5 Live Rugby League: Recent Episodes
BBC Radio 5 live
A weekly podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live featuring the latest rugby news, analysis and interview. With contributions from Dave Woods, Stuart Pyke, coaches and players.
In this episode we're talking about iconic moments from the greatest rivalry in the game. The focus is England or, more often than not, Great Britain against the old enemy, Australia. Ahead of the first Ashes series in 22 years, the panel discuss and debate what are, undoubtedly, some of the most memorable moments in the history of rugby league.
From the game changing 'Invincibles' and 'Unbeatables' of the 1980s, to the ankle tap on Kallum Watkins in 2017 which denied England the chance to draw level and perhaps go on and win the World Cup for the first time in 45 years.
In between, two tries from Henderson Gill, the second of which was celebrated with "a bit of a boogie", as described by the Australian commentators, were the highlight in 1988 of Great Britain's first victory against the Aussies in a decade and their first win Down Under for 18 years.
Two years later, Ricky Stuart dummied his way up the field before finding Mal Meninga in support for a memorable, match-winning score at Old Trafford in the 'greatest ever test' to level the series and ultimately set the platform for Australia to retain the Ashes.
1992 was the last time a Great Britain team took on a full tour of Australasia, led by the legendary Malcolm Reilly, the highlight of the series for the tourists was undoubtedly the Second Test in a cold and wet Melbourne. An all-Wigan pack led GB to a 33-10 victory, equalling their biggest ever win against Australia.
Other iconic Great Britain moments up for discussion include Jonathan Davies' sensational try at Wembley, Adrian Morley's red card after 12 seconds and captain Jamie Peacock taking on Willie Mason after he'd floored Stuart Fielden. While, for England, there's Sam Burgess' 'breakthrough' score in the 2009 Four Nations Final and the controversy that became known as 'Pinkygate' after Ryan Hall had a late try ruled out which could have knocked Australia out of the 2014 Four Nations tournament. A decision England coach Steve McNamara described as “disappointing!”
All iconic in their own right, but which will come out on top?
The Man of Steel award goes right back to 1977 when David Ward of Leeds was the first recipient of a trophy which got its name because of a sponsor. Many great players have received the accolade as being the best in any particular season, but few have won it on more than one occasion.
The versatile Ellery Hanley is the only one to have been voted Man of Steel three times. A Lance Todd Trophy and Golden Boot winner, he captained Great Britain between 1988 and 1992 and scored 189 tries in 202 appearances for Wigan while collecting those three awards.
Andy Farrell, another Wigan legend, was a two-time winner whose exploits in league have perhaps been matched by his hugely successful career as a player and coach in union. St Helens' Paul Sculthorpe is the only player be honoured in back-to-back seasons and Sam Tomkins has the distinction of the longest gap between awards, having been first selected in 2012 while at Wigan and then again nine years later with Catalans Dragons.
Other great names to have won the prize include Shaun Edwards, the most decorated player in rugby league history with 37 winners' medals to his name. Garry Schofield, the Leeds legend capped 46 times by Great Britain, who was the most expensive player in the world when moving from Hull in 1987. That fee was usurped by dual-code international captain, Jonathan Davies who initially spent four seasons with Widnes after leaving union for £230,000 in 1989, but was named Man of Steel in his first season with Warrington in 1994.
Mighty prop, Jamie Peacock, won a record nine Super League Grand Finals from 11 appearances with Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos, while James Roby who also has 11 Grand Finals to his name, all for St Helens, was then the youngest player to claim the prize back in 2007.
Our top ten list concludes with his former team-mate, James Graham. A man with over 50 international appearances and the fourth different Saints player to win the award between 2005 and 2008. He actually lost six successive Grand Finals, including one in Australia, but returned to St Helens in 2020 to capture his second Super League Grand Final trophy, 14 years after his first.
It's always difficult to judge whether one game was better than another, so this top ten list concentrates on the most memorable moments in Grand Finals along with the impact each had on that game itself and their subsequent outcomes.
From Jason Robinson's jinking try that lit up the first edition between Wigan and Leeds in 1998 to Bevan French's spectacular effort to complete the Warriors' quadruple last year, the 'Big Dance' has delivered some truly outstanding memories.
Michael Withers hat-trick in 2001 helped Bradford pile up the most points in a final, while Sean Long's late drop goal won Saints the prize the following year, although not before one of the biggest Grand Final controversies. In the last play of the game, Chris Joynt went to ground leaving the Bulls wanting a penalty for a voluntary tackle as the full time whistle blew.
In 2011, Leeds had a point to prove after finishing fifth in the regular season and Rob Burrow had something to prove himself, having once again been named on the bench to face St Helens. The teams were locked at 2-2 on a typically rainy night in Manchester when Burrow ducked and dived half the length of the field, leaving opponents grasping at thin air. Not just the greatest ever try scored in a Grand Final, but probably one of the greatest tries scored anywhere.
By contrast, the 2014 final will always be remembered for the wrong reasons. In only the second minute of the match Wigan’s Ben Flower became the first and only player to be sent off after punching St Helens half-back Lance Hohaia twice, the second landing whilst the Kiwi was lying prone on the floor.
And despite being played at an empty stadium due to Covid, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, John Kear described the 2020 game as the greatest Grand Final ever. With the scores tied and seconds to play, Tommy Makinson's drop goal from way out hit the post, but Jack Welsby reacted quickest to the bouncing ball, touching down to win the game for Saints in the most dramatic of fashion.
Picking the most memorable moment in Grand Final history is going to be tough.
The roots of this episode are in 1895 when the sport of rugby split in two and rugby league was born alongside its often distant relative! We're talking about the codebreakers, those who've crossed over and competed on both sides of the divide.
Outside of our 40-year rule, but who must be mentioned, are Sir Billy Boston, Gus Risman and Clive Sullivan, three players immortalised as 'The Codebreakers' in a bronze statue in Cardiff Bay. All of them rugby league legends who started out playing union in the Welsh capital.
Fellow countrymen who do make the list include Jonathan Davies. A World Club Challenge winner with Widnes and named Man of Steel at Warrington, who many feel his best years as a rugby player were in league. While Iestyn Harris made a big-money move from Leeds to Cardiff, before returning to Bradford where a Grand Final and World Club Challenge followed.
Six Championships, four Challenge Cups and 45 caps for Great Britain and England earned Andy Farrell, at the age of 29, the switch to union with Saracens in a million-pound deal jointly funded by the RFU. Injury curtailed his playing career, but in turning to coaching he led Ireland to Six Nations success and the British & Irish Lions to victory down under.
From that side of the world are contenders in the shape of Wendell Sailor, who not only played both codes, but also appeared on the Australian version of 'The Masked Singer'! Israel Folau, a somewhat controversial figure, actually competed professionally in three sports, union, league and Australian rules football. The late, great 'Inga The Winger', Vai'aiga Tuigamala, capped by the All Blacks and a multiple trophy winner with Wigan. While the 'offload king', Sonny Bill Williams, won the World Cup with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015 and in-between returned to the NRL with Sydney Roosters winning a Premiership title.
While nearer to home, huge names in the world of rugby in the form of 'Slammin' Sam Burgess, 'Ash the Splash' Chris Ashton and 'Billy Whizz', World Cup winner Jason Robinson, complete our top 10 contenders.
It's often said it's a good thing not to stand still, but why is the sport's governing body never happy? In a game which seems to be constantly re-inventing itself, this time on Rugby League Top 10 we're talking innovations.
A lot of change has followed the move to summer rugby in 1996, when Super League was born. With it came the introduction of the video referee, now widely copied in many other sports. While two years later, winning the league suddenly wasn't enough and so the play-offs and Grand Final were introduced giving broadcasters the major event at the end of the season they craved.
Often, it's the rules which have been altered to improve the game. In 1993, the reference point for measuring the defensive line at a play-the-ball was extended to 10 metres. The new rule promoted more lateral ball movement, but in typical rugby league style it was introduced mid-season and the players had to just get on with it.
This season has witnessed the addition of the Captain's Challenge, to mixed reviews. The goal was to reduce incorrect referee calls, though it's been said the system just disrupts the game's flow. Wigan's Liam Farrell was the first Super League player to make a Captain's Challenge. It was unsuccessful!
Off the field, the sport has also been creative in its collaboration with sponsors. When a haulage company took the naming rights for Super League it was sold as a progressive deal where, instead of paying any money, the haulage company agreed to plaster Super League players on the side of their vehicles to increase awareness. In the end, sightings of those trucks were few and far between.
And not to be confused with a later tie-up with a pizza company. In 2020, during Covid, they supplied post-match pizzas to the teams in exchange for perimeter advertising. It was, to be fair, a cunning plan to feed the players safely during those restrictions, but Sam Tomkins wasn't quite as convinced. He tweeted after one match, "I hope we can negotiate new toppings on the next pizza deal. We can accept no money, but tuna pizza is taking the ****."
What makes a great coach? Sustained success obviously plays a huge part, but there are several other deciding factors which elevate some coaches above others.
Alongside the arbitrary 40-year rule to qualify for the top ten, and to make it a level playing field, our nominees need to have coached a club to a Super League title, that is, during an era when the sport was fully professional. Unfortunately, that rules out legendary leaders like Dougie Laughton and Alex Murphy, alongside a few others who did, but still missed the cut.
However, it does include the likes of John Monie, the hugely successful Wigan coach who claimed the very first Super League Grand Final. That was after guiding them to four consecutive league and cup doubles between 1990 and 1993 as Monie won over 80% of the games he coached with the Cherry and Whites.
Brian McDermott won four Super League Grand Finals with Leeds, twice guiding the Rhinos to victory after finishing fifth in the regular season and led them to the treble in 2015. While the current England coach, Shaun Wane, steered Wigan to three Grand Final triumphs and will be hoping to add to that success in this autumn's Ashes series.
Current Wigan boss, Matt Peet, won a quadruple in 2024, making it seven trophies in his first three seasons in charge of the Warriors. While Kristian Woolf was victorious in each of his three seasons in charge of St Helens and also coached Tonga to victory over Australia in 2019, one of the greatest upsets in rugby league history.
Others under consideration include Tony Smith, a winner with Leeds and Warrington, who also took charge of England and Great Britain. Kiwi, Brian McLennan, secured back-to-back Super League titles with Leeds, Ian Millward was a multi-trophy winner with St Helens and Daniel Anderson who led Saints to a treble and two different NRL clubs to Grand Finals. Finally, there's panellist Brian Noble, a three-time Grand Final winner with Bradford Bulls and coach of Great Britain. But can 'Nobby' persuade the others to vote for him as the best coach of the modern era?
For many, the Challenge Cup Final was their first real taste of the sport. Either watching on TV and listening to legendary commentators such as Eddie Waring and Ray French, or travelling down to Wembley to witness rugby league's 'big day out' in person.
The 1968 'Watersplash' final remains iconic, but this list of top ten finals begins forty years ago with a record crowd of 99,801 inside the national stadium witnessing a classic encounter between two teams of rugby league superstars wearing their classic hooped kits.
Peter Sterling and James Leuluai of Hull manufactured some memorable moments, and there was a sensational try for Wigan’s Henderson Gill, but it was Brett Kenny of Wigan who became the first Australian to win the Lance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match after scoring a stunning try.
Martin Offiah's 1994 length of the field score and iconic celebration, slumped to his knees with his head in his hands, is now immortalised as part of the rugby league statue at Wembley. Bradford Bulls superstar Robbie Paul scored the first-ever final hat-trick two years later and in 1998 Sheffield Eagles caused one of, if not, the biggest shock in a major final in any sport in any era.
Head coach John Kear was at it again with Hull FC in 2005 as Paul Cooke danced his way over the line for a crucial late score. While one of the great Wembley tries occurred in 2011, a real family affair, made by Sam Tomkins and finished by brother Joel.
Catalans Dragons played in the first final at the newly developed Wembley in 2007. They lost that day to St Helens, but just over a decade later returned to become the first non-English team in 121 years to win the cup. And when Papua New Guinea international half-back Lachlan Lam travelled half-way round the world to play for his father Adrian, his crucial golden point drop goal which claimed the cup for “Little old Leigh” 52 years after their last success, was the stuff of fairy tales.
But which one will come out as the most memorable Challenge Cup Final?
The signing of overseas players hasn't always meant adding quality to the competition, but this list of the very best certainly did. Although it's fair to say some made much more of an impact than others.
For instance, the 'greatest player of all-time', Andrew Johns, made just three appearances for Warrington at the end of the 2005 season, and couldn't lead them to silverware.
In the 1980s it was common practice for legendary NRL players to sign short-term contracts in England during the off-season 'Down Under'. More recently, imports have actually made their name in Super League, winning Grand Finals, Challenge Cups and earning recognition as the Man of Steel.
