Panthers Imploding, Crows Crumble & Taupō Supercars Surprises | Ahead of the Game Ep. 20

In Episode 20 of Ahead of the Game, Ryan and Jez start with the biggest storylines from Thursday night footy across both codes. The Crows’ Gather Round opener looked like a celebration but ended in heartbreak, with Geelong storming home thanks to veterans Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron. Tex Walker was immense, but the Crows lost their grip. Ryan reckons they’ll bounce back, but the scars will linger.

In the NRL, it’s panic stations at Penrith. The Panthers are now 1–5, and stats are piling up around just how rare this slide is for a defending champion. Jez nails the vibe shift—when you lose glue guys like Luai, Fisher-Harris, and Turuva, the culture starts to wobble.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins are surging, with Kristian Woolf settling in as coach and Hammer finally getting on the scoresheet consistently. Their backline is starting to look like one of the league’s best, and they’re a team to watch.

The lads then turn to Whatya Watchin, starting with Taupō Supercars, where Kiwi drivers are dominating early practice. Big teams are off the pace, tyre balance is tricky, and the home crowd is riding high.

They also preview F1 in Bahrain, hoping for more action than last week’s processional run in Suzuka. For full analysis of that mess, they recommend heading back to [Episode 19].

Next up is Storm vs Warriors, where Jez reveals some sharp stats suggesting this one could be a lot tighter than expected. Want the full breakdown? Head to bets.com.au/nrl.

The AFL gets its moment with Dees vs Bombers and St Kilda vs GWS both on the radar. Ryan believes Melbourne will finally notch win #1, while the Saints’ historic edge over the Giants makes that a must-watch matchup.