NRL GRAND FINAL PREVIEW: Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos - We Predict Who Wins

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Levels Podcast:
Willie Mason & Justin Horo present Levels Podcast, twice a week reviewing & previewing all the NRL games also giving their best tips.
Willie Mason is a former Kangaroo and NSW representative, is considered one of the most successful front rowers in NRL history. In 2004, he was a part of the famous 'Dogs of War' team that won the Grand Final, and he also received the Clive Churchill Medal during that match.
Justin Horo is a former NRL player who played 120 games for Parramatta and Manly from 2010 to 2015. In addition to playing in the UK Super League, he also represented the New Zealand Māori team.
00:00 Intro & Email List Access
06:05 New Levels Run Club - Sunday 7am
08:38 KZbin Questions
10:29 Q's: Is This How To Beat Penrith?
16:59 Q's: Where does Ivan Cleary Rank?
28:00 Kalyn Ponga, Tamika Upton & Dally M Awards
38:31 NRL Grand Final Preview: Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos
53:26 NRLW Final
55:06 TAB Multi

[@VanDanMedia]

These 2 talking bout Walsh and Drinkwater missing 3 games and it cost them…. Ponga missed 9 or so…. 🤣 SJ was shafted

[@mylord4916]

@winchbertdopo3933I wouldn’t say Walsh would be miles ahead. Cause he’d have to compete with haas for the 3 dally m points every game. Ponga has no comp in his own team, had he played the whole season he’d have won by a landslide.

[@VanDanMedia]

@winchbertdopo3933 vital point I missed I stand corrected

[@ninjajunior4422]

​@winchbertdopo3933said absolutely no1 lol he wasn't even the best FB let alone best player 😅😅

[@breal8939]

100

[@honestpat7789]

Worriers still crying 😂

[@shermanator87]

I think we've reached a point in most professional sports where we need two players of the year. The NFL is the obvious example where the QB always wins MVP yet the best defensive player is often more important to the team. Perhaps the NRL could name the best 1-7 and the best 8-13, and then the actual players decide the best out of those two players to win the overall award.

[@joeyclark3995]

Scope you are killing it on SEN brother. Well done. UP LEVELS & UP DA WAHS.

[@justenbeashel]

Bro you're the Levels main VIP, love your enthusiasm!

[@OnTheSet274]

Still don't understand how you only play half a season and become Dally M, make it make sense?

[@darrellmackenzie2551]

Imagine if Ponga played the whole season, though. Perhaps he'd have won by a greater margin?

[@hepskip]

you guys are smashing it relaxed presentation top analysis insight into nrl i'm hooked

[@Emw98]

Man the boys mentioned Shaun’s average game with manly but didn’t talk about Ponga missing half a season. Also mentioned how Shaun missed points coz of his teams performance but Kalyn shines coz his team is below par.. so you win Dally M for being a stand out in a average team?? When Shaun stands out every week in a really good, on form warriors side ?? Sorry but I feel like this wasn’t spoken about from a balanced perspective. Also Justin saying this Dally M system is fair - dunno bout that it’s rewarding players in teams with less talent than others and the obvious bias in judging from Aussie judges

[@ninjajunior4422]

Was the the game SJ won with a field goal? Lol

[@mitchelltownes6251]

Worriors a good team ?? To be honest I thought every team was average, broncos and panthers where clear stand out

[@ninjajunior4422]

@@mitchelltownes6251 and you thought wrong lol what are you 6?

[@Emw98]

@@mitchelltownes6251 mate the warriors were top 4 for a huge chunk of the season? I’m not talking about who deserves the grand final bro I’m talking about the dally m. Warriors thrashed the knights in the semis so on that logic Ponga most definitely shouldn’t of won ?

[@mitchelltownes6251]

@@Emw98 knights were average worriors were average, hence the score when they played panthers and broncos

[@tikiticko]

Love the podcast boys just found it yesterday keep up the good work

[@brtha_b]

Hey guys love the poddy,been listening from day 1,what makes it work for you guys is that you guys keep it real,don't change,awesome content,and the fact that you guy are ex players is the best.UP THE WAAHS!!!