Widely regarded as one of the games' finest players, Australian international player and coach, Mal Meninga, joined St Helens for the 1984/85 season and helped them win the Lancashire Cup and Premiership title. While Kiwi centre, Dean Bell, won seven successive Challenge Cup Finals with Wigan, including three as captain, and made such an impact he was the subject of 'This is Your Life' in 1993.
Robbie Paul followed his brother Henry to Bradford and lit up the game making rugby league 'cool'. He was named 'Super League Player of the Season' aged just 20, whilst loose-forward Adrian Vowles with Castleford, centre Jamie Lyon at St Helens, full-back Brett Hodgson with Huddersfield and winger and goal-kicking machine Pat Richards at Wigan were all crowned the 'Man of Steel' between 1999 and 2010.
Joining Robbie at the Bulls was 'The Volcano', Lesley Vainikolo. The huge New Zealand winger won two Super League titles and three Challenge Cup finals with Bradford scoring 149 tries in 152 games. And more recently, Wigan's Bevan French has really shone in Super League, not only winning silverware, but incredibly being named as 'Player of the Match' in three finals during 2024.
So, who will take the accolade as the greatest import of all?
There's nothing more dramatic than a game which is won or lost in the last meaningful moment. These are the ones which live longest in the memory for fans and players alike and which bring both tears of joy and despair in equal measure. And, when it's on the biggest stage, those memories last a lifetime.
Some are lifted by the iconic commentary that sits alongside them. “Long fancies it, Long fancies it. It's wide to West, it's wide to West... ” makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up to this day as Chris Joynt finished off an incredibly desperate last play for St Helens against Bradford that ultimately led to a Grand Final victory.
Occasionally, these dramatic endings also settle city rivalries. David Hodgson for Rovers against FC at Magic Weekend and Chris Green the other way around the following year to equal the score for example. Whilst others have more major consequence, such as Shaun Johnson breaking English hearts at Wembley in the World Cup semi-final or Gareth O'Brien's huge drop-goal in the Million Pound Game which capped off an incredible comeback by Salford in golden point extra-time.
Then there's the drama of the helicopter hovering over the Pennines, waiting to see where the trophy was heading, when Ryan Hall's last second try for Leeds at Huddersfield secured the League Leaders' Shield and completed part two of the Rhinos treble campaign.
While Jack Welsby's try on the hooter for his home town club against their fiercest rivals in the Covid hit Grand Final was equally dramatic despite hardly anyone being there to witness it. The players waited anxiously for the video referee to check it was a try and when confirmed went absolutely wild, even though there was no-one else there to celebrate with them!
The more personal the occasion, the more memorable is the ending, and there's absolutely nothing worse than losing that way, but nothing beats winning like that either.
These are the guys who used to play on 'the edge'. In the days when almost everything was considered 'legal', some were employed as enforcers, whilst others never ever took a backward step. Many were just simply fearless, but you'd definitely try and avoid running towards all of them. They are rugby league's hard men.
Rugby league was a little bit different in the 1990s. A mainly part-time sport where the attributes of some players could have easily secured themselves alternative employment as bouncers! Such as the charging rhino himself, Barrie McDermott, who used a not so subtle trick to further intimidate his opponents. Or Kelvin Skerrett, who won six Championships and four Challenge Cups with Wigan. The Wales and Great Britain international is the man described as a "dirty get" on Mick Morgan's famous viral commentary.
Castleford legend Mal Reilly was just as tough as a coach as he was as a player. When he moved to Manly he used to ask his team-mates who the toughest players on the opposition were so he could target them to gain respect. Later, he coached at Newcastle Knights, where he found out which of his players had the best records on the rowing machine before smashing them all with his own stamina and fitness. He's even got a an intense training drill named after him... the Malcolm!
And then there's the likes of Adrian Morley. Known as 'The Enforcer' in Australia, 'Moz' kept his own little black book to keep tabs on opponents who were due a little retribution. He once received a seven-match ban for kneeing an opponent in the chest. However, the ban was expected to be more than double that before a character reference from long-time foe 'Big' Willie Mason described him as "one of the toughest players in the toughest competition in the world" helped his case.
There's a fine line between legal and illegal violence in rugby league and often some of these fellas crossed it. Nowadays it would lead to an instant red card, but that doesn't mean hard men don't exist in the sport today. They just go about showing it slightly differently!
Tanya Arnold, Kevin Brown, Andrew Henderson and John Kear reflect on a gripping Grand Final after Wigan defeated Hull KR 9-2. Victory meant the Warriors completed an incredible quadruple in 2024 and their CEO and former player, Kris Radlinski, joins the team to give an insight in to the preparations, celebrations and what now lies ahead for the most successful side of the Super League era.
It’s Grand Final week with Wigan Warriors and Hull KR battling for the right to be crowned Super League Champions. Tanya Arnold is at Old Trafford to preview the biggest night of the Rugby League year. Wigan are looking to win the Grand Final for the 7th time, whilst Hull KR are playing in their very first Super League title decider. Head Coach Matt Peet and players Bevan French and Kruise Leeming offer an insight into the Warriors’ preparations as they seek to lift their fourth trophy of the campaign. Hull KR boss Willie Peters, Captain Elliot Minchella and forward James Batchelor reveal their thoughts ahead of the big game. Rugby League legend Paul Sculthorpe and commentator Matt Newsum set the scene for what promises to be an epic contest.
Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown look ahead to a crucial weekend of Super League action featuring the Women’s Grand Final in St Helens and the Semi-finals in the men’s competition. Zoe Harris of St Helens and York Valkyrie’s Kelsey Gentles join the podcast to talk about their preparations for the Women’s Final in which Saints will be looking to complete the Treble against the defending Champions from York. They describe their own journeys through the sport, the physical and mental demands of playing the game and their own personal motivations for Sunday’s Final. Grand Final places are up for grabs in the Men’s competition and Kevin offers his analysis of the two Semi-finals.
Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised you can find support via the BBC Action Line at https://bbc.co.uk/actionline/
It’s Play-off time in the 2024 Men’s Super League season and six teams are still standing in the race to be crowned Champions at the home of Manchester United. Tanya Arnold is at the official launch event to preview the upcoming series with representatives from all the teams involved. Salford coach Paul Rowley and his Leigh counterpart Adrian Lam look ahead to their clash in the elimination round, where the winners will progress to the semi-finals but the loser’s season will end. It’s the same scenario for Warrington and St Helens when they meet on Saturday. Warrington Full-back Matt Dufty and St Helens Coach Paul Wellens reflect on their seasons so far and what they hope to achieve in the play-offs. Wigan and Hull KR have earned a week off in the opening round of matches and we find out from Liam Marshall, Mikey Lewis and Willie Peters how they will approach the break. Leeds’ Rhyse Martin discusses his final season with the Rhinos and Rugby League legend Paul Sculthorpe makes some predictions about how the play-off series might unfold. Tara Jones of St Helens and York Valkyrie’s Sade Rihari react to their success in the Women’s semi-finals before they meet in the Grand Final on October 6th.
As a player and coach Mike Ford has been involved at the very top level in both codes of Rugby and is currently the Managing Director of Oldham. He talks to Tanya Arnold about the recent revival at the club which has seen them promoted to the Championship, and reveals his vision for Rugby League in the town which prioritises pathways for junior players and establishing a permanent base at Boundary park. He reflects on his time as a player with Wigan, and his coaching journey through Rugby Union, including spells with Ireland, England, Saracens and Bath. He discusses why so many Rugby League players have become successful defence coaches in Rugby Union, and ponders whether it might be time to start a discussion on merging the two codes. Ford also talks about the challenges his club face in gathering enough grading points for potential promotion to Super League one day, and whether his England Rugby Union international son George might play Rugby League for Oldham in the future.
Salford Red Devils captain Kallum Watkins joins the podcast as his team continue their quest to secure a place in the Super League play-offs. After losing two of their key players before the start of the campaign Salford have defied expectations this year and enter the final fortnight of the season in fourth place. Watkins reveals some of the secrets to their success and discusses his own positional move from centre to second-row forward. He highlights the players who influenced him most during his early career at Leeds Rhinos, and responds to recent speculation linking him with a return to Headingley. He talks openly about the three ACL injuries he has suffered during his career and how he hopes that talking about his mental health challenges will help others in the future.
Leeds Rhinos’ Sporting Director Ian Blease joins the podcast to talk about his role at one of the biggest clubs in Rugby League. After an inconsistent season the Rhinos have three games left to secure a place in the play-offs and Blease discusses the decision to bring in Brad Arthur as Head Coach midway through the campaign. He talks about his short, medium and long-term goals for the club, and the pressures of trying to deliver success for the eight-time Grand Final winners. Transfer deals, the financial challenges facing the sport and development pathways for players are also on the agenda.
With four rounds to go until the Super League play-offs it’s Hull KR who lead the way at the top of the table and their captain Elliot Minchella joins the podcast to talk about the run-in. He discusses the secrets of their success in 2024, and how the players have benefited from the philosophies of Head Coach Willie Peters. Minchella reflects on his own Rugby League career, including a spell playing part-time with Bradford which he combined with work on a building site. He reflects on his England debut, the influences on his career as a loose forward and the challenges of captaincy. He also discusses the progress that has been made on and off the field at Hull KR in the last few years.
Canberra Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead joins the podcast to talk about rugby league life in the Australian Capital and his move back to Super League at the end of the year. He reveals how a promise to Catalan Chairman Bernard Gausch will see him return to the south of France for one last season before he retires from the game and sets up a new life in Australia. He reflects on his early days with his hometown club Bradford, and discusses the best players he has played against. He also chats about the highlights of his international career with England and Great Britain.
Warrington’s Lachlan Fitzgibbon joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to talk about his first year in Super League. The second row forward joined the Wolves from Newcastle in Australia for the start of the 2024 campaign and is widely considered to be one of the best signings of the season. He reveals how playing in the northern hemisphere has been a long-term goal, and how recent successes for the Super League clubs in the World Club Challenge underlines the quality of the British game. He describes the lessons Warrington have learnt from their defeat in the Challenge Cup Final and their goals for the rest of the season. He talks about exploring Europe, rugby league in Las Vegas, watching the Euros, and as an Australian living in the UK what does he think of the British summer?
In an emotional 5 live Rugby League Podcast, Tanya Arnold and former stand-off Kevin Brown are joined by Leigh flying winger Josh Charnley. The former England international opens up about the highs and lows of his stellar career, including the drive to become Super League’s record try-scorer, the joy of the Leopards recent Challenge Cup success, his long-term passion for fishing and bricklaying, falling out of love with the sport and the heartache of a fellow player mocking his disabled son.
Reflections on the victories for England’s Men and Women in the mid-season internationals against France. Author and journalist Steve Mascord was at both matches in Toulouse and shares some ideas about how to raise the profile of international Rugby League in the Northern Hemisphere. England men’s Assistant Coach Andy Last and debutant Elliot Minchella assess their game, and Head Coach Stuart Barrow gives his reaction to a comfortable win for England’s women and looks ahead to future challenges for his team.
Toulouse Head Coach Sylvain Houles joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown. As the England men’s and women’s teams head across the channel for a weekend of international Rugby League they discuss the status of the sport in France and what the future holds for Toulouse under the new grading system for clubs. Houles reflects on the challenges of Toulouse’s last Super League campaign in 2022 and lessons the sport can learn from that season to help grow the game on the continent. He reveals how his interest in Rugby League first came about, the philosophies that have shaped his coaching career and how working with Rugby League players compares to life on the family sheep farm in the French countryside.
Matt Newsum is joined by Hull KR winger Ryan Hall and England Head Coach Shaun Wane. Hall crossed for his 248th Super League try last week and is now the leading try-scorer in the competition’s history. He reflects on the relief of reaching the milestone and picks out some of his favourite scores from his record-breaking tally. Shaun Wane looks ahead to England’s 2024 schedule which now includes a two match series against Samoa in the autumn, and a game in France at the end of June.
Wigan winger Liam Marshall joins Matt Newsum and Kevin Brown to discuss the Warriors success in the 2024 Challenge Cup Final. Their victory at Wembley means they now hold all four trophies available to them, with the Super League title, League Leaders Shield and World Club Challenge already residing in the Wigan trophy cabinet. We hear about the Warriors post match celebrations, their motivation to win more silverware, and how a unique culture in the club drove them to their current position as the undisputed Kings of British rugby league. There are also reflections on St Helens’ fourth consecutive victory in the Women’s Challenge Cup Final and Wakefield’s triumph in the 1895 Cup Final against Sheffield.
Former team-mate Sam Burgess and Daryl Powell, the coach who gave Rob Burrow his first start in Super League, lead tributes to the Leeds Rhinos Legend who died on Sunday. They reflect on his amazing achievements as a player and his drive to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease after his diagnosis in December 2019. The Wigan coach Matt Peet describes the impact Burrow had on the whole of Rugby League and how Saturday’s Challenge Cup Finals Day provides the perfect platform for people to pay their respects. Players and personalities involved in the Men’s and Women’s Finals and the 1895 Cup Final look ahead to the matches on what will be an emotional day under the Wembley arch.
