NRL Writers Room Debate Scripting A Panthers Dynasty vs Steel City Revival

KEITH T. DENNET | South | Contact

The award winning writers of the nation's greatest soap opera are sharpening their pencils today, as they script the final episodes of the NRL 2026 season.

With the Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights facing off in a David vs. Goliath battle prelim at Olympic Park, it’s understood the six writers at NRL headquarters are split down the middle, on which narrative will be the most profitable for the game.

Squinting at a whiteboard covered in sticky notes and marker pen strokes, head writer David Vautin is backing the mountain men to make it to the Grand Final.

An NRL script writing veteran, whose portfolio includes great storylines such as “Paul Gallen’s turn your porch lights off” and the “2015 Thurston Fairytale”, David Vautin knows what sells newspapers and keeps TV ratings ticking.

“I think it should be Penrith. We’re talking dynasty. We’re talking Cleary immortal. Yeo with a ruptured pec. More fuel on the “Where will Ivan and Nathan go next?” chat. That narrative alone could keep the back pages talking until Christmas.”

Not to be outvoiced by the opinions of an NRL script writing veteran, young gun writer Ben Simpson has piped up, suggesting a few kind penalties to the Knights could really flip the season on it’s head.

“Have you read the news lately mate? The regional working class need something to believe in! Imagine Newcastle. Holbrook takes them from Spooners to Premiers. Kalyn as the ‘Prince That Was Promised’. It’s Joey and Matty hugging on Nobbys Beach. It’s Silverchair. It’s a week long bender for a city that can’t wait to erupt.”

“Penrith is boring, it’s been done. I say give the Knights a few generous six-agains, maybe a Liam Martin send off, and some tries that definitely should’ve gone to the bunker, and we’ll get the red to look the other way. Let the Novocastrians sing!”

More to come.