Tony Kemp Podcast: Wonderful Warriors shock Penrith, Cronulla march on, Frank Endacott, & more

Tony Kemp and Martin Devlin are back for episode 11 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 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 annual magic round in Brisbane, and discuss the main talking points from the eight games with a focus on the winners. The Cronulla Sharks are still the team to beat in the NRL winning their ninth game in 10, a 38-30 victory over fellow title contenders the Sydney Roosters. Cronulla are two points better than their nearest rival on the ladder the Melbourne Storm, with the Penrith Panthers a further two points behind in third. The Dolphins continue to be this year's surprise story and sit in the top four with a 7-3 record. Their most recent result? A 24-12 win over the Wests Tigers. The Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Roosters and Newcastle Knights sit in the 5-8 range.

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 particularly exciting one as the boys get to unpack a huge win for the Auckland-based club, as they defied the odds to overcome the three-time defending premier Panthers 22-20. A number of key players including captain Tohu Harris, Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck were out injured, forcing a number of role players and young guns to step up... which they did, emphatically.  Which players stood out the most for the Warriors? Does the win solve some selection headaches - particularly at five-eight - for coach Andrew Webster?

Next, it's He's A Ledge, and this week it's an icon of New Zealand rugby league - Frank Endacott. 'Happy Frank' has previously coached the Warriors and Wigan in club footy, as well as the Kiwis at international level. He shares his thoughts on the Warriors' win over Penrith, the importance of the club's pathway programs, the latest around the South Island NRL expansion bid he's involved in, and more.

Then, Kempy and Marty go head-to-head debating six rugby league topics, including whether or not Taylan May should be let go by Penrith following his latest off-field incident, if the Warriors can still make the top eight, and why magic round needs to remain in Brisbane. Kempy hands out the Effluex clean-up award for the player, coach or team who did their job better than anyone else on the weekend - someone who rolled up their sleeves and turned gunk into gold.
And to finish things off, Kempy lists his five best teams in the NRL right now on TK's Top 5.