Daryl Powell joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to talk about Rugby League life with Wakefield Trinity and the ups and downs of his coaching career. Powell has guided Wakefield to Wembley, where they will play in the 1895 Cup Final in June and to the top of the Championship table after nine wins from nine matches at the start of the season. With significant off-field development at their stadium the club are confident they will be back at Super League level in 2025. Powell also reflects on how he might have approached things differently during a difficult spell in charge of Warrington Wolves and how the 2017 Grand Final with Castleford left him wanting to sit in a dark room. He also reveals how he loves spending time on the river and how a call on a camping trip persuaded him to take on his latest challenge.
London Broncos Head Coach Mike Eccles joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to talk about Rugby League life in the capital. The Broncos were promoted to Super League for 2024 but under the current grading system won’t have a place in the elite competition next year. Eccles outlines the challenges the club faces and his reasons why the Broncos should be given more support in the drive to establish a strong presence for the game in London. He reflects on how the club’s history can be used as evidence that anything is possible and describes his own unusual journey to becoming a Head Coach. Eccles also gives an insight into his approach to leading a group of players who lost 10 of their opening 11 matches of the Super League season.
Phil Bentham, who was recently appointed as the RFL's new Head of Referees joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to discuss the current issues around officiating in Rugby League. He reveals his priorities as he settles into his new role and talks about his previous experience working with the VAR team in Premier League football. He discusses some ideas for Super League in 2025 and the challenges presented by proposed new tackle-height laws. And we find out who he thought was the most difficult player to referee.
St Helens Captain Jonny Lomax joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown for a rare interview about his remarkable life. Widely regarded as the one of the best players in Super League, Lomax talks in great detail about the life-threatening brain injury he suffered on the field at the age of 14, and how the support of his family helped him through. He describes his emotions after a third ACL injury left him close to retirement in 2015 and how he found the motivation to continue his career. He has since won four Super League Grand Finals. He also discusses the current season with St Helens, fatherhood, and his thoughts about what he might do at the end of his career.
Craig Lingard joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to chat about his role as the Head Coach of Castleford Tigers. He reveals how his life has changed since becoming a full time Head Coach in Super League, and discusses his previous occupation as a prison officer. Lingard talks about the issues facing Castleford and the sport of Rugby League in general, and how he has faced the challenges of leading a team in the lower half of the competition table. Also on the agenda is his reluctance to wear shoes, and the current location of the teapot he once won as a contestant on the TV word game “Countdown”.
Warrington Wolves Full Back Matt Dufty joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to discuss his terrific start to the season. He reveals why Head Coach Sam Burgess has been exactly what the Wolves needed to turn their form around, and talks about developing his skills playing touch-rugby alongside Wigan’s Jai Field and Huddersfield’s Adam Clune. Dufty was the leading metre-maker in the competition through the opening eight rounds and he discusses his combinations with England captain George Williams and how humility, late-night phone calls, and some scary eyes from the coaching staff have helped get the Wolves back on track in 2024.
Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined by former Hull FC Captain Gareth Ellis and former Scotland Head Coach Steve McCormack to discuss their current roles with Rugby League Cares, an organisation which provides off-field support and advice for players, coaches and officials within the sport. They talk about how the approach to player-welfare has developed over the last decade, and what they learnt on a recent fact-finding trip to Australia. There are also reflections on the Challenge Cup Quarter-finals as four men’s and four women’s teams moved a step closer to the Wembley finals. Kevin also gives his thoughts on an eventful few days at Hull FC, who have parted company with Head Coach Tony Smith and appointed former Leeds Half-back Richie Myler as their new Director of Rugby.
Ahead of the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup, Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Willie Peters joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to relate his rugby league journey from Sydney to Humberside via Gateshead and Wigan. He talks about the culture he’s trying to create in East Hull, the progress being made on and off the field, the growth of players like Mikey Lewis and why his year playing at the Warriors alongside the likes of Andy Farrell was the best of his career.
Tanya Arnold talks to Ryan Brierley, the Salford Red Devils Full Back who played in his 300th professional game over Easter. He talks about the highs and lows of a career which has seen him represent Leigh, Huddersfield, Toronto, Hull KR, Salford and Scotland. Ryan reveals the importance of the relationships he has built up during his time in the game, how he suffered from imposter syndrome for a long time in his career, and a difficult end to his time in Toronto. He also discusses his involvement in the drive to ensure players are better represented in the governance of Rugby League and his role as an agent in women’s football.
Super League’s leading try-scorer Ash Handley joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to talk about his flying start to the 2024 campaign and the secrets to his success so far this season. The Leeds Rhinos winger has scored seven tries in the opening five rounds of the competition and reveals how he was inspired by Basketball legend Michael Jordan to visualize key moments in games and develop new off-field habits to help improve his performance. He talks about his hopes for the rest of the season, and the impact made by Leeds’ new signings this year.
Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined by Catalans Dragons half-back Jordan Abdull to discuss life as a Rugby League player in the South of France and how he is adapting to his new surroundings. Considered to be one of the finest play-makers in the competition, Abdull was surprisingly allowed to leave Hull KR during the winter and is spending the 2024 season on loan with the Dragons. They also discuss the latest Super League stories and what happened in Vegas on the opening night of the Australian NRL season.
Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined by the RFL’s Director of Operations Robert Hicks to discuss the controversial sending-off of Hull FC’s Fa’amanu Brown and the governing body’s subsequent decision to amend the rules of the game. As the sport continues it’s drive to protect players from brain injuries they debate the issues that have arisen in the opening two weeks of the season. There are also reflections on Wigan’s epic World Club Challenge win against Penrith Panthers at the DW Stadium.
Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined by some special guests to preview the World Club Challenge match between the Super League Champions Wigan Warriors and the best team from Australia, the Penrith Panthers. The winners will earn the right to be called World Club Champions. Wigan Head Coach Matt Peet offers an insight into their preparations for the match and talks about his pride in representing the British game in the fixture. Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo joins Tanya and Kevin to talk about his team’s time in the UK, and how the Panthers have established themselves as the best team in Australia.
Ahead of the new Super League season the podcast returns with Tanya Arnold at the official launch event to preview the upcoming campaign with some of the key personalities involved. Former dual-code international Sam Burgess is back in the UK as the new head coach of Warrington Wolves, and London Broncos return to the top tier following their promotion from the Championship. Representatives from all 12 clubs discuss their hopes and ambitions for the season, including Matt Peet, the head coach of defending champions Wigan Warriors, who face Australian NRL champions Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge in the second week of the season.
Matt Newsum and Kevin Brown are joined by former England, Hull KR, Canberra and Parramatta hooker Josh Hodgson who recently announced his retirement from Rugby League. He was the first ever English player to represent Canberra, and captained them in the NRL Grand Final in 2019. Widely recognised as one of British Rugby League’s finest exports to Australia, he was also part of the England squad who reached the World Cup Final in 2017.
On this week’s podcast, Matt Newsum and Kevin Brown are joined by Eamon O’Carroll. The former Wigan Warriors and Widnes Vikings prop forward, whose career was ended prematurely through injury, is now on the coaching staff at Catalans Dragons who currently head the Super League table. A Grand Final appearance at Old Trafford would cap a hugely successful second spell in the South of France for Eamon before he heads back to England and Bradford to take up the head coaching role with the Bulls in 2024.
Dave Woods and Kevin Brown are joined on this week’s podcast by York Knights head coach, Andrew Henderson. The panel reflect on Castleford’s victory over Wakefield and whether that result makes Trinity favourites again for relegation and what that could mean for the club. Plus, what is going wrong at Warrington; is the lack of a TV deal affecting player contract for next season; who’s going to make the Grand Final; and can anyone deny Featherstone Rovers promotion to Super League?
Dave Woods, Kevin Brown and former Great Britain coach, Brian Noble, look back on a dramatic day at Wembley. In the 80th men’s final to be held at the national stadium, Leigh Leopards defeated Hull KR in golden-point extra-time thanks to the boot of Lance Todd Trophy winner, Lachlan Lam. While in the women’s final between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos, the first-ever to be played at Wembley, it was Saints who emerged victorious, claiming their third successive Challenge Cup crown.
Dave Woods previews an historic Challenge Cup Finals Day when Hull KR and Leigh Leopards will contest the 80th Men’s Final to be played at Wembley, whilst St Helens and Leeds Rhinos face each other in the first ever Women’s Final to be held there. Players and coaches from all four teams reveal what it means to be involved in one of the most prestigious days on the Sporting Calendar.
Dave Woods and Kevin Brown are joined by legendary prop-forward Jim Mills who, as an amateur playing union for Cardiff, switched codes in the mid-1960s to sign professionally for Halifax. He’s best remembered for his time with the all-conquering Widnes side of the 1970s, alongside appearances for Great Britain and Wales in the infamous ‘Battle of Brisbane’ victory over England at the 1975 World Cup. Big Jim, as he’s affectionately known, regales us with stories of Welsh rugby union players being offered suitcases full of cash to sign for rugby league clubs, the part he played in the capture of Jonathan Davies for Widnes, his ferocious reputation which led to him being banned from playing in New Zealand and about the statue recently unveiled in Cardiff to finally honour the great players who moved north to play league.
Dave Woods and Kevin Brown are joined by the St Helens half-back Faye Gaskin who, after two years out with injury, scored the dramatic match-winning drop-goal last weekend to take her team to the Challenge Cup Final. She tells her incredible and inspirational story of being stopped from playing at school, to the dark days during her recovery from her injury, and the realisation of her dream to play at Wembley for the very first time in a sport where she’s not even being paid.
Ahead of this weekend’s Challenge Cup semi-finals, Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by the St Helens prop forward Alex Walmsley, whose side face Leigh Leopards for a place at Wembley against either Wigan Warriors or Hull KR. As well as examining the games, Alex talks about what it takes to win a semi-final, the modern science of rugby league recovery and recuperation and the mental strength he needed to come back and play again after breaking his neck.
Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by the legendary Mike Ford. After 20 years as a scrum half in rugby league, playing for the likes of Wigan, Oldham and Castleford, alongside representing his country, he swapped codes and coached for a further two decades in union, with England, Ireland, Bath and Toulon amongst many notable appointments. Now, after swapping codes again to lead a buyout of his home town club, Mike talks about his journey through league to union, his hopes and dreams for Oldham and whether his son and England fly-half, George, could join him at the Roughyeds!
Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by the former Widnes Vikings head coach John Kear to discuss a wide range of topics including whether the six-again rule has had its day and should only two men be allowed in the tackle? Plus, who’s in line for promotion and relegation from the Championship, have two victories suddenly reignited both Wakefield’s and Leeds’ seasons and what a job Steve McNamara has done at Catalans.
Dave Woods and ex-England international stand-off Kevin Brown are joined by Neil Ormston of the Rugby League Record Keepers’ Club, who’s on hand to help answer whether the stats suggest 2023 is the most competitive and unpredictable Super League season ever, why wingers are scoring so many tries and will some of the sport’s long-standing records ever be broken? Plus, which current coach should be most worried by Justin Holbrook’s potential availability.
On this week’s podcast, former Welsh rugby union international Alix Popham joins Dave Woods and ex-England international stand-off Kevin Brown to highlight the dangers of concussion faced by players across both codes. Aged just 40, Alix was diagnosed with early-onset dementia as a result of traumatic brain injury suffered in his rugby career and is now a leading light in the campaign to increase the awareness of the disease and bring positive change to both codes. Organiser of ‘The Big Rugby Swim’ on behalf of the charity he co-founded, Head For Change, former players from league and union, including Kevin, will race each other in a relay across the English Channel later this year.
Ahead of the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by Scott Taylor, whose Hull FC side face St Helens in the last eight. ‘Tag’ recalls his cup successes with both Wigan and Hull, relives the tough love shown to him by Shaun Wane, describes losing the will to live on a beach in Perth and how a memory lapse by England coach Wayne Bennett almost denied him his international debut.
Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown review the latest edition of Magic Weekend, where over 63,000 fans enjoyed six games in glorious sunshine at St James’ Park in Newcastle, but is it the end for the event? Although IMG had suggested it may disappear from the calendar Rhodri Jones, Managing Director of Rugby League Commercial, suggests it may continue, but perhaps not in the North-East. Plus, he discusses proposed changes to the format and timing of the Challenge Cup, the possibility of another special event in the rugby league season and we hear from Hamish and Ben Weir, who were on hand to witness Leeds Rhinos don a special limited edition tartan kit in their clash with Castleford Tigers to pay tribute to their father, MND champion Doddie Weir OBE.
Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by Salford Red Devils and England hooker, Andy Ackers, who tells the story of his remarkable rise from giving up the sport as a teenager to playing in last year’s World Cup. Released by both Wigan and Warrington, Ackers worked on a building site whilst playing part-time for Swinton Lions, before moving to London Broncos, Toronto Wolfpack and finally to Salford Red Devils where he fulfilled every rugby players dream of representing their country.
