Explore every episode of the podcast Footy IQ

Penrith have lost just four games all season — to the Bulldogs (Rd 6), Titans (Rd 16), Cowboys (Rd 17) and Broncos (Rd 20). We break down every single one of those losses to see if there's a genuine blueprint hiding in there, or if the Panthers are just occasionally, unpredictably beatable. Plus: Laurie Daley steps down as NSW coach, Sam Walker's night with the ledger, and why Parramatta's coach wasn't happy despite the win.

Footy IQ breaks down the Adam Doueihi situation at the Wests Tigers — and takes a different angle to most of the coverage. The guys argue that most every current NRL commentator or ex-player in media was a 300-game star, and their idea of what "being a team player" means is shaped by never having to sacrifice their spot — a perspective most guys in Doueihi's position never get.

We cover the full timeline (the Luai release fallout, the team-sheet snub, the judiciary hearing, the 56-10 loss to Canberra) and make the case that Doueihi could repair a lot of the fallout simply by admitting it was an emotional decision and that he's genuinely invested in the club.

NRL Round 20 is done and the Top 8 race is officially on. In this Footy IQ episode we dig into the fringe teams – Broncos, Storm, Raiders, Bulldogs and even the steadily impressive Knights – and ask whether the hype matches the ladder when it comes to finals footy

If you like tactical NRL breakdowns, systems chat and real talk on decision‑making rather than hot‑take outrage, you’re in the right place.

Subscribe for weekly NRL Round reviews, deep dives on key clubs, and smarter finals chat. Watch the show here, or listen on Spotify and your favourite podcast apps by searching Footy IQ – an NRL show about how teams actually play, not just who won.

What happens when a club in the middle of a reset suddenly has the chance to drop Jarome Luai next to Mitchell Moses for one year? In this Footy IQ Round 19 episode, we unpack whether the Luai‑to‑Eels move is smart list management or a short‑term band‑aid – from cap strategy to what it signals to Parramatta’s junior halves and pathways.smh.com+2

We then widen the lens: Cronulla’s 66‑0 shut‑out of the Dolphins shows what a mature system looks like, even with key backs missing, while the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Storm all offer clues about how elite clubs manage Origin hangovers and development pipelines. 

This is a tactics‑first NRL show – if you’re into shapes, systems and long‑term planning, subscribe to Footy IQ on YouTube and in your podcast app of choice.

We recorded this in Melbourne. On Origin III day. With a former Storm captain who now works at Collingwood — and the NRL had just announced the biggest broadcast deal in Australian sporting history.

Christian Welch has seen both codes from the inside. He has a commerce degree, an MBA, three ACLs, and opinions on rugby league's commercial blind spots that the NRL probably doesn't want aired publicly.

So we aired them.

The $5.3B deal, the AFL gap, the Storm machine, Pasifika and Origin, Perth, PNG and the 20-team question.

Subscribe to Footy IQ. Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Did Laurie Daley just bet the Blues’ entire Origin series on Payne Haas and a chaotic bench rotation? In this episode we break down how NSW are trying to win Game 3 at Suncorp – from the minutes they need out of Haas, Fonua‑Blake and Murray to the way Teddy, Moses and the backfield have to change if the attack is going to work.

Everyone’s blaming “structure” for NSW’s Origin problems – we think that’s lazy. In this episode Blake pulls apart the real issues behind the Blues’ Game 3 headache, from selection calls to combinations and who’s actually built for Suncorp.
We also get into the future: who should coach NSW next, and Blake’s own 1–17 for Origin 3 that he believes can win a decider in Brisbane. If you want more than clichés and want to understand how the Blues can actually get it right, this one’s for you.
Subscribe for weekly NRL and State of Origin breakdowns, plus tactical deep dives and smarter footy chat. Audio version is available on all major podcast apps – just search “Footy IQ”.

Have the Canberra Raiders’ structures finally been found out? In this Footy IQ episode, Chris and Blake dig into why last year’s minor premiers have slumped into the bottom half of the ladder and what’s actually broken in their attack and defence.