[@madpanther1268]

Big fan of the show . Listened all year and love the honesty from Big Winamau . The best RL content .Up the Pars

[@lpboi671]

Shaun got ripped off

[@julianalderson3938]

Your right. But was close. Always great then off. Hes had a hell of a season for a older player. Shit i rekon hes happy anyway

[@lpboi671]

@@julianalderson3938 yea ur right 100%

[@tonytuhoro23]

Go Broncos

[@CraigBridgeman-rl9tt]

Thanks for the shout out!! Hull FC fan!!!⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️

[@mataio_]

GO THE MIGHTY BRONCOS! 🐴🐴🐴

[@leemarsh6887]

Upthabronx all day💯💯💯

[@Tk-ed9ws]

Can’t wait for next season ladz both you and Big dog Willie are just pure honest about the game we love.Honest top 2 poddy on the rugby league platform.💯

[@rawiriheke1855]

Absolutely love your work boys! L1 from day1! Really looking forward to the merch arriving; It looks sick! I would love to see a segment analysing each team and what they need to generally do better next year, whether that is new players in particular positions, a positional change for players, or maybe even a change in strategy. For example, I think the Warriors are 1 massive forward to partner AFB away from taking the next step up. UP THE WAHS! #2024ouryear

[@tomkneel4355]

The boys keep posting the unreal content. Listening on Spotify waiting for the pod’s to come out and set up my week nicely in a shitty winters Glasgow. The way that this panthers team and even organisation runs is having some resemblance to the Pat’s dynasty. Ivan Cleary being a staple for fundamentals being executed perfectly like belicheck and that Clearly/Luai combo like Brady and Gronk. In your eyes, who would you compare the top 8 to in the NFL? Love the work troops, buzzing for the 50k suns in 2024!!

[@GGz_USI]

Been following willie for few years now glad hes still doing podys 💯🔥

[@Murray12]

Another fire listen

[@mitchellharrison5121]

On ya Pila mason and Horo, stuck in traffic on a Wednesday or Friday morning and seeing the dawgs have dropped a new episode really changes the mood for the morning. Have we got any podcasts planned for the off season?

[@faifaiaso23]

Shot, brothers. Mean to hear your opinions on the footy. One thing you might have missed was comparing the bench players for each team - could be some crucial differences/moments that come from bench players 👍🏾

[@mjunior-213]

Bronco's will win 👊🏽😎👍🏽. Up the mighty Brisbane Bronco's 💯🍷😎👌🏽

[@maximus15gsp16]

On point boyz 👌🏾💯

[@3rdSAG]

Panthers with a 4-peat at minimum. One of the greatest club teams in the history of Australian sport

[@domh.9573]

Perth wildcats enters the chat

[@anonymous-qb8nd]

#2023# #BRONXNATION#

[@3rdSAG]

@@Mrwhippy456 irrelevant. You might as well ask if the panthers could beat the raiders if they had Mal and Clyde and Daley

[@simonpapik6365]

Collingwood are playing in their 42nd grand final ....let that sink in...

[@3rdSAG]

@@simonpapik6365 that's multiple Collingwood teams across that period. I'm just talking about this specific panthers team, not the club broadly

[@troystaunton254]

I will say this, a lot of teams now have woken up to what Steve folkes did in the early 2000s and Wayne did in the 90s. As willie said JT and sonny bill off the bench for the dogs in 04. Look at Brisbane in 1998 petro, Michael handcock and Tonie carroll all off the bench. Hell even Johnny Plath was a starting halfback in any team that’s not Brisbane, newcastle or Canberra. The old way of thinking your best 13 starts and the best of the rest sits on the pine, that’s a plan destined for failure. Bench is a position now. It won’t happen but imagine if Brisbane starts the game with their bench forwards which are all quality. Then 25minutes in when the Penrith pack is starting to fire out, Haas and flegler and carrigan all come on. Hell imagine if walters starts with flegler and pikura then when flags where out haas comes on. It’s just undefendable.