Why do so many rugby league players make great rugby union coaches? On this week’s podcast, Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by former Great Britain international Graham Steadman who, since leaving rugby league, has worked with Munster, Cardiff Blues and both Scotland and Ireland as their defence coach in rugby union. Old Wigan teammates Andy Farrell and Shaun Edwards battled it out for Six Nations glory with Ireland and France this year, and they’re not alone in leaving their mark on the other code. Plus, memories of Melbourne ‘92, Regal Trophy finals, Challenge Cup semis and a very controversial early finish.
On this week’s podcast, Dave Woods and former England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by Leeds Rhinos legend and TV commentator Barrie McDermott. They reflect on the incredible scenes at the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon and the amazing work Kevin Sinfield is doing on behalf of Barrie’s former teammate. Plus, there’s tales of shoulder pads and Tabasco and they look ahead to the ties in the Sixth Round of the Challenge Cup including Wigan’s trip to Leeds following that remarkable game last week in Super League between the two clubs.
Dave Woods and former England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley to discuss his side’s great start to the season, what the community share offer could mean for the club, potholes on their training pitch and the quest for silverware. Plus, they look ahead to this weekend’s intriguing fixtures and look back and laugh at the incredible sight of a bull running amok during the warm-up in Perpignan.
Dave Woods and ex-international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by former England and France head coach John Kear to look back on the two emphatic 64-0 victories achieved by England’s men and women over France last weekend. Plus, the panel look ahead to the recently confirmed end-of-season series with Tonga, they discuss what can be done to help France’s competitive development and suggest England should be heading down under before the 2025 World Cup.
For this week’s podcast, Dave Woods heads to the Palace of Westminster where he’s joined by The Speaker of the House of Commons. Sir Lindsay Hoyle is also the President of the Rugby Football League and we hear his views on why Rugby League Cares is so important, the worries and concerns he has for the future of the game and why rugby league should have a much bigger influence in his adopted city.
Dave Woods and ex-England half-back Kevin Brown are joined by seven-time Super League Grand Final winner, Jamie Jones-Buchanan. With the regular season a third of the way through, who are the winners and losers so far? We hear from England head coach Shaun Wane ahead of the forthcoming international against France and should there be a return to the Lancashire versus Yorkshire clashes of old?
On this week’s podcast, Dave Woods and ex-England half-back Kevin Brown are joined by Kruise Leeming. The former Leeds Rhinos captain somewhat surprisingly left Headingley and landed in Australia last week, ahead of his NRL debut for Gold Coast Titans at the weekend. So why did he leave Leeds, what’s life like on the Gold Coast, what are his short-term goals and will we see him back in Super League in 2024?
On this week’s podcast, Dave Woods and ex-England half-back Kevin Brown are joined by his former team-mate Dan Sarginson, who retired from the game last month aged 29. He talks very candidly about why he suddenly decided to pack it all in, battling his ego throughout his career, not being the best team-mate, his disastrous move to Australia and how he’s now found his own path to contentment.
At the launch of the Women’s Super League season, Dave Woods chats with players, coaches and chairman alike as they look forward to what promises to be a really exciting year ahead as the women’s game continues its exponential growth. Last year’s trophy winners, Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and York Valkyrie are all represented alongside others including the competition’s newest club, Salford Red Devils, and the recently appointed head coach of England Women, Stuart Barrow.
Dave Woods and ex-England half-back Kevin Brown are joined by former referee James Child who retired in December after more than a decade of officiating at the top level. They discuss the abuse referees receive, whether they’re swayed by the crowd and how they react when they realise they’ve made a wrong decision. Child also came out as gay while still refereeing and he talks how difficult it was and is for others within sport in general to make that very public decision.
Warrington Wolves’ Chief Executive, Karl Fitzpatrick, joins Dave Woods and former England half-back Kevin Brown to discuss IMG’s proposals to change the game, grading each professional club to determine who will be in Super League come 2025. Plus, what’s behind Warrington’s great start to the year and should there be genuine concern amongst the fans of a couple of clubs already?
Dave Woods is joined by former England half-back Kevin Brown and Huddersfield Giants Head of Youth, Andy Kelly, to discuss whether rugby league’s reserve team structure is fit for purpose and why it should be a priority for IMG’s soon to be released new grading criteria. Plus, there’s reaction to the surprise departure of Lee Radford from Castleford Tigers; can the Giants be amongst the silverware this season under ‘rugby league nerd’ Ian Watson; and the joys of cold water swimming!
Following the re-appointment of Shaun Wane as head coach of the men’s national team, Dave Woods is joined by ex-England coach John Kear and Kevin Brown, who played in the 2017 World Cup Final, to discuss the state of international rugby league. Plus, what a start to the season the two Hull clubs have made, and is this the most open race for promotion from the Championship in recent years?
What a weekend it was as St Helens were crowned champions of the world and the new Super League season got off to a flyer. Dave Woods is joined by Brian Noble, who coached Bradford Bulls to success in three World Club Challenge matches and former Saint Kyle Amor to discuss their victory over NRL champions Penrith Panthers and the feel good factor around the start of Super League.
On the first episode of a new series, Dave Woods is joined at the Super League launch in Manchester by a number of coaches and players to preview the upcoming season. New faces Willie Peters of Hull KR and Josh McGuire from Warrington Wolves, join old hands Adrian Lam, Ian Watson, Steve McNamara and Tony Smith who’s swapped sides in the city of Hull. Plus, Dave chats to Salford Red Devils’ Brodie Croft about his record-breaking new 8-year contact and he hooks up down under with Alex Walmsley of St Helens to discuss their World Club Challenge against Penrith Panthers.
Tanya Arnold is joined one more time by former England international Jon Wilkin and Australian journalist Steve Mascord, while the BBC’s rugby league correspondent Dave Woods also joins the pod.
They discuss all three finals as Australia’s men and women triumph, while England defeated France on Friday to win the wheelchair competition. Talking of which, wheelchair World Cup winner Seb Bechara drops by with a bottle of champagne.
Oh, and the team discuss the Australian love of haircuts and coffee.
Time codes 1 – The team discuss the men’s final. 10 – Aussie coach Mal Meninga interviewed. 12 – England wheelchair winner Seb Bechara drops by with some champagne. 25 – The team discuss the women’s final. 28 - Final thoughts from the team.
Tanya Arnold, Dave Woods, Jon Wilkin and Steve Mascord preview the Rugby League World Cup Finals.
Tanya Arnold is joined by Rugby League correspondent Dave Woods, former England international Jon Wilkin and Australian journalist Steve Mascord to look ahead to the weekend’s Rugby League World Cup finals. Ahead of the men’s final, they speak to Australia’s assistant coach Michael Hagan after a tightly contested semi-final. Ali Brigginshaw from the Jillaroos speaks about how much she’s been enjoying the tournament, while Nathan Collins, a try scorer from England’s wheelchair team’s victory over France pops by too. Plus, the tournament’s CEO Jon Dutton talks about the success and legacy of this year’s competition.
TIMECODES:
08:38 – Michael Hagan 26:03 – Ali Brigginshaw 36:36 – Nathan Collins 46:51 – Jon Dutton
Tanya Arnold is joined once again by former England international Jon Wilkin and Australian journalist Steve Mascord for their weekly take on all things Rugby League World Cup. Lee Radford is part of the Samoan coaching staff and he explains how England’s semi-final opponents have been getting better and better. England wheelchair player Seb Bechara discusses playing the trumpet and what exactly constitutes good bread. And Jillaroos co-skipper Sammy Bremner joins the pod to talk through a few language issues and returning to the game after having a baby. Oh – and don’t forget to find out what Steve has lost this week.
TIMECODES
6.00 - Lee Radford joins the team to discuss the England men's team's upcoming semi-final against Samoa. The Castleford Tigers head coach is currently working as an assistant coach for Samoa, and hoping to plot the downfall of his home nation.
16.25 England wheelchair star Seb Bechara discusses their great start to the event, and life as a professional trumpet player in the South of France.
32.14 Australian Jillaroos co-captain Sammy Bremner makes some early observations about life in the UK and how she's hoping her World Cup performances will be an inspiration to others.
Tanya Arnold is once again joined by former England international Jon Wilkin and Australian journalist Steve Mascord to discuss the World Cup, food and what they have lost over the past week.
They are joined by England’s Tommy Makinson to find out who he looks like and who he is currently rooming with.
Ahead of the women’s tournament starting PNG’s Elise Albert and Canada’s Gabby Hindley open up on their journeys to the World Cup. And there is also time for England’s Jack Brown to explain what makes the wheelchair game so special.
Timecodes: 05.00 England’s Tommy Makinson joins the team to talk about their success in the men's tournament so far, and the teams plans for a Haloween-themed training session
17.48 Papua New Guinea Orchids captain Elsie Albert talks about changing perceptions at home as she prepares to lead her country in the Women's World Cup tournament which starts this week.
25.42 Gabby Hindley, who captains the Canada Ravens, talks us through her off-field CV which includes work as a biologist and a wildfire fighter, and explains the difference between urgency and panic.
34.48 England’s Jack Brown joins the programme to preview the wheelchair tournament - and also tells us how to prepare the perfect recipe for Yorkshire Puddings.
Rugby league correspondent Dave Woods travels to the Greece team hotel in Sheffield to find out about their truly incredible journey to the World Cup.
From playing matches at midnight in secret because the sport was banned in Greece, to a match against England at the World Cup – this is a story that has it all.
Head coach Steve Georgallis has been there since the very beginning, while Terry Constantinou was born in Australia but wears the shirt with pride.
Greg Koutsimporgiorgos and Aris Dardamanis grew up in Greece and came to the game late – and have overcome adversity to reach the World Cup. Stuart McLennan looks after the media for the team and is the manager of the women’s side. And all of them tell Dave their truly inspiring stories.
TOPICS: 0.54 - Stuart McLennan 10.10 - Terry Constantinou 17.40 - Steve Georgallis 24.20 - Greg Koutsimporgiorgos 30.40 - Aris Dardamanis
Tanya Arnold, Jon Wilkin and Steve Mascord return with another look at the Rugby League World Cup as the tournament continues into it's second week.
England's Australian born forward Victor Radley discusses their flying start to the campaign, and looks ahead to their next game in Sheffield, the birthplace of his father.
Lebanon Head Coach Michael Cheika reveals the background to his involvement in the tournament as he combines his role leading The Cedars with his other job as Head Coach of Argentina's national Rugby Union team.
The development of Rugby League in Greece is on the agenda as we hear how an appeal on Social Media was the start of the World Cup journey for their longest-serving player, and Ben Jones-Bishop reflects on a history-making moment in Hull, where he scored Jamaica's first ever try in the tournament.
TOPICS: 00.10 Steve talks about the items he's lost along the way as he travels around the tournament, and the team select their stand-out moments of the last seven days 04.55 England's Australian born forward Victor Radley joins the team to discuss their opening two victories, and life in the England camp. He also looks forward to England's game against Greece, being played in his father's home city of Sheffield. 18.26 Lebanon Head Coach Michael Cheika talks about his role as Head Coach of Lebanon and the impact he hopes their World Cup appearance will have on the country. 31.48 Ben Jones-Bishop talks about scoring Jamaica's first ever try in the Rugby League World Cup after his late score against New Zealand. 38.18 Aris Dardamanis describes how he got involved in Rugby League and the development of the game in his native Greece.
Jamaica in the Rugby League World Cup? Who knew! Well, Nesta McGregor travelled to Leeds to watch them train and spoke to the key people around the team. Jamaican journalist and team media manager Simon Preston explains how it all started while head coach Romeo Monteith discusses what it means for the team to be over here in England competing at the RLWC. Alex Young – the brother of England winger Dom – explains why he is playing for Jamaica and Chevaughn Bailey – who plays club rugby back in Jamaica – explains the emotions of playing for his country and the reaction back home from the pupils that he teaches.
Timecodes…. 2 mins – Jamaican journalist Simon Preston on the evolution of the team. 6 mins – head coach Romeo Monteith on the growth of the sport. 14 mins - Chevaughn Bailey on his pride at playing in Jamaica’s World Cup opener. 19 mins – Alex Young on his decision to play for Jamaica.
On this week’s podcast, Dave Woods meets members of England’s World Cup squad at their training base in Wigan. Old hands Ryan Hall and Tommy Makinson join newer faces Matty Lees, Marc Sneyd, Andy Ackers and the ‘Australian Yorkshireman’ Victor Radley to look ahead to the tournament. They discuss the pride they felt when Shaun Wane called to inform them they were in the squad and their excitement as they look ahead to the potentially pivotal clash against a very impressive Samoan side which kicks things off on Saturday 15th October.