We look at how the loss of Jamal Fogarty has exposed the spine, why their set shapes aren’t giving young halves clear pictures, and what Blake would be drilling into the 1‑6‑7‑9 to simplify their roles. We also talk about where you “park” rookie halves defensively, how much the forwards can protect them, and whether this is a dip before another push or a sign the window has closed.

The Origin Game 2 team lists have finally dropped, and both coaches have swung some big selection calls. In this episode, we give our honest reactions to the Blues and Maroons squads – who deserved their jersey, who’s been a bit lucky, and what these line‑ups tell us about the game plans for the MCG.

We break down the spines, forward packs and benches, and ask whether these combinations actually fit modern Origin footy or just look good on paper.

Hit subscribe if you’re into Origin‑level tactics and selection chat, and find Footy IQ wherever you get your podcasts.

State of Origin 2026 Game II is coming to the MCG, and the big question for the NSW Blues is simple: where do you actually play Ethan Strange?” In this episode of Footy IQ, we break down all the options – five‑eighth, centre, bench utility – and what each one does to the rest of the Blues spine and attacking structure.We look at how Strange combined with Nathan Cleary in that wild Game I comeback, what Laurie Daley has hinted at with his selections, and how a young ball‑runner changes the way NSW attack Queensland’s edges.

State of Origin I week has been flipped on its head, with NSW five‑eighth Mitchell Moses in doubt after pulling up with hamstring tightness at training and Matt Burton called into Blues camp as cover. Laurie Daley has already named Raiders young gun Ethan Strange in jersey 18, and if Moses can’t go on Wednesday night it leaves a massive call for the Blues: do you trust Burton’s experience and left foot, or roll the dice on Strange’s X‑factor?

The 2026 State of Origin teams are IN – and both the NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons have dropped some huge selection calls for Game I at Accor Stadium. We break down the confirmed Origin 2026 line‑ups, from Laurie Daley building a monster Blues pack around Addin Fonua‑Blake, Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary, to Billy Slater handing Sam Walker his Maroons debut alongside Kalyn Ponga and Cameron Munster.

NRL Round 10 delivered a genuine Knights statement, a steady Roosters machine performance and a few big Queensland Maroons selection questions – so we’re breaking it all down on Footy IQ. Newcastle smashed the Dragons 44–10, with Greg Marzhew crossing for five tries and Kalyn Ponga steering a left edge that looked absolutely untouchable. We dig into how Justin Holbrook has transformed the Knights’ attack and whether this is officially a “from spoon to September” season.

Then we swing to Gosford, where James Tedesco’s double helped the Sydney Roosters grind past the Titans 28–12 for their sixth straight win – not always pretty, but very much a top‑four type victory. Finally, we zoom out to Queensland’s Origin picture: who’s locked in, who’s pushing their way into Billy Slater’s plans, and which Round 10 performances actually move the needle for the Maroons

With Canterbury falling to their third-straight defeat and struggling to score points, Blake Austin questions whether it's time for a rebuild at the Bulldogs. Meanwhile, the Footy Gods come down hard on the Wests Tigers, Penrith and Nathan Cleary are playing possum, the referees are hedging their bets on hip-drop tackles and there are some tough State of Origin calls to be made. All this and more in the latest episode of Footy IQ.

The Dragons changed the coach, but the result stayed the same. In the latest episode of Footy IQ, we take a look at where it all went wrong for St George Illawarra in their 46-point Anzac Day loss to the Roosters, which featured a baptism of fire for young halfback Kade Reed. The Tigers chalked up another win, this time against the Raiders, but did the Leichhardt faithful tempt the footy gods? We also cover the Storm's sixth straight loss, Jarome Luai's fact-finding mission to PNG, Kalyn Ponga's contract extension with Newcastle and more.0:00 - Where's Danksy?0:55 - Dragons Anzac Day autopsy10:55 - Tigers fans rejoice in win over Raiders15:12 - Doueihi and/or Luai for Origin?18:37 - Jarome Luai the PNG Chief21:14 - Melbourne's sixth straight defeat26:10 - Can South Sydney win the comp?31:06 - Defending your line early33:30 - Kalyn Ponga's contract extension37:00 - Foran's Sea Eagles move to 4-0#nrl #rugbyleague

Seven straight losses, another coach gone, another head of football moved on – and a fan base that’s been promised “this is the reset” more times than they can count. This episode we sit with what just happened at the Dragons and ask the honest question: is this club uniquely broken, or are a decade of rule tinkering, set restarts and chaos‑ball seasons starting to cook everyone – fans, players, coaches and refs included?