[@janalee257]

If u start slow penrith can smother you. Like when nsw didnt start Murray or liam Martin cost them big time

[@romanlockey2946]

I reckon NRL should do one game with the dally m team vs any team that would like to face them lol

[@teaspoons5942]

I love Kaylan, I'm a Knights supporter and glad he won it but what do you think of player ratings each week out of 10 instead for every player on the park? If you are consistent like say a lock who probably never gets 3 points could be the 5th best player on the park, week in week out, might not miss games, never injured you get rewarded for consistency. Guys like Pat Carrigan, Murray, Mcinnes would get rewarded for turning up for 80 minutes all season. That way every game you play comes with a number. So If you play great then you get 9.5 but if you play well without being brilliant you can get a 7. If you are poor you get a 3 etc. That way the forwards are a chance of winning the award and someone like Cleary who probably never has worse than a 7 and plays in a great team can still win. It appears at the moment if you are great in a weaker team you get an advantage. Under this system guys like Johnson who most pundits seem to think was the best player for the year would win it. Maybe there could be deductions for suspensions and bonuses for MOM performances etc

[@bellingdog]

I think its ridiculous that in the same week you can have Luke Brooks get a couple of points and Haas get none. How?!

[@teaspoons5942]

@@bellingdog if they aren’t playing in the same game it doesn’t really matter. I think the only way to make it fair is to rate each player each game

[@DRholmsey]

41:23 Willy totally predicted what Ezra Mam did on his 1st try. Impressive

[@joeyclark3995]

Hey again Scope & Mase. I almost fell over when you gave me the mad shout out on tonight's show. That was a mean buzz. I really appreciate it boys🙏 I know I already said it but I love the content you both produce every week. I love how Mase just says what ever the fuck he wants. He's the best. Levels & the WAHS bring so much joy to my life every week. So I can't thank you lads enough. I'm really looking forward to buying some Levels merch & flossing it around town to show my support. I'll be watching EVERY new episode during the offseason don't worry about that. Scope, I really hope you got some more Gimme Par episodes on the way, they are the bomb💣 & if possible could you please do a Gimme Par episode one day vs Tom & Eddy. That would be fu*kn great content. Also congratulations on all your SEN gigs, you are killing it bro. That's going to lead to bigger things moving forward. Levels is on the rise baby. UP LEVELS, UP MASE, UP SCOPE & UP DA WAHS 🔥

[@steve9484]

MVP voting is the best model. A large group of experts (at least 100) to come up with the MVP in a closed-door vote, like it's done in the NBA.

[@blackthunder5469]

Lessshhhgggooo love the poddy bruthas but as a new zealander but im a up the mighty panthers so sorry to my WAH followers. I do have a question though if any of the teams in the GF have weaknesses what would you think they are

[@monkeymagic5058]

Great poddy boys! The Levels hat doesn’t suit Big Willie..."not one size fits all" 😂❤ Looks good on Horo! Go baseball style hats next please❤

[@ngx.k]

aye boys been watching since day 1 but never one to comment, just wanted to know 3 things, 1. willie will be hung on sunday so next run wanna do a run it straight👀😂 2. would you rather the best 14 of all time for any team (rep and club) or be average for your club in one position ? 3. if you could collab with any youtuber/s who would it be ? never been into podcasts but i’ve never missed one. UP THE WAHS AND UP THE LEVELERS❗️

[@ESAS1988]

For sure the kiwi boys were going to do the haka if s.j won they still could of done it for ponga he is kiwi.

[@krizmatthews874]

Ex- pat kiwi😂😂😂

[@hayzIsherwood]

100% well done Kalyn STILL THE MAN SJ!!!!

[@zachkemp6535]

First Maori to win it there's that but sad SJ lost he deserved it

[@tamatiyoung4427]

What’s up lads, BronxNation off the bat. Question - would love to see you two lads do a team draft similar to how the NBA do a “Team LeBron vs Team Giannis” your both team captains playing back row to keep it even. (We know the OG can play front row) Picking from the 2023 player list who’s your 1-16 (with you two taking up the back row spot respectively) once you’ve picked they’re off the board.