Timecodes:
01:00 Journalist Steve Mascord and former Wigan scribe Phil Wilkinson discuss England’s chances. 05:50 Phil says he’s excited to see Shaun Wane in charge of an international team. 07:10 St Helens duo Tommy Makinson and Matty Lees say they’ve enjoyed their Grand Final success, but now they’re purely focused on England. 10:30 They discuss facing Samoa in their first game and potentially the chance to play a Samoan-filled Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge in 2023. 12:00 Record England try-scorer Ryan Hall says he’s really proud to be a part of another international squad. 14:30 He reflects on how close England were to winning the World Cup in 2017. 16:25 Salford’s Marc Sneyd and Andy Ackers admit they were both very surprised and emotional when they heard they’d been selected. 19:10 They discuss the very nervous speeches they both had to give in front of their new international team mates. 22:00 Victor Radley explains his decision to pledge his allegiance to England rather than Australia. 23:10 He talks about his Yorkshire roots and how his dad, a Sheffield Wednesday fan is looking forward to watching England play at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane! 27:10 Finally, England team manager Colin Maskell reveals his role and how a 40-year friendship with Shaun Wane got him the job.
On this week’s podcast Dave Woods speaks to Sam Tomkins, the England Men’s captain, following the announcement that all 61 matches at this year’s World Cup will be broadcast live on the BBC. Plus, following IMG’s presentation to the clubs and the media of their ‘reimagining rugby league’ strategy, we hear from Matt Dwyer vice-president of sports management at IMG, the chairman of the RFL Simon Johnson and journalist Steve Mascord on the proposals to change the game from next season and beyond.
On this week’s podcast Dave Woods speaks to Sam Tomkins, the England Men’s captain, following the announcement that all 61 matches at this year’s World Cup will be broadcast live on the BBC. Plus, following IMG’s presentation to the clubs and the media of their ‘reimagining rugby league’ strategy, we hear from Matt Dwyer vice-president of sports management at IMG, the chairman of the RFL Simon Johnson and journalist Steve Mascord on the proposals to change the game from next season and beyond.
On this week’s podcast Alistair Bruce-Ball, Dave Woods and Kyle Amor, and a whole host of guests, preview the 25th Super League Grand Final. We hear from St Helens’ flying winger Tommy Makinson, Leeds’ prop forward Mikolaj Oledzki, Rhinos assistant Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Courtney Winfield-Hill, who was part of the successful Leeds Women team who won their Grand Final last week and Jason Robinson, who played and won with Wigan in the first Super League Grand Final back in 1998.
02:40 Kyle explains what ‘Grand Final week’ is like. 05:30 Jamie Jones-Buchanan talks about Leeds’ revival under Rohan Smith. 10:00 And how he tried and failed to replicate the spirit of the ‘golden generation’. 15:55 Tommy Makinson praises the impact of Saints departing head coach Kristian Woolf. 18:25 And how they’re not talking about winning four titles in a row, but just playing this game. 24:55 Mikolaj Oledzki says Leeds’ success is down to getting the enjoyment back. 27:10 He talks about his upbringing in Poland and his route in to professional rugby league. 35:05 Leeds’ Women won their Grand Final last week and Courtney Winfield-Hill discusses their success. 38:40 She explains how her cricketing career helps her game and looks forward to representing England in the World Cup. 45:40 Jason Robinson reminisces about the first Super League Grand Final in 1998. 49:00 And his excitement around the upcoming World Cup. 51:00 Finally, Dave and Kyle describe their favourite Grand Final moments.
On this week’s podcast Alistair Bruce-Ball, Dave Woods and Kyle Amor, and a whole host of guests, preview the 25th Super League Grand Final. We hear from St Helens’ flying winger Tommy Makinson, Leeds’ prop forward Mikolaj Oledzki, Rhinos assistant Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Courtney Winfield-Hill, who was part of the successful Leeds Women team who won their Grand Final last week and Jason Robinson, who played and won with Wigan in the first Super League Grand Final back in 1998.
02:40 Kyle explains what ‘Grand Final week’ is like. 05:30 Jamie Jones-Buchanan talks about Leeds’ revival under Rohan Smith. 10:00 And how he tried and failed to replicate the spirit of the ‘golden generation’. 15:55 Tommy Makinson praises the impact of Saints departing head coach Kristian Woolf. 18:25 And how they’re not talking about winning four titles in a row, but just playing this game. 24:55 Mikolaj Oledzki says Leeds’ success is down to getting the enjoyment back. 27:10 He talks about his upbringing in Poland and his route in to professional rugby league. 35:05 Leeds’ Women won their Grand Final last week and Courtney Winfield-Hill discusses their success. 38:40 She explains how her cricketing career helps her game and looks forward to representing England in the World Cup. 45:40 Jason Robinson reminisces about the first Super League Grand Final in 1998. 49:00 And his excitement around the upcoming World Cup. 51:00 Finally, Dave and Kyle describe their favourite Grand Final moments.
Dave Woods is joined on this week’s podcast by former England stand-off Kevin Brown and Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley, whose side are one game away from the Super League Grand Final. They reflect on last week’s exciting elimination play-offs and this weeks mouth-watering semi-finals. Plus, there’s the departure of Wakefield’s Willie Poching, the appointment of Tony Smith at Hull FC and the impeccable respect shown by the sport following the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Dave Woods is joined on this week’s podcast by former England stand-off Kevin Brown and Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley, whose side are one game away from the Super League Grand Final. They reflect on last week’s exciting elimination play-offs and this weeks mouth-watering semi-finals. Plus, there’s the departure of Wakefield’s Willie Poching, the appointment of Tony Smith at Hull FC and the impeccable respect shown by the sport following the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
On this week’s podcast Dave Woods is joined by a legend of both the English and Australian game, Sam Burgess, who, following his retirement, is now a rugby league coach in Australia. He talks about his own upcoming Grand Final and his interest in coaching in Super League and with England. Sam reflects on the disappointment he suffered in both the 2013 and 2017 World Cups and looks ahead to England’s chances this time around. In Australia, he’s a huge star and he discusses the difficulties which have come with that and his legendary appearance on SAS: Who Dares Wins.
TIMECODES:
02:00 Sam is now coaching in Australia and has guided his team to a Grand Final in his first year. 06:30 He suggests he’d be really interested in taking up a coaching opportunity in Super League. 07:25 After a more than a decade down under, Sam hates the fact he’s now got something of an Aussie accent. 09:20 Sam talks about the challenge that England face in the World Cup, but feels they can be successful. 11:10 He reminisces about his two World Cup campaigns in 2013 and 2017. 18:00 Due to injury, retirement came early, so how has he reconciled that? 20:40 In Australia, Sam is a huge star, and he talks of the difficulties which come with that. 23:00 Sam took part in Australia’s version of SAS: Who Dares Wins and was the only contestant to escape. 27:00 However, reality TV is not something he wants take part in going forward. 31:30 Ahead of the World Cup, Sam is returning to the UK to go on a speaking tour with Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley. 33:00 He says Morley was the trailblazer down under for him and others to follow. 36:45 He suggests the Australian public are excited about the World Cup and promos are all over TV. 39:00 Ahead of his own Grand Final he says he’s proud of his achievement over the last 12 months.
On this week’s podcast, Dave Woods is joined by Warrington prop-forward Kyle Amor and Neil Ormston, the organiser for the Rugby League Records Keepers’ Club, who’s partly behind a new website which details the records of all players and matches worldwide throughout the history of the game. Neil tests Kyle on his knowledge of his own career, before the panel discuss Leigh’s march to Super League, Warrington’s woes, the play-off picture and who are the contenders for Coach of the Year and Man of Steel.
On this week’s podcast, Dave Woods is joined by Wigan Warriors assistant coach Lee Briers and former dual-code international Iestyn Harris. They discuss Lee’s impending new role down under with the Brisbane Broncos, the fight for the top six and why relegation is an out-dated concept. Plus, the detail behind Wigan’s success and those names who have thrilled and excited us down the years.
03:00 Lee discusses his impending move to the NRL with Brisbane Broncos.
08:25 He talks about the disappointment of leaving Warrington and the excitement of joining Wigan this season.
13:40 Iestyn moved from English rugby league to Wales rugby union and says there’s a similarity with the intensity Lee will face in Australia.
15:20 The focus turns to Super League and the race for the title and the play-off places.
18:00 Both are very surprised by the season their former club Warrington have endured.
22:00 Toulouse are likely to be relegated, but Lee feels they should remain in Super League and that promotion and relegation is an out-dated concept.
26:55 Leeds are looking like they’ll make the play-offs, but are they Grand Final outsiders?
29:30 Salford are the entertainers this year, and the panel think they play the game the way it should be played.
33:00 Lee talks about the ‘detail’ behind Wigan’s approach on defence and attack and how the past is influencing the present.
39:10 The importance of detail is highlighted by famous tries scored by Jonathan Davies and Martin Offiah.
42:10 Lee and Iestyn talk of the players who’ve thrilled them down the years.
02:20 John Hughes, the director of partnerships and communities for the charity, Community Integrated Care, explains how learning disability rugby league came about and the impact its had.
06:50 We hear from Warrington’s Oliver Thomason who has become a star both of the sport and social media, having replicated Alan Shearer’s celebration at Magic Weekend.
08:00 And his brother Craig, explains his involvement in initially helping to set up Learning Disability Rugby League and how it’s changed Oliver’s life and that of many others.
17:00 Dave goes behind the scenes at Glenwood Care Home which houses those with learning disabilities who don’t or can’t play the game, but supports them by using rugby league themes.
19:10 England international Jodie Cunningham is on hand to help make soap. The players at last season’s Grand Final were gifted bars made by the residents at Glenwood.
21:10 Glenwood is based in Widnes and the facility is littered with image of Widnes Vikings RL team.
23:10 Dave is joined by members of the ‘Media Club’ at Community Integrated Care, who describe the roles they experienced within the media at the recent game between Wigan and Warrington.
27:25 Steve Roberts, Widnes Vikings’ general manager, explains how those with learning disabilities utilise the same facilities at the club’s stadium as those in the first team.
34:00 The podcast concludes with John Hughes detailing how more and more clubs are joining in and supporting the charity and the people it supports day after day.
On this week’s podcast, Dave Woods is joined by Widnes Vikings and Wales head coach John Kear and rugby league author Richard de la Riviere. Amongst the topics up for discussion are the latest twists and turns in Super League, the Championship’s Summer Bash and the quality of the players within. And there’s a trip down memory lane, picking out the prized moments from decade’s gone by.
TOPICS 01:30 The panel look back on last weekend’s dramatic results in Super League and what they might mean for the final few weeks ahead. 06:10 The race to avoid relegation has turned on it’s head, and John Kear says the jeopardy must stay in the sport. 10:00 A reflection on the Summer Bash, which took place for the first time at Leeds’ Headingley Stadium. 14:00 The importance of capitalising on the current success of women’s sport. 16:45 The controversy over the new blue and white England shirt released this week ahead of the World Cup. 22:40 The talk turns to the history of the game and some of the iconic moments in rugby league. 26:05 One of those is the famous Rorke’s Drift test match. 29:20 Nominations are suggested for new names to be inducted in to the rugby league ‘Hall of Fame’. 33:00 Why aren’t Super League clubs tapping in to the quality of players who ply their trade in the Championship? 35:30 When was the first four-point try scored? 37:30 John identifies the 1969 Challenge Cup Final as his greatest moment in the history of the sport. 39:10 Richard counters with his memories of his favourite Workington team of the mid-nineties.
Dave Woods leads a fascinating discussion with Huddersfield Giants head coach Ian Watson who, by his own admission, is a rugby league obsessive. The man who guided Salford Red Devils to Challenge Cup and Super League Grand Finals and was Great Britain assistant coach on the last tour, is now leading a new era at the Giants. He talks about his strict upbringing and swimming prowess, memories of playing for Wales in the World Cup, his mentors, Tony Smith, Tim Sheens and Wayne Bennett and his desire to lead GB, as well as his hopes for Huddersfield, who were narrowly beaten in this year’s Challenge Cup Final.
TOPICS: 01:25 Ian talks about his ‘nightmare’ first year at Huddersfield, how he’s changed their fortunes and says his focus is on reaching a Grand Final. 07:30 Watson gets annoyed about the lack of opportunities for British coaches in Super League. 10:40 He talks about his work ethic, something that was drilled in to him by his father. 12:25 As a youngster he was taking part in national swimming championships and getting up at 6am to train. 17:00 Watson holds the appearance record for Wales, and it all began in Philadelphia in 1995. 22:20 In 2000 Wales reached the semi-finals of the World Cup where they faced Australia. 28:30 He talks about Great Britain and the disappointing last Lions tour where he worked as an assistant to Wayne Bennett. 33:50 Ian says his big coaching influences are Tony Smith, Tim Sheens and Bennett and there’s more tales from that GB tour. 42:30 Watson admits he’s a rugby league obsessive and details the work he puts in to prepare for games. 46:20 Finally, he suggests what he feels is desperately needed to help build and progress the sport.
