Inside the Finals with Jacob Host & Ashton Ward
The lights are up at the Kenty Prime Time studio for a high-stakes Finals Edition. This week, the panel shifted from the usual headlines to a tactical deep dive, bringing in South Sydney Rabbitohs duo Jacob Host and Ashton Ward to peel back the curtain on how players actually prepare for the finals pressure cooker.
The Souths Perspective: Wayne, Injuries, and the "Head of the Snake"
While the Rabbitohs aren't featuring in this year's finals, Host and Ward provided a raw look at a season defined by a brutal injury toll. Jacob Host, an original Dragons junior now at home in Redfern, spoke about the stabilizing presence of Wayne Bennett. In the studio, Host described Bennett as a coach who cuts through the "mind games" prevalent in the modern game, preferring a "straight shooter" approach that gives players total clarity.
Ashton Ward, the young playmaker who stepped up during the crisis, highlighted the leadership that stayed active behind the scenes. Even while sidelined, Cody Walker was essentially a secondary coach, standing behind the rookies at training to whisper tactical cues on how to manipulate defensive lines. The studio discussion underscored a "family" culture at Souths that kept morale afloat even as the casualty ward grew.
Tactical Blueprint: Storm vs. Bulldogs
The Friday night qualifying final at AAMI Park is the primary focus of the breakdown. The studio crew analyzed the clash of styles between a disciplined Melbourne machine and an "up-tempo" Canterbury side. The Bulldogs, led by Ciraldo, are bringing a mobile pack designed to tire out larger opponents through speed. The Storm, however, thrive in the "washing machine"—a clinical cycle of completion and possession that eventually grinds teams into the dirt.
The Spine Shuffle and Key Absentees
A major talking point in the booth was the absence of Dally M winner Jahrome Hughes. While Tyran Wishart and Jonah Pezet have filled the void, the panel agreed that Hughes is the primary "head of the attack." To compensate, Cameron Munster is expected to flip the switch into "Origin mode," taking on a more dominant, unorthodox role that makes him a nightmare for defensive coordinators to track.
The return of Harry Grant is the equalizer. Host noted that Grant acts as Melbourne's barometer, dictating the ruck and preying on tired defenders. On the flip side, the Bulldogs' hope lies in the energy of young Lachlan Galvin and the mobility of their forward rotation, though they must overcome the loss of Nelson Asofa-Solomona, whose suspension removes a massive physical edge from the Storm's middle.
The Verdict from the Booth
The studio was split on the outcome. Ward is backing the Bulldogs' energy and Galvin’s emerging voice to pull off an upset, while Host warned against betting against the Storm’s discipline in big moments. Both agreed that the battle will be won in the final fifteen minutes when fatigue starts to force errors in the ruck.
Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.