We talk Flanagan and Haran, Dragons supporters’ fatigue, and why so many people feel like they don’t recognise the sport week‑to‑week anymore. 

The Melbourne Storm have dropped four in a row and the easy narrative is “they’re gone”. We go deeper. Has Craig Bellamy actually fallen behind the modern game, or is this just the price of a roster in transition? We unpack the Storm’s systems, the changing strengths of their squad, and the tweaks Bellamy may need if Melbourne are going to stay a genuine force

Dragons fans are restless, Kade Reed’s name is getting louder every week, and plenty of people reckon Shane Flanagan has already hit rock bottom. This chat looks at where the fan‑base has it wrong; why simply throwing a young half in isn’t a magic fix, and why Flanno being punted would set the club back even further.

Kieran Foran is suddenly the head coach of the Manly Sea Eagles – but is he special enough to skip the traditional assistant‑coach apprenticeship and keep the job beyond 2026? In this Footy IQ episode, we break down Manly’s shock sacking of Anthony Seibold, how Foran ended up in the hot seat, and what the tape says about his chances of turning the Sea Eagles around.

The NRL’s new interchange rules are already separating the planners from the passengers.
In this episode we break down which coaches are nailing their rotations, who looks lost with the new tempo, and how the changes are reshaping momentum, fatigue and game style.
We then dive into the 3–0 start for the Warriors – what’s actually sustainable, what’s schedule‑driven, and how their bench and middle rotations are quietly becoming a weapon.
Finally, we talk Panthers: three rounds in, has anyone really put their hand up as the team to stop them, or are we watching another slow march to September where Penrith are still the standard?

The New Zealand Warriors might have built the best talent “production line” in the NRL – and Andrew Webster is quietly turning unheralded guys like Jackson Ford and Tanah Boyd into genuine weapons.
In this episode we break down how Webster is developing role players into starters, why Ford and Boyd are perfect examples of the new Warriors identity, and whether this pipeline can actually keep them near the top long term.
We also get stuck into the “set restart” rule – how it’s warping momentum, what’s broken about the current interpretation, and a few ideas to fix it without killing ruck speed.
Plus, a look at the Tigers’ surprise win over the Cowboys: how much was genuine improvement, how much was soft opposition and perfect conditions, and what – if anything – it tells us about both teams going forward.

The Canberra Raiders have kicked off 2026 with a wild 29–28 golden point win away to Manly – coming from 14–0 down, leaning on a young core and a brand new No.7 who nailed the match‑winning field goal.
In this episode we break down how they did it, what Ethan Sanders and the kids showed about Canberra’s ceiling this year, and whether it’s fair to start talking about the Raiders as genuine threats or if it’s just Round 1 noise

Round 1 in Las Vegas is in the books – but how much did the referees really influence the results?
In this episode we break down the biggest calls from the Vegas double‑header, whether they genuinely changed the games or just gave everyone something to blow up about, and why the Dragons might’ve been the quiet winners of the weekend.
We also look at what each club actually took out of the trip: combinations, branding, Vegas week off‑field benefits and whether this thing is becoming a genuine launchpad for a season instead of a distraction.

Hull KR just beat the Brisbane Broncos to become world club champions… and half of Australia has already filed it under “trial form” and “they didn’t care”.
In this episode we break down how the Robins actually out‑played the NRL premiers, why this result fits a bigger pattern of Super League wins, and why Aussie media and fans still refuse to give the comp proper respect.

The NRL has officially announced revised State of Origin eligibility rules, and the debate is already heating up. But are these changes really a step backwards — or could they actually be exactly what rugby league in Australia and New Zealand needs?In this episode of Footy IQ, we break down what the new rules mean, why they’re a move in the right direction, and how they could finally bring clarity and balance to international representation. From player development pathways to the impact on Origin’s intensity, we unpack every angle.