Dave Woods is joined by ex-England half-back Kevin Brown and former Leeds Rhinos head coach Richard Agar, who will be assisting Samoa at the forthcoming World Cup. They discuss the strength of England’s first opponents and the news that NRL sensation Victor Radley has made himself available to Shaun Wane’s side. Plus, in the battle to avoid relegation, who will beat the drop; can anyone stop St Helens; and why are there seemingly so many more injuries and tries in Super League this season?
TOPICS
02:45 The panel discuss the announcement that NRL star Victor Radley has made himself available to play for England at the World Cup. 08:40 Richard, who will assist Samoa at the tournament, lays out the potential frightening strength of England’s first opponents. 13:10 Should Jackson Hastings, a former Man of Steel now in the NRL with West Tigers, be part of the England World Cup squad? 15:45 The Tigers are now coached by 71 year-old Tim Sheens, while Wayne Bennett, a year older, is also still coaching. 18:00 Richard and Kevin say it’s a two-horse race in the battle to avoid relegation from Super League, with Toulouse the favourites to avoid the drop. 23:00 How good is this current St Helens side? 27:25 Would they be able to not only compete, but challenge in the NRL? 30:30 Are players suffering more injuries in Super League this season? 35:45 And is there a suspicion players are feigning injury on the field to gain penalties? 42:00 Following Bevan French’s Super League record-breaking seven tries against Hull FC, are we witnessing more attacking play this year?
Former Great Britain captain and head coach Brian Noble and ex-England hooker and current Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley join Dave Woods to reflect on what was a fantastic Magic Weekend in Newcastle. Plus, they discuss the unearthing of talent in the Championship, debate whether expansion clubs, like Toulouse, should be exempt from relegation and also look ahead to the start of the World Cup when England will face Samoa at St James’ Park.
TIMECODES:
03:00 The individual performances at Magic Weekend of Joe Batchelor, Bevan French and Jack Welsby are highlighted. 05:20 The discussion turns to the development and talent-spotting of players, like Batchelor, who started out in the Championship. 10:00 Toulouse’s victory over Wakefield leaves them two points behind Trinity at the bottom of the table. So which team will survive? 16:00 Does Super League need a second French team or a second expansion team and should they be exempt from relegation? 20:50 Paul asks what is the objective of having expansion clubs and whether TV viewers more important than fans coming through the turnstiles? 25:50 Brian says you have to earn the right to be in Super League, but perhaps there’s more reasons than just promotion to judge that on. 31:30 The World Cup is three months away and Paul remembers representing England at the 2000 World Cup. 34:40 Brian captained Great Britain in Australia in 1984 and reminisces about being unable to remember the names of his teammates as he introduced them to the Australian PM! 37:30 Paul discusses England chances and Brian warns of the importance of that first game in Newcastle against Samoa.
Ahead of Magic Weekend, Matt Newsum sits down with those most closely involved in Super League’s annual jamboree. All twelve clubs participate across the two days of action at St James’ Park Newcastle, and there’s some standout fixtures to whet the appetite. Mark Percival and Sam Powell look ahead to the Saints-Wigan derby; Castleford’s Joe Westerman on why Leeds is their true derby; Kallum Watkins and Ashton Golding preview the ‘Ian Watson derby’ as Salford take on Huddersfield; George Williams discusses Warrington’s current predicament as the Wolves face a tough battle against Catalans; and Chris Satae of Hull FC and Lachlan Coote of Hull KR keep it nice and cordial ahead of the big city derby that rounds off the weekend.
TIMECODES:
02:30 Mark Percival and Sam Powell discuss the Saints v Wigan derby, the Magic Weekend experience and playing at St James’ Park. 09:00 Powell talks about his international aspirations. 10:45 The whole Wigan club trained together recently and the two mention the ‘dangers’ of wheelchair rugby league having tried it out recently. 14:30 A brief quote from Wakefield head coach Willie Poching looking ahead to Wakefield versus Toulouse. 15:50 Matt speaks with experienced Castleford Tigers loose-forward Joe Westerman on their clash with Leeds Rhinos, who he says are their main rivals, not near neighbours Wakefield. 19:10 Westerman talks about his return to Cas and his desire to bring success to his boyhood club. 21:00 Salford Red Devils and England international Kallum Watkins says he’s enjoying his new position and life under head coach Paul Rowley. 26:30 Back in the international fold, Watkins looks ahead to the World Cup and the opening game for England against Samoa in Newcastle. 29:00 His memories of Magic Weekend include scoring on his Super League debut for Leeds against Bradford. 31:15 On the other side of the ‘Ian Watson derby’, Huddersfield’s Ashton Golding says their coach’s honesty is what’s driving their current success. 34:00 Golding has played several different positions already this year and is enjoying the varying challenge each week. 38:15 Ahead of their fixture with Catalans, Warrington’s George Williams discusses their poor form and what they have to do to change things. 41:00 Williams knows the game against the Dragons, which includes some of his former Wigan teammates, is a really tough test. 43:00 Finally, Chris Satae and Lachlan Coote keep it friendly ahead of the Hull derby that rounds off the weekend. 45:45 They agree the derby is somewhat different to those in Australia and liken St James’ Park to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. 50:20 Coote talks about the exit that day of head coach Tony Smith and of Danny McGuire taking over for the remainder of the season.
Troy Grant, the Chairman of International Rugby League talks to Dave Woods about the future of the international game. The World Cup is just over three months away, but there is no international calendar in place following that tournament. So when will forthcoming tours be announced; is there an appetite in Australia for test match rugby league; how can the sport grow the number of elite nations competing; and what are the plans for women’s and wheelchair internationals?
TIMECODES:
01:30 Troy gives some background to his career in rugby league, the difficulties of his role and how he’s trying to change things. 07:35 He confirms there is huge interest in the World Cup TV rights in Australia, but the organisers are not prepared to just ‘give them away’ as in previous years. 09:00 The issue for international rugby league is the players aren’t centrally contracted, but the appetite is there, although he admits an opportunity has definitely been missed in recent years. 13:40 Troy says the international calendar following the World Cup will be released after the tournament and they’re looking at producing a 12-year one. 15:45 He respects the heritage of the Great Britain Lions, but favours more competition for Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France to develop those nations. 18:00 Despite the perception, Troy says the NRL have invested more in the international game in the southern hemisphere, than Super League have done over here. 20:35 He doesn’t envisage rugby league players ever being centrally contracted like in other sports. He feels to grow the international game it’s more important all fixtures have genuine meaning. 23:25 Troy hints that New Zealand will tour England in 2023 and Australia in 2024. 24;35 He doesn’t agree that nations should be placed in tiers as they are now. And if players do qualify as dual-nationals, they should be allowed to choose who they play for, allowing a better spread of talent. 29:00 Future tours will not be restricted to the men’s game, they will possibly also include the women’s and wheelchair teams. 32:00 He believes the focus over here should be on expanding the impact and the number of games which the home nations play. 36:25 Troy doesn’t believe the World Cup should be played every two years, as it will lose its impact and prestige. 37:25 Ultimately he’s looking to put a multi-tour format in place each year, so more than one nation is touring in the northern or southern hemisphere at any one time.
Dave Woods meets two leading figures from the wider world of rugby league to discuss the future of the game and highlight the growth and popularity of wheelchair rugby.
Matt Dwyer is Vice-president, Sports Management at IMG, the company tasked with “re-imagining” and re-shaping the future of rugby league with big ambitions for the sport at every level.
And Seb Bechara of Catalans Dragons is one of the biggest personalities in wheelchair rugby. His side face Leeds Rhinos in the Wheelchair Rugby Challenge Cup Final this weekend. Bechara, whose day job is a professional trumpet player, starred for England in last week’s win against France, but this weekend re-joins his club teammates to take on his international colleagues.
TIMECODES: Matt Dwyer 3’16 “What we’re looking to do is re-imagine rugby league in the UK” – discusses their three-phase plan
8’50 On the future structure of the game
11’26 On international development including a future potential international club competition
17’08 On mergers between clubs and the experience of how its worked in Australia
26’00 How can RL get beyond current boundaries
31’52 Matt compares potential growth of rugby league to what they have achieved with Euroleague Basketball and World Table Tennis
Seb Bechara, wheelchair rugby league star of Catalans Dragons and England
37’53 Talks about choosing to play for England over France. Born in England to an English family but lived in France since aged 10. Talks of his “mega-pride of playing for England”
39’51 His journey on becoming a wheelchair rugby league player. Lost his leg in a motorbike accident in 2012 and how during rehab he discovered wheelchair basketball and then rugby league
42’18 On his career as a professional freelance trumpet player
47’23 Expectations for England in the World Cup and the fierce rivalry with France
50’14 The future of wheelchair rugby league and his ambition “to have club in every city”
52’30 On looking forward to “wiping smiles off Leeds Rhinos’ faces” this weekend in the Challenge Cup Final
Dave Woods looks ahead to a big weekend of international rugby league for England with men’s coach Shaun Wane, and women’s star Courtney Winfield-Hill of Leeds Rhinos.
England’s men take on an All-Stars side at Warrington on Saturday featuring the best overseas players of Super League, while the women’s team face France in what promises to be an action-packed double header.
For Shaun Wane its the first chance this year to assess his players in competitive action in this World Cup year. While for Courtney, it’ll be the culmination of an incredible sporting transition from playing cricket in Australia to making her international rugby league debut for her adopted new homeland.
TIMECODES:
57” “This is intense”. A chance for players to stake their claim for World Cup places.
3’41 Shaun discusses recalling Catalans’ Michael McIlorum to the international squad after nine years away. Wane considers him to be playing the best in the number 9 position in Super League right now.
4’40 Shaun on whether he would consider selecting St Helens’ legend James Roby who has previously stated his intention to retire from international rugby
6’12 On form of Warrington’s George Williams and whether that is a concern – “he can play a lot better” says Wane but thinks international camp can rejuvenate him.
7’52 On emerging young talent Jack Welsby of St Helens and how excited he is about him.
9’20 On veteran Ryan Hall of Hull KR and why he is still a valued member of the squad
10’56 On whether there is an International future for Warrington’s Gareth Widdop.
11’59 Shaun on his approach to the friendly this weekend. He wants the team to treat it as if its a World Cup game, ignoring the likely high temperatures. Wants a good performance and a good result and is expecting an intense game, particularly as the All Stars team includes England players overlooked for this squad.
15:31 Courtney on likely making her England debut this weekend. Should have started last week against Wales but was recuperating from Covid.
17:30 Courtney tells her story of how she previously played cricket in Australia for Brisbane Heat. Lost her contract with them and moved to the UK shortly after. Couldn’t play cricket in UK for visa reasons but was allowed to play rugby league, having not played it for two decades. Ended up at Leeds Rhinos and now describes playing for England this weekend as the “silver lining to a disappointing ending to her cricket career”
18:38 Courtney on her rugby league heroes growing up.
20’08 Adapting to life in Yorkshire from living in Queensland and how she came to represent England at rugby league.
23’50 On the massive demands made of the players in the England squad in terms of training and juggling with work-life pressures – and how their commitment inspires her.
26’30 On evolution and progress of women’s rugby league during her time in UK.
30’05 On increasing intensity of competition in women’s Super League this season
31’10 On her World Cup ambitions – happy to play anywhere in the England team except prop forward!
35’01 Courtney admits she sings the National Anthem – and if England play Australia she sings both anthems.
Fifty years on from Great Britain’s last World Cup success in 1972, Dave Woods meets the legendary Brian Lockwood, a member of that victorious side and a four-time Challenge Cup winner with three different clubs. Lockwood won the cup twice with Castleford in successive seasons in 1969 and 1970, collected the Lance Todd Trophy in the all Humberside Final of 1980 and won again with Widnes a year later, whilst also enjoying success as a player in Australia. In a conversation full of anecdotes, Brian recalls nobody welcoming them home from France to celebrate that World Cup success and actually having to buy his own medal!
TIME CODES:
01:45 – Brian’s memories of the 1972 World Cup win 06:00 – He talks about the characters in that squad like David Topliss, who used his running skills to avoid the police after one boisterous night out in France! 08:10 – All the World Cup squad had to pay for their own World Cup winning medals 09:45 – Brian explains how his move to Australia came about, and how he was denied the agreed 10% of his transfer fee by Castleford. 15:00 – His experience turned sour at Balmain Tigers and he left, but their new coach turned up on his doorstep in Yorkshire and spent three days persuading him to change his mind! 21:00 – Brian tells how his dad rarely praised him, but winning the Lance Todd Trophy in 1980 brought him to tears. 25:00 – A renowned prop forward, he actually began his career for Castleford playing scrum-half. 28:00 – He once fell out with Eddie Waring after Eddie got his name wrong. 31:00 – Brian talks about the Castleford side that won back to back Challenge Cup Finals in 1969 and 1970 and life under tough coach Derek ‘Rocky’ Turner. 35:25 – He doesn’t enjoy the modern game, but hopes England can break their 50-year hoodoo in the World Cup
Following Wigan Warriors record-extending 20th Challenge Cup success against Huddersfield Giants, Dave Woods is joined by Matt Newsum, Kyle Amor and John Kear to dissect what was a thrilling final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. And they look forward to the remainder of the season, with the World Cup looming large at its climax.
