NRG Are NOT That Guy Anymore | The Vodfathers

Sideshow, TMV, and ShyoWager rebuild their Valorant Champions contender list after LOUD gatecrashed the field, and argue over whether NRG still deserve to be trusted. The crew open by tearing up last week's buckets. LOUD, a team all three had written off, not only made Champions but did it convincingly enough that ShyoWager wants them in the top tier outright, while TMV collects on a bundle bet he would rather forget. From there the argument turns to NRG, with Sideshow defending them on pedigree and mada's injury and ShyoWager insisting best of three NRG cannot be trusted, then widens into who is actually going to underperform in Shanghai. The back half is roster season. Boaster is out at Fnatic with China circling, Boo is gone from Team Heretics, G2 have quietly not re-signed Valyn, Gen.G let karen's contract expire while keeping t3xture, and every PaperRex contract except one runs out at the end of 2026. The episode closes on the Champions group draw, the Sword9 crash out at Xi Lai Gaming, and the first round games worth staying up for. Topics covered: ⦁ Do LOUD belong in the top bucket of Champions contenders? ⦁ Is NRG still a team you can trust in a best of three? ⦁ Which team will be the biggest underperformer in Shanghai? ⦁ Leviatan miss Champions and why the points system will do this again ⦁ Boaster leaving Fnatic and the Chinese bag waiting for him ⦁ G2 have not re-signed Valyn, and what a new look G2 means ⦁ Will PaperRex break up when every contract expires? ⦁ The Sword9 crash out and what it says about the T1 house ⦁ Group draw reactions and the first round games worth watching Huel: Limited Time Offer – Make healthy eating simple. Get Huel today with our exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with our code LFN at huel.com/LFN. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! Factor Meals: Chef crafted, dietitian designed meals ready in two minutes with no prep and no cleanup. Use code VODFATHERS50OFF at https://factormeals.com/vodfathers LFN Premium: Join a premium Discord, ask the crew your questions, unlock premium content, and support the show. Sign up at https://www.lastfreenation.com The Vodfathers is a weekly Valorant talk show (PTI-style) hosted by Sideshow, TMV, and ShyoWager. The crew delivers fast-paced VCT coverage with segment breakdowns, hot takes on teams and players, and playful banter on the week's biggest Valorant esports stories. 🎧 Watch/Listen to The Vodfathers: • Spotify (with video): https://open.spotify.com/show/3lq12uY... • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... • Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/5fyac6xs • Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-v... • iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/330305583/ 💬 Join the conversation: • Discord:   / discord   📲 Follow Last Free Nation VALORANT: • YouTube:    / @lastfreenationvalorant   • Twitter: https://x.com/lastfreenation 🔔 Subscribe to Last Free Nation VALORANT for new episodes every week. 📰 Sign up for The LFN Herald, the weekly dispatch from across the Last Free Nation network: https://herald.lastfreenation.com?utm... 🏴‍☠️ Join the Crew: https://www.lastfreenation.com 0:00 Champions contender buckets and the LOUD problem 7:52 100 Thieves, NRG and who underperforms in Shanghai 33:13 Leviatan and the points system 39:48 Roster season: Boaster, Valyn, Boo and Gen.G 1:01:55 Will PaperRex break up? 1:09:00 Rob Moore and the Sword9 saga 1:22:20 The group draw and the matchups we want #VALORANT #VCT #TheVodfathers #LFN #Esports