Tony Kemp Podcast: Massive State of Origin preview with Gorden Tallis, NRL report card, & more

Tony Kemp and Martin Devlin are back for episode 12 of the Tony Kemp Podcast. Every Monday during the 2024 NRL season, Kemp - the former Warriors coach and Kiwis representative - is joined by Devlin, renowned New Zealand sports broadcaster and now host of It's Only Sport on The Platform. Together, they recap all the main talking points in rugby league's biggest club competition.

First off, Kempy and Marty recap the action from a shortened round 13 in the NRL, which only had five matches due to the State of Origin series getting underway this week. The winners over the weekend included the Canterbury Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels and Canberra Raiders, while the Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters suffered surprise defeats. As it stands, the Melbourne Storm sit top of the table even though they had the bye, with the Cronulla Sharks just behind in second. The Panthers and Dolphins still remain in the top four despite losing their most recent outings, and the Brisbane Broncos, Raiders, Manly Sea Eagles and Roosters round out the top eight.

Then, it's Up The Wahs - a segment that Kempy and Marty dedicate solely to chatting about the Warriors. This week's edition is a little different with the Auckland-based club enjoying a week off following their two outstanding wins over the Panthers and Dolphins. Instead of a typical match review, Marty and Kempy assess the Warriors' season so far and preview the rest of their campaign, and their chances at making the top eight. The Warriors are currently 13th on the ladder with a five-win, one-draw, six-loss record.

Next, it's He's A Ledge, and this week it's an Australian and Queensland rugby league legend in the form of Gorden Tallis. The man nicknamed the Raging Bull played over 200 first-grade games - the majority of which with the Brisbane Broncos - and won three premierships, as well as three Origin series'. Tallis chats with Kempy and Marty about the 2024 Origin series and how he feels it will play out, the keys to winning an Origin match, why the series means so much to Queenslanders, and more.

Then, Kempy and Marty do a truncated head-to-head debate, with Kempy giving his thoughts on a number of teams - such as the Bulldogs and Eels - and their chances at qualifying for the finals as we tick over the midway point of the NRL season. And to finish things off, Kempy lists his five best teams in the NRL right now on TK's Top 5.