TIMECODES::
01:40 – The panel reflect on what turned out to be a classic final. 07:10 – A May final and the first to be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was a huge success. 10:00 – Will the manner of the defeat for Huddersfield have a negative impact on their season? 14:15 – The impact of Matty Peet who, in his first season as Wigan head coach, has immediately delivered a trophy. 17:55 – How will this success reconnect the people of the town of Wigan with their club? 20:15 – Has Wigan’s Harry Smith staked a claim for England’s World Cup squad? 23:15 – The discussion turns to the wider World Cup, which feels the most open ever. 26:55 – What are Wales’ aims for the tournament under John Kear? 28:50 – The Wheelchair World Cup could be the most exciting part of the tournament. 30;25 – A brief reflection on the 1895 Final that took place between Leigh and Featherstone. 31:50 – Who are the teams competing for those Grand Final spots, with cases made for a number of clubs. 38:20 – Are Wakefield in danger of suffering relegation?
Dave Woods is joined by two-time Challenge Cup winning head coach John Kear and four-time finalist Kevin Brown to look ahead to this year’s final.
On Saturday afternoon Huddersfield Giants, who’ve not won the cup since 1953, face the competition’s most successful club, Wigan Warriors, as rugby league is played for the first time ever at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Time codes:
01:20 – The excitement of Challenge Cup Final week.
02:30 – It’s a first final for new Wigan head coach, Matt Peet, in what has been a fantastic start for him.
05:30 – The effect new assistant coach Lee Briers has had on Wigan’s attacking game.
07:15 – Interview with Matt Peet.
12:40 – Do Wigan start the game as favourites?
14:10 – If Wigan are favourites, how close are Huddersfield?
16:00 – John says Ian Watson has changed the culture at the Giants.
18:00 – It’s a great occasion for local lads and one-club men, Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe and Michael Lawrence.
21:05 – Interview with Ian Watson.
27:45 – John and Kevin react to Ian Watson’s assertion that British coaches are often overlooked for the top jobs in Super League.
30:15 – There’s an excitement about the game being played at Tottenham’s new home.
33:00 - Kevin and John make a passionate defence of why it’s important that the final is always played in London.
36:20 – The curtain-raiser is the 1895 Final between Featherstone Rovers and Leigh Centurions.
38:45 – Which team is going to win the Challenge Cup Final?
41:25 – Who do John and Kevin think will be the standout candidates for the Lance Todd Trophy?
This week’s round of Super League matches sees the return of the ‘Tackle the Tough Stuff’ campaign, focusing on mental and physical wellbeing.
And on this week’s podcast, several high-profile current and former players share their deeply personal stories around issues such as suicide, domestic violence and dealing with grief.
WARNING: This episode contains discussions about suicide. If you or someone you know is in need of help, you can find links to organisations who can provide help and support at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline
Warrington’s Peter Mata’utia opens up on his difficult upbringing, his attempted suicide and his young son’s severe illness, Wigan assistant coach Lee Briers talks about dealing with the death of his brother and Salford’s Elijah Taylor on forgiving his former friend and agent who stole £200,000 from him.
Time codes::
01:15 – Katy Graham, Super League’s marketing manager, gives an overview of why the campaign is taking place. 04:30 – An interview with Warrington’s Peter Mata’utia, who begins by explaining his difficult upbringing. 07:25 – He talks of his attempted suicide aged 18. 10:20 – Peter suffered a serious injury – he broke his larynx playing rugby league and could have died, but it’s the game that keeps him going. 11:30 – His young son was found to have a football sized tumour in his stomach. 15:15 – Dave is joined by Craig Tomason, the partnerships and communities manager for Community Integrated Care, the social care partner of the RFL and Super League. 16:00 – His brother Oliver plays for the Warrington’s Learning Disability team, and has become a social media sensation through his try celebrations, having played and scored at Anfield and been invited to close the London Stock Exchange. 19:20 – Craig was behind the formation of the Learning Disability Super League, the only one of it’s type named after the sport’s premier competition. 21:25 – Salford’s Elijah Taylor discusses how his former manager, friend and father figure stole £200,000 from him when he was playing in Australia’s NRL. 25:00 – Elijah explains how he found out and how, despite four years of legal proceedings, not one penny was recovered. 28:40 – He tells how forgiveness was his route to help bring closure to this traumatic period in his life. 30:30 – Finally, Elijah is emotional when confronted with the question of how he would respond to ever meeting his former friend again. 34:10 – The final guest is Wigan Warriors assistant coach Lee Briers, who brother Brian died in 2001 and it took him a decade to confront his emotions. 36:30 – A very emotional Lee tells how in 2009 he took the Challenge Cup trophy to Brian’s grave and in 2010 why he pointed to the sky after winning the Lance Todd Trophy. 39:00 – Lee says it’s OK to show emotion, because it shows you care. 41:25 – He tells how he dealt with pain and loss through drinking. But in 2019 he gave it up for a year and despite the death of his mother was able to cope without the need to turn to alcohol. 44:30 – Dressing rooms these days are much more forgiving places and Lee credits his former coach, Tony Smith, with helping him deal with anxiety before games.
The Women’s Super League season begins this weekend, and ahead of the opening games Dave Woods is joined by England Women’s Head Coach Craig Richards and Rachel Thompson of Wigan Warriors. They discuss the growth of the women’s game; reflect on the success of the recent Challenge Cup Final; talk about the Super League season and it’s new structure and look ahead to England’s chances in the forthcoming World Cup.
TIMECODES:
02:00 – The panel reflect on the success of last Saturday’s Women’s Challenge Cup Final between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos. 05:30 – Explanation of the new structure of the Women’s Super League which should enable all the games to be much more competitive. 08:20 – Rachel discusses her rugby league story and why, when her former team Thatto Heath Crusaders became St Helens she declined to join them! 10:00 – Rachel explains how the women’s game has improved as they’ve been given access to the same facilities as the men. 11:00 – Insert from St Helens Chief Executive Mike Rush who talks to about how St Helens Women’s Team came about and it’s growing importance within the club. 19:00 – The battle to ensure women’s teams within their respective clubs are given the attention they deserve. 20:00 – Rachel is recovering from a very serious injury suffered back in August, but as an amateur she’s not getting paid whilst doing her rehab. 22:00 – The discussion moves on to whether the women should be paid for playing and how that could come about. 23:50 – How do parents look upon their daughters taking up rugby league. 26:10 – A look ahead to this autumn’s Rugby League World Cup, what are their England chances and who are their main rivals.
Ahead of the Challenge Cup triple header this weekend, Dave Woods is joined by England international and St Helens captain Jodie Cunningham, Wales Head Coach John Kear and Keighley Cougars Head of Rugby Andrew Henderson to discuss the women’s final and the two men’s semi-finals which are all to be played at Elland Road, the home of Leeds United on Saturday.
Timecodes:
02:50 – Jodie reflects on the Women’s Rugby League Nines event that took place last weekend and how young girls who were their watching are now copying their idols’ hairstyles. 06:50 – A look ahead to the first of the three games on Saturday – the Women’s Final between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos. 11:30 – St Helens are widely viewed as the favourites, but Jodie highlights the threats within the Leeds side. 15:00 – Since the semi-finals were first broadcast on BBC last year, Jodie says the women’s game has really taken off and she’s hoping fans will turn up early to support the final. 22:00 – The discussion turns to the first of the men’s semi-finals between Wigan Warriors and St Helens. 24:40 – With injuries in key positions amongst the St Helens ranks, are Wigan now the favourites to progress? 29:50 – With Saints recent success, is there more pressure on Wigan to reach the final? 35:00 – Attention now turns to the second semi-final between Huddersfield Giants and Hull Kingston Rovers. 37:20 – Will the announcement that Hull KR coach Tony Smith is leaving at the end of the season have an impact? 43:00 – Huddersfield’s Michael Lawrence and Hull KR’s Jordan Abdull discuss the semi-final with Tanya Arnold. 47:45 – The panel predict who will win each of the three games.
Dave Woods is joined by former England half-back Kevin Brown and Radio Humberside commentator Richard Stead to discuss the comings and goings in rugby league over the past seven days. They unpick the decision by Tony Smith to leave his head coaching role at Hull KR at the end of the season and ask who next at Rovers and where next for Smith. Plus, the arrival of new coach and Tony’s nephew, Rohan Smith, at Leeds Rhinos and their ‘controversial’ acquisition of Zak Hardaker following his departure from Wigan Warriors. And, after ten rounds in Super League, who will go down, who will make the play-offs and who will be crowned Man of Steel.
01:40 – The shock decision by Tony Smith to announce his departure from Hull KR at the end of the season and where will he go next?
05:50 – Kevin thinks Tony might go to Leeds, in support of his nephew Rohan Smith whose just been appointed as their head coach. While Richard thinks Catalan could be a destination for him next year.
12:20 – So who gets the job at Hull KR – a number of names are mentioned.
15:50 – They discuss the departure of Zak Hardaker from Wigan and the off-field issues that lie behind it.
18: 00 – Before today’s signing announcement – they suggest Zak Hardaker ‘ the player’ will be a good signing for Leeds.
19:30 – A look ahead to the big game this week between Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors (which is live on Sports Extra)
24:30 – Are bottom club Toulouse showing signs they can survive – or are other sides such as Leeds, Wakefield and Salford in danger of being relegated?
29:00 – An appreciation of the top try-scorer at present, Jai Field of Wigan – a prime candidate for Man of Steel.
33:00 – Kevin says Jonny Lomax of St Helens is the best player in Super League and youngster Jack Welsby has shown why Saints allowed Lachlan Coote leave.
37:45 – Relegation pressure is still very much on Leeds, but Kevin feels they can still make the end of season play-offs.
41:45 – Will the current top three be the same come the end of the season?
Dave Woods chats with Tony Smith who, this week, celebrated his 500th game in charge as a head coach. Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Hull Kingston Rovers Great Britain and England have all benefitted from the coaching skills of the likeable and hugely successful Australian, whose worked with and helped develop some of the biggest names in rugby league.
Time codes:
02:30 – Remembering his first game in charge for Huddersfield in 2001 and his time with the Giants. 07:00 – His upbringing in Australia and watching his brother Brian play, who also went on to become a hugely successful coach in both England and Australia. 09:00 – His first venture to England was a short stint playing for Workington Town, before returning to lead Huddersfield where he experienced snow for the first time. 12:30 – He says he fell in love with England so quickly because the players were more coachable compared to Australia, where rugby league is the number one sport. 16:30 – Smith took up British citizenship and says he was never particularly interested in returning to Australia to coach. 21:40 – His time at Leeds, where he won two Grand Finals. Smith says it was the most ‘complete’ part of his career. 25:30 – Smith left Warrington and spent 15 months out of the game before joining Hull KR, mentoring and consulting coaches in football for the Premier League and the League Managers Association. 29:00 – He says he was in a bad place mentally during his time out of the game. 30:45 – Over the 500 games he recognises he’s changed quite a lot, and is now much more trusting of his players and assistant coaches to help deliver success. 34:00 – His relationship with the press. He can be quite contrary, but thinks he’s always got on well with them except during his time in charge of England at the 2008 World Cup. 40:15 – What is the future for Smith? He categorically denies he’s been in the running to take over at Leeds following the departure of Richard Agar. 43:15 – He’ll continue to coach as long as he can influence the players and they respond to him. 46:00 – For the first time publicly, Smith declares he would like to be the first coach to win two Grand Finals at two different clubs before he retires. 48:30 – It would be special to take Hull KR to the Challenge Cup Final this year (they’re in the semi-finals).
Matt Newsum is joined by former Great Britain head coach Brian Noble and St Helens prop forward Kyle Amor to analyse the Easter weekend fixture double-header and discuss how players and coaches react, adapt and survive the rigours of this period. ‘Rivals Round’ includes the titanic clashes between St Helens and Wigan, Hull KR versus Hull FC and Toulouse head coach Sylvain Houles talks of the importance of the first French Super League derby between his side and Catalans Dragons.
