Sean Maloney: I'm still trying to make sense of calling 'one of the most bonkers games in recent memory'

Records were broken, seasons were extended, punches were thrown and we got just our second ever try in 'Super Point' across the weekend.

Sprinkle in one of the best Super Rugby Pacific games of 2025 and news there may just be a Hollywood star lining up for a Lions teaser, we have some column to charge through.

Happy Monday team!

Watch all the action from the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match live and on demand

WARATAHS FIND A WAY

I made sure to add the caveat at full-time in the Waratahs' loss at home to the Crusaders that the men from Christchurch had "ALL BUT ended the Waratahs' finals hopes." Lucky.

Their season is now very much alive following one of the most bonkers games in recent memory.

The 90-plus minutes included the following...

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Proper knuckle with punches thrown but no yellow cards - and no citing for Fergus Lee-Warner on Monday morning.

A yellow card for TRIPPING, handed to Wallabies star Taniela Tupou who has 58 Test caps.

"Crazy... why would you stick your leg out like that?" my Stan colleague Justin Harrison asked.

Then a history making try for a forward and TWO missed penalty goals which would've seen the Force win - one in regular time, the other in Super Point.

And a match winning try delivered in the final seconds of extra time. Phew.

That's a lot of action given the full-time score only read 22-17 in favour of Dan McKellar's men, who jagged their first away win of the year to keep a playoff dream alive.

Fittingly, it was Darby Lancaster who scored the ultimate try with a jaw dropping dive and brilliant ball control to claim the win.

Lancaster is a proud Kempsey Cannonball, from the NSW north coast.

Sadly, that whole area has been smashed with flooding the last week so it was terrific to see 'The Beekeeper,' as Justin Harrison describes him, be the one to lift local spirits with his heroics.

Next up for NSW is the Blues in Auckland.

Our mate Tom Decent at the Sydney Morning Herald has done a deep dive on their record at Eden Park and the odds ain't great.

However, 2025 has seen the unthinkable take place more often than not and there just may be more madness to come on Saturday afternoon.

TIZZANO TAKES TOP SPOT

Western Force tyro Carlo Tizzano made history with his 13th and final try of the Super Rugby season on Saturday.

The smartly taken five pointer elevated him above Malcolm Marx, Folau Fainga'a, Codie Taylor and Hoskins Sotutu to claim the record for most tries by a forward in a season.

Tizzano's popularity has spread far and wide in 2025 thanks to a string of MVP performances which have seen him rise to the top of the fantasy points scorers.

NEW PODCAST! The Inside Line crew answer listener questions including a looming Waratahs cleanout and a soft stomping ban

The Force backrower quickly became one of the first players selected and hasn't looked back.

As mentioned in this column earlier in the year, Tizzano has won fans off field too with his work as part-time carer for a youngster named Vitor Coombe who has Down Syndrome.

He and partner Emma spend time with him where possible and the little fella loves it.

HURRICANES HOLD ON

Hoooooolllyyy smokes was Friday night's match up between the Reds and Hurricanes a good one.

I've got it as one of the best games this season.

Early tries for both sides, a level of physicality we hadn't seen in a while, a sharpness of attack under pressure that resulted in two brilliant scores and all in front of a rocking crowd.

Queensland had numerous star performers including big names Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight while Jock Campbell was electric.

However, it was Joe Brial who really announced himself.

Another next-generation player, Brial has followed in steps of his father Michael who was also very large and also very hard to tackle.

No doubt Brial Sr would've been proud as Joe stomped his way through three would-be defenders to score at Suncorp.

Joe, who spent a few years in the Crusaders academy, is almost a carbon copy of the old man's physique.

Dad played for the Wallabies and with son locked in here until 2026, a gold jersey may await him down the line too.

HOW PLAYOFF PICTURE MAY LOOK

As of Monday morning, we don't yet have the full list of algorithm generated odds for this week, but we can safely assume the following.

The Chiefs will be strong favourites against the Highlanders. Hurricanes will be expected to beat Moana Pasifika. The Blues will be hot, hot favourites vs NSW.

And the Reds should be expected to defeat the Drua.

It's almost impossible predicting a winner between the Brumbies and Crusaders, however we'll give a slight nod to the Crusaders due to their recent record against the Brumbies. (won four of the last 5).

So, IF all the faves win in the regular season finale, we'd likely be left with this playoff picture in week one of the finals.

Chiefs (1) vs Blues (6)

Crusaders (2) vs Reds (5)

Brumbies (3) v Hurricanes (4)

Of course, the underdogs COULD all win this weekend and the Brumbies could end up hosting Moana Pasifika in the first week as a 1 vs 6 battle.

What a season!!!

OH CANADA

I was asked in the hallways of Suncorp on Friday if Canada were really that good or if our Wallaroos were just having a rough night in the 45-7 rout.

Firstly, the Canadian women are really, really good.

Ranked No.2 in the world, they drew with NZ last week having had beaten them in the Pacific Four Series last year.

The squad is a mix of locals and women who star in the UK Premiership while the programme itself runs on a very limited budget compared to tier one nations.

So, they've got their set-up humming on a shoe-string.

Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp made a number of changes heading in, giving a wide range of players a chance to impress with the World Cup rapidly approaching.

Some combos clicked, others didn't and obviously the defence fell apart dramatically.

There are still games to come against Wales in the lead up to the RWC and should Australia advance from their pool, they will likely play a quarter-final against... Canada.

Across the Tasman, New Zealand destroyed the USA to claim the trophy.

Three-time Olympic medallist Portia Woodman-Wickliffe returned from retirement to score, wait for it, SEVEN tries in the 79-14 blowout.

No, not six, SEVEN tries.

BACK TO PARRA

The Two Blues have a huge weekend inbound with their 'Back to Parra Day' at Eric Tweedale Stadium this coming Saturday.

Parra die-hard Brett Lamond reminded me that 2025 marks the 40 year anniversary of their Shute Shield title win against the much favoured Randwick all stars.

They went back to back against the Galloping Greens with the Parramatta forward pack still regarded as one of the most feared in the 150 year history of Sydney club rugby.

Led by Gregg 'Tiny' Melrose, the Parra big men terrorised opposing packs on their way to the dual titles against a Wallabies-rich 'Wicks' outfit.

Go Parra.

GOING BIG FOR LIONS

I caught wind on the Stan Sport, Nine Network rugby production floor that the producers are closing in on a huge name to front the opener for the first Test in Brisbane on July 19.

Ex-Wallabies prop Ben Alexander got a front row view of how popular Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn is when he filled out his Canberra pub 'The Dock' as part of a meet and greet a couple years back.

The series deserves a Hollywood touch and when done right, none do it better than our Aussie film stars.

Mendelsohn fronted last year's NRL grand- final teaser for Nine and it looked epic.

See you on Stan Sport tonight for Between Two Posts with Matt Burke and Morgan Turinui.