Zero Tackle NRL Podcast

The Rugby League World Cup semi-finals are done. Australia thumped Samoa 44-12 and the Kiwis ran over Tonga 34-10, which sets up a trans-Tasman decider at Suncorp on Sunday.Phoenix Trinidad is joined by Zero Tackle’s Magdalena Murdoch, The Leaguie and coach Lee Addison to unpack it all. Did Samoa lose to the refs or to their own ill-discipline? Was Shaun Johnson out of line? Is it time for a new Samoa coach? And is Kalyn Ponga the most in-form fullback in the game after his comeback from a broken arm?Plus: the IRL’s new great-grandparent eligibility rule, reports the 2030 World Cup is heading to the USA, Lee’s Coach’s Corner on the Kiwis’ defensive weak spots, and the panel’s final predictions.🏉 LEE'S AIM HIGHER ACADEMY:https://www.aimhigheracademy.com.au⬇️ RUNDOWN:00:00 Intro02:23 Aus def. Samoa13:44 Kiwis def. Tonga20:29 International eligibility changes28:54 2030 RLWC in the USA38:35 Coach's Corner: Kiwis41:47 Aus vs. Kiwis Preview🏉 Want to take your Rugby League Coaching to the next level?https://rugbyleaguecoach.com.au/coachmentor/Recorded on 09/11/2026FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle

Phoenix Trinidad is joined by Zero Tackle writer Leo Twemlow, analyst Darren Parkin and Rugby League Coach Lee Addison to react to the final round of RLWC 2026 pool games.We debate whether Tonga’s 20-18 win over Samoa at a sold-out CommBank Stadium was bigger than State of Origin. We also break down England’s first-ever World Cup group-stage exit and what’s gone wrong in English rugby league, relive Lebanon’s chaotic golden-point win over France, and ask whether a 10-team World Cup is a mistake.Then it’s the Kangaroos: Australia beat the Cook Islands 66-6 but completed below 70%. Should it be Reece Walsh or James Tedesco at fullback? In Coach’s Corner, Lee looks at the numbers behind the Kangaroos and the Kiwis. We finish with previews of both semi-finals, Kiwis v Tonga in Newcastle and Kangaroos v Samoa at Allianz Stadium, plus the Ronaldo Mulitalo ban.⬇️ RUNDOWN:00:00 Intro04:39 Number Up06:38 Bigger than Origin?16:01 Can Tonga win it?17:57 England are OUT24:59 Lebanon v France29:11 Kangaroos v Cook Islands33:03 Coach's Corner36:54 Semi-final previews🏉 Want to take your Rugby League Coaching to the next level?https://rugbyleaguecoach.com.au/coachmentor/Recorded on 02/11/2026FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle

Zero Tackle’s Scott Pryde and Phoenix Trinidad run through the potential moves all 19 NRL teams could make from November 1 - assessing the players who could stay or go ahead of the player movement frenzy for 2028.EDITOR NOTE: since recording this, Zane Harrison has re-signed until the end of 2029!The contract space moves FAST! Keep up to date with our with our contract tracker here:https://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/player-movements/Recorded on 29/10/2026FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle

Zero Tackle’s Scott Pryde and Phoenix Trinidad assess the state of the PNG Chiefs' squad build to name TEN potential targets for the Chiefs to pursue from November 1. As well as outlining the Chiefs' seven marquee signings and current Best 19 for 2028, the boys settle on a premiership-winning Penrith halfback and a Canberra back-rower among the ideal ten recruits the NRL's newest club should target.FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle

Zero Tackle’s Scott Pryde and Phoenix Trinidad assess the state of the North Queensland Cowboys' squad build to name FIVE potential targets for the Cowboys to pursue from November 1. As well as outlining North Queensland's current Best 19 for 2028 and any Cowboys players currently off-contract for 2027, the boys settle on a Wests Tigers back-rower and a South Sydney star among the ideal five recruits North Queensland should target.FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle

Zero Tackle’s Scott Pryde and Phoenix Trinidad assess the state of the New Zealand Warriors' squad build to name FIVE potential targets for the Warriors to pursue from November 1. As well as outlining New Zealand's current Best 19 for 2028 and any Warriors players currently off-contract for 2027, the boys settle on a Melbourne back-rower and a Gold Coast playmaker among the ideal five recruits New Zealand should target.FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle

Zero Tackle’s Scott Pryde and Phoenix Trinidad assess the state of the Wests Tigers' squad build to name FIVE potential targets for the Tigers to pursue from November 1. As well as outlining Wests' current Best 19 for 2028 and any Tigers players currently off-contract for 2027, the boys settle on a South Sydney superstar and a premiership-winning Panthers back-rower among the ideal five recruits Wests should target.FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle

Zero Tackle’s Scott Pryde and Phoenix Trinidad assess the state of The Dolphins' squad build to name FIVE potential targets for The Dolphins to pursue from November 1. As well as outlining The Dolphins' current Best 19 for 2028 and any Dolphins players currently off-contract for 2027, the boys settle on a Melbourne forward and a South Sydney centre among the ideal five recruits The Dolphins should target.FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle

Zero Tackle’s Scott Pryde and Phoenix Trinidad assess the state of the Sydney Roosters' squad build to name FIVE potential targets for the Roosters to pursue from November 1. As well as outlining the Tricolours' current Best 19 for 2028 and any Roosters players currently off-contract for 2027, the boys settle on a Dolphins centre and a Gold Coast prop among the ideal five recruits the Tricolours should target.FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle

Zero Tackle’s Scott Pryde and Phoenix Trinidad assess the state of the South Sydney Rabbitohs' squad build to name FIVE potential targets for the Rabbitohs to pursue from November 1. As well as outlining South Sydney's current Best 19 for 2028 and any Rabbitohs players currently off-contract for 2027, the boys settle on a North Queensland back-rower and a Melbourne playmaker among the ideal five recruits South Sydney should target.FOLLOW Zero Tackle on social media:NEWS: http://www.zerotackle.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/zerotackleTW: https://twitter.com/zerotackleIG: https://www.instagram.com/zerotackle/T: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerotackle