ponga as my captain with trailers my voice probably missed a couple of the B scorers on the fairway down but hopefully next week it'll be a little bit better and we'll go from there thanks for listening I'll catch you next week