Time codes:
01:00 – The team first reflect on the four Challenge Cup quarter-final ties that took place last weekend. 08:45 – How do players and coaches address the congested Easter fixture schedule. 14:40 – Brian remembers playing 4 games in 10 days for Bradford Northern, where recovery was done down the pub. 15:40 – Kyle compares the current recovery strategies, including –240 degree cryo chambers, but also says mental recovery is just as important. 18:50 – Kyle and Brian think the mental side of the game is actually now harder than the physical side. 22:30 - Discussion on the games in Rivals Round – under pressure Leeds face Huddersfield. 24:10 – The first ever French Super League derby as Catalans host Toulouse. 24:45 - Kyle quotes the Catalan captain Ben Garcia who has said their derby will determine who are the best team in France. Brian thinks Super League needs more of this fighting talk. 27:00 - A brief interview with Toulouse Head Coach on Sylvain Houles on the game and the ‘friendly’ rivalry between the two clubs. 35:15 – Warrington’s struggles continue – they have apparently gone away for a ‘reset camp’ over the last week to help tell some home truths. 38:00 – The Hull derby – The match-up between fierce rivals Hull KR and Hull FC is probably closer now than its been in a long time. 42:00 – St Helens v Wigan – living on the border between the two towns, Kyle is hoping still be able to walk his dog after Friday’ game without being egged. 44:00 – It’s said it’s the third game that follows the Easter fixtures where teams crumble and shock results happen.
Dave Woods is joined by former England half-back Kevin Brown and ex-Scotland hooker Andrew Henderson to preview the quarter-final ties in this weekend’s Challenge Cup.
It's fair to say any of the eight teams involved could lift the famous old trophy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 28th. Plus, we also delve into what’s gone wrong at Warrington?
Time codes:
04:40 – They start with Hull Kingston Rovers v Castleford Tigers – Cas are starting to come good under Lee Radford. 06:25 – There’s now a real good feeling around Hull KR who’ve recently reacquired their stadium. 10:00 – What is going wrong at Warrington Wolves (who lost to Hull KR last weekend)? 15:00 – Can Warrington recruit to help them get out of their unexpected predicament? 18:00 – Catalans Dragons v St Helens – Saints have the best defence in Super League and Brown suggests the best ever in the Super League era. 21:10 - What’s the game plan to beat Saints. It’s suggested the Dragons are the only team that can stop them. And what influence can Sam Tomkins have. 27:10 – Wakefield Trinity v Wigan Warriors – appreciation of the new Wakefield coaching partnership of Willie Poching & Francis Cummins. 31:20 - A similar appreciation of Matty Peet, the new head coach at Wigan, whose team have got off to a great start. 34:10 – Wigan have the best full-backs in Super League in Jai Field and Bevan French. Brown thinks they could be the first side to play with two full-backs, changing the traditional style of play. 38:00 – Huddersfield Giants v Hull FC – This could be the tie of the round. Hull FC have players returning and look very strong, while the Giants have been very impressive so far this year. 42:30 – The Challenge Cup is as special now as it ever was – and playing the final at Tottenham this year is proving a real exciting prospect for the players.
Dave Woods is joined by Eric Perez, the founder and chairman of Cornwall RLFC, the newest club in the professional pyramid, who make their League 1 debut this Saturday against North Wales Crusaders in Colwyn Bay. Perez, the brains behind the birth of the Toronto Wolfpack, discusses how this new team were formed as well as his hopes and aspirations for both them and the game of rugby league in Cornwall. Plus, with less than 200 days to the start of the World Cup, chief executive Jon Dutton provides an update on where the tournament is at, how ticket sales are going and whether the Aussies have bought in this time.
TOPICS:
02:05 – Perez explains how and why Hemel Hempstead became Ottowa Aces and then, due to Covid, became Cornwall RLFC, which is he calls ‘an untouched gem’. 07:10 – The lessons learned from starting Toronto Wolfpack and how he’ll utilise them again in Cornwall. 13:10 – There have been objections from some of the local rugby union sides, but they’re doing it for Cornwall. 14:20 - The goal is to make Cornwall the best rugby league side in the world. 17:15 – Perez still thinks there is potential for rugby league to be successful in Canada. 19:25 – Cornwall is very similar to the rugby league heartlands with its working class heritage and is therefore ‘made for rugby league’ and will become a rugby league powerhouse. 22:00 – Progress will be slower than it was with Toronto, with promotion to the Championship in three or four years realistic. 28:00 – The level of talent in Cornwall is so immense and untapped and local rugby union players can thrive in rugby league. 31:20 – Jon Dutton’s update on the Rugby League World Cup. 35:00 – Where ticket sales are at for the big games of the tournament- St James’ Park, Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford. 37:30 – Dutton discusses the tournaments legacy and how £20 million has already been spent so far within the rugby league community clubs, on facilities and equipment including new wheelchairs. 40:45 – The 12-month delay because of Covid has actually helped the tournament.
Dave Woods is joined by the Rugby Football League’s Head of Media, Andy Wilson, and Bradford Bulls Head Coach John Kear to remember and reminisce about their close friend and legendary rugby league writer Dave Hadfield, who sadly passed away last week. Great stories abound, including hilarious tales of fleeing hoards of locals in Papua New Guinea, of a man loved and respected the world over by players, coaches and colleagues alike. Plus, who will replace Richard Agar as the new head coach of Leeds Rhinos and a look ahead to this weekend’s Sixth Round Challenge Cup ties.
TOPICS: 02:05 – The shock departure of Leeds Rhinos Head Coach, Richard Agar. 07:20 – Who will replace him? Danny Ward, Danny McGuire and even Ireland’s Rugby Union coach Andy Farrell are mentioned as names in the frame. 15:25 – It’s the Sixth Round of the Challenge Cup this weekend and Leeds face Castleford Tigers in a live BBC TV tie on Saturday that is a must-win game for both clubs. 20:35 – The trio pay tribute to their great friend Dave Hadfield with hilarious stories and heart-warming tales. 26:30 – Former Great Britain three-quarter, Alan Hunte, remembers the time ‘Hadders’ ran for his life as hundreds of locals descended on the GB mini-bus in Papua New Guinea. 38:25 – Tributes are paid and stories told of former Salford, Wigan, Leeds and Great Britain centre David Stephenson, who also sadly died last week. 43:05 – More tales of ‘Hadders’ and his close relationships with Warrington and Great Britain star Mike Gregory, who died of MND, and former England and GB Head Coach Wayne Bennett, who was notoriously unfriendly towards the rest of the media.
Two of the games’ greats, former Great Britain coach and captain Brian Noble and legendary dual-code international Iestyn Harris, join Dave Woods to discuss whether players are feigning injury to get players sent to the sin bin; who are the surprise packages and the coaches under pressure after five rounds of Super League; the Sixth Round Challenge Cup draw; and how Iestyn is shaping up ahead of his dancing debut at Rob Burrow’s Strictly Ball!
Two of the games’ greats, former Great Britain coach and captain Brian Noble and legendary dual-code international Iestyn Harris, join Dave Woods to discuss whether players are feigning injury to get players sent to the sin bin; who are the surprise packages and the coaches under pressure after five rounds of Super League; the Sixth Round Challenge Cup draw; and how Iestyn is shaping up ahead of his dancing debut at Rob Burrow’s Strictly Ball!
Two of the sport’s highest profile CEOs, Ralph Rimmer of the Rugby Football League and Karl Fitzpatrick of Warrington Wolves, join Dave Woods to discuss the new alliance between the RFL and Super League. Almost four years since the acrimonious split between the game’s elite and the governing body, the two sides are once again joining forces to grow rugby league and drive, with a new strategic partner on board, the commercial revenues it needs to compete in an ever-changing sporting landscape.
Paul Wood, the former Warrington and Great Britain forward, who’s now working with the charity Rugby League Cares and John Kear, head coach of Bradford Bulls, join Dave Woods to discuss the former players who are delivering mental health and wellbeing sessions to NHS staff to help them cope with pressure and stress.
Plus, we look at the continuing fallout over the clamping down on high tackles as well as the standout teams and players from the start of the Championship and Super League seasons.
We also hear from Rochdale Hornet's fan Chris Lowe who is running 5km every day in memory of his 3 year-old son Freddie, who sadly died of cancer.
Dave Woods is joined by two former international hookers, Paul Rowley the current head coach of Salford Red Devils and Andrew Henderson, Head of Rugby at Keighley Cougars.
As well as discussing Salford’s perfect start to the season, they tackle the continuing issue of foul play and red cards, the changing role of the number nine, England hookers who’ve made an early impression, and also reveal which one of them is qualified as an ‘undercover operative’!
With round one of the Super League season complete, Dave Woods is joined by former England half-back Kevin Brown and St Helens prop forward Kyle Amor to discuss who are the ones to watch, the proliferation of head shots and the sad passing of one of the games’ greats, ‘Gentleman’ Johnny Whiteley.
The return of the Super League is almost upon us and after a winter of waiting, Mark Chapman, Dave Woods and Iestyn Harris look ahead to this big year for the sport.
We discuss the new French sides in the League with Matty Russell of newcomers Toulouse.
Leeds Rhinos Women head coach Lois Forsell joins us to chat about the upcoming Challenge Cup and Super League.
And England men’s head coach Shaun Wane shares his excitement of the Rugby League World Cup and England’s hopes in this year's tournament.
One of rugby league’s great old names goes up against one of the game’s newest clubs. Rochdale Hornets owner Andy Mazey and Midlands Hurricanes co-owner Alan Robinson chat to Dave Woods about expansion, survival and growing the game ahead of the Betfred Challenge Cup clash that will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and BBC online on Sunday afternoon.
In the final episode of the season, in what should have been the final days leading up to the start of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, we turn our attention to international rugby league, as England’s men and women prepare to take on France in a double-header in Perpignan on Saturday. Correspondent Dave Woods is joined by St Helens and England stars Alex Walmsley and Amy Hardcastle to discuss their club side’s heroics this season and their pride of pulling on the England jersey again. Wales head coach, and former England and France head coach, John Kear also joins the pod to discuss the growth of the international game and his thoughts for 2022.
In the penultimate episode of the season, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by the Bradford and Wales head coach John Kear, the former Great Britain halfback Iestyn Harris, and BBC rugby league commentator Matt Newsum to dissect Saturday’s Super League Grand Final, in which St Helens beat Catalans Dragons 12-10 to secure their third consecutive Grand Final triumph to make them the most successful club of the Super League era with a ninth title. The panel discuss where this Saints side ranks on the list of great title-winning teams and how Catalans can build on their historic maiden Grand Final appearance, as well discussing their best moments of the 2021 season.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by Perpignan-based Rugby League journalist Steve Brady and Toulouse Olympique star Johnathon Ford to look ahead to potentially a historic weekend for French Rugby League, with Catalans Dragons just 80 minutes away from their maiden Super League Grand Final appearance and Toulouse Olympique just 80 minutes away from the ‘Million Pound Game’, which could see them promoted to Super League in 2022. The team discuss the growth of the sport in the South of France ahead of the country hosting the Rugby League World Cup in 2025.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by Kevin Rye, Director of Think Fan Engagement, whose organisation has surveyed over 1,000 fans from across Rugby League’s top three divisions to get their views on the current state of the sport in the UK. The survey shows the vast majority of fans of Rugby League feel cut off from decisions at both their club and the governing bodies - Super League and the RFL. The survey also indicates that, although a few fans felt their clubs listened to them, the vast majority report a negative view of the way clubs engage and communicate with them. Many were scathing at how ignored they are in major decisions, including rebranding, changes of identity and name and stadium relocations. Other major issues included the RFL’s poor engagement with fans, and broadcaster Sky Sports changing kick-off times - something fans of football have themselves regularly complained about for years. England wheelchair star and World Cup ambassador James Simpson also joins the podcast to talk about his Leeds Rhinos side completing an unprecedented treble after beating Leyland Warriors in Sunday's Wheelchair Super League Grand Final.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by two of the rugby league’s most high profile administrators – RFL CEO Ralph Rimmer and RFL Chair Simon Johnson – to discuss the current state of the sport and their plans moving forward, including answering listeners questions on the future of rugby league in the UK. We’re also joined by Salford halfback Kevin Brown ahead of his final ever game of rugby league on Friday before retirement, and Kav Ellison, ambassador for Team Colostomy UK, the rugby league side looking to end the stigma surrounding stomas and provide inspiration for others in their situation.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by Salford halfback Kevin Brown, Wigan Today sports editor Phil Wilkinson, and Daily Mirror rugby league correspondent Gareth Walker to discuss what's going on at Wigan following their heavy defeat to local rivals St Helens and the uncertainty over the future of head coach Adrian Lam. We also discuss which six clubs will make the end of season playoffs with just five weeks of the regular season remaining and ask whether Leigh can make a late survival push after winning their first game of the season at the 17th attempt.
On this week's episode, Correspondent Dave Woods is joined by Hull FC chairman and owner Adam Pearson and the St Helens and Ireland prop forward Kyle Amor to discuss the current plight of Super League. Pearson says the sport will be "dead" in 12 months if it doesn't make itself more appealing to the younger generation and bring in private investment. We also look ahead to this week's Super League Rivals Round, which, in most cases, pits clubs against their local rivals, including Pearson's Hull FC up against Hull KR and Amor's Saints up against Wigan.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by Salford halfback Kevin Brown and Leeds Rhinos assistant coach Jamie