[@forddriver8827]

The intro theme to this podcast is now a regular feature in my nightmares. Love the show though.

[@itslukestowe]

😂😂 I’m over it too but had to keep it consistent for the season… will switch it up next year

[@50NewEyes]

Come on Bronx 28-12…… lessssgooooo……

[@julianalderson3938]

Addins shirt was buetiful'

[@TNBreather94]

Scope n og love ya work, wanted to know what your guys plans for the next expansion team would be? Obviously it’s a complex process but the dolphins were really fun to watch this year, I think the addiction of teams would split the talent and hopefully we get 4 teams that are all in that elite tier not just the 2 in this years GF. Yo the wahs Levels up baby

[@PLAYERUNOWNED]

Great mahi fullas!

[@user-sk9qo6ts8d]

Lmfao, bro i thought Willie Mason was married to Danika Mason, literally until this morning. 😂

[@boabcs4981]

Big fan of the show lads but $125 for a plain black hoodie is wild hopefully the sales will give you an indication of how silly that price is.

[@Samoa689]

Ponga was good, I accept & respect that. But every warriors WIN - Johnson had a hand in it. EVERY GAME! Also. The games where Johnson only got 5 points … hmmmm should’ve been 6s cos every game he dominated no one else on the field was even close to him. Lol just my thoughts

[@magnumpi8097]

Love the Poddy guys🙌 Panthers for a 3peat 1-12

[@vanquish2220]

I don’t get why they changed it to 6 pts like as in a way to catch up in the dally m race because it kind of defeats the purpose of player of the year if you miss out heaps of games but still can catch up if you played a good 11-14 games like how ponga did Sj played more games and had arguably better stats position wise In my head I thought that’s how dally m should work but I guess not

[@Gurtha_]

Big willie, when mark o’meley ran over the top of/ knocked out Bryce gibbs, what did you say to him

[@CHANEL_685]

Broncos 16+, come back to this comment in a week's time. Ezra Mam Clive Church medal 🏅

[@CHANEL_685]

yes I did but unfortunately the one leg let me down which was brisbane winning 🤦🏽‍♂️ was paying 23k for $10 stake

[@braefras2920]

The big gee taking on top ref spot very well

[@lucastodd9472]

Heyy lads what a year for levels, i know ya talking about the final but willie can you talk about mark omeley and bryce gibbs 😂 what a tackle: Up the wahhhsss

[@levelsnetwork]

he did earlier in the season brother

[@monkeymagic5058]

Mason and Horo next NSW coaches! We want passion and heart back!!!

[@kcin101]

Hi boys. Couple of points The Dally M's are awarded for best and fairest. If you are suspended for discipline as OG said you have not ticked the box so you shoudn't be eligible. Also fun fact about Kaylin Ponga and the dally m's When the RTS won the the award for the Warriors in 2018 Kaylin Ponga came second by a point so for him to beat a SJ by a point is some sort of poetic justice. Even as a bias Warriors fan Kaylin deserved it for his year.

[@armo3911]

Shout out to the giants Huddersfield the birth place of the great game

[@josephiosefa2276]

Izak tago coming ij hungry this gane boy's

[@troystaunton254]

40:53 I think Cleary is better than Mam. But for a little perspective Mam has had the best year by a Brisbane 5/8 since the King in terms of attack, and he’s hitting blokes like the king did in defence, and remember the broncos 6 jersey has Lewis, Walters, Lockyer, Milford as it’s lineage. So Mam so early is already 4th best broncos 5/8 behind 1 immortal, 1 immortal in waiting, and a hall of famer.

[@uh3331]

whys everyone talkin like ezra is better than cleary whats difference? who was ezra mam last year NO ONE KNEW HIM LMAO

[@josephiosefa2276]

BOYS EXPERIENCE AND DEFENSIVE AND EFFORT PLAYS ALL LEAN TO PANTHERS BRONCOS NEED TO MUCH TO GO DER WAY FOR THEM TO WIN AND IN A FINAL ITS JUST HARD TO SEE IT HAPPENING

[@julianalderson3938]

If game goes well be the last 20

[@flipderba3737]

Can we get lukey on an episode lads 🐐

[@pezt3355]

Any chance in the off-season getting recently retired Ben Cummins on the pod to pick apart what refs look for these days? Up the wahs

[@julianalderson3938]

Cobbo backs big. If hes at his

[@jamiehanks946]

Can you give a shoutout to Featherstone rovers and there playoff hopes to get into super league please

[@Ufcdude87]

❤

[@josephiosefa2276]

I have a feeling that penrith gonna come in to relaxed n the game gonna get away from then

[@josephiosefa2276]

If cobbo gets hit like latrell did by moses mate he aint runing it straight again

[@dancook9968]

Loving the pod from over the pond. Big Willie is just so pure and unfiltered. He just says what he thinks and does not give a shit. Love it! Question about great English club teams. Teams like the Wigan team in 1994. Do you think they would have been able to stack up in the NRL? They won the world club challenge. That’s a one off game, however, do you think they could win the competition playing in Australia week in week out?

[@bellingdog]

Super League has talent. The issue is defence. It just seems SL teams prefer to outscore a team than out-defend them. If SL got a bit of that, whilst keeping their scoring style, they could be competing week-in-week-out with the NRL.

[@dancook9968]

@@bellingdog SL talent now is no where near the NRL. I feel the gap is bigger than ever. But back in the 90's that Wigan team would have come close.

[@bellingdog]

@dancook9968 I think there is massive talent. Just remember Dom Young only played League for 2 years before playing (and killing it) in the NRL. We have a fair few NRL players who didn't play League as a kid. SL needs to look a bit outside the pool. Also, most of the young English lads come over and become stars. Herbie was Dally M centre of the year, and he will be the biggest lost for the GF Broncos next year. So the talent is there, Just Australia has a development structure which is better than England.

[@willyjohnson444]

Why can’t they just pick the same way they choose the team of the year, coach of the year etc. they got those bang on, and the only controversial call was player of the year..

[@jamespiscopo]

The thing everyone forgets with Parramatta vs Penrith is the fact penrith had 5 starters out. Completely reshuffled line and no Edwards organising at the back.

[@bellingdog]

Parra beat them twice this year

[@jamespiscopo]

And a few times last year and how did that work out.

[@bellingdog]

@jamespiscopo yep, but did Parra play in the GF, or just participate? Parra have the blueprint, they didn't execute it in the GF

[@jamespiscopo]

Everyone has the blueprint to beat them doesn’t mean that everything will go to plan for them

[@Jaime_nz]

Fisher Harris for Clive Churchill medal

[@JayYoung313]

Yeah, Kenny ain’t gonna Haas even if he goes for his legs.

[@mrmam2737]

Patty "tough fxxkn" Carrigan is damn right❤

[@josephiosefa2276]

Broncos have got good players its just der mistakes and they don't have that defence like panthers DEFENSIVE WINS GAME THAT ALL THAT MATTERS

[@hotaec6035]

Broncos is the only team that has a chance against the panthers so if panthers beat them ? They could possibly go for a 4peat😳

[@bellingdog]

It wasnt one game. Parra beat them twice this year.

[@Jaime_nz]

Herbie Farnworth for first try in the grand final

[@julianalderson3938]

An im not into bling.

[@julianalderson3938]

Reece was insane. But cant spit shit. Cos its about the player not the athelete.

[@magnumpi8097]

Panthers 13+ 3peat

[@Dillybreh]

Dally m is best and fairest... not just the best 🤣 cant cop multiple weeks suspended for anything and expect to be called the fairest

[@uh3331]

LMAO imagine underestimating panthers still, i cant wait for tonight salty eels bulldogs fans everywhere how cute

[@user-kf6pb7jv7z]

This guy is that boring even Willie was falling asleep.

[@Taniwha123]

SJ was shafted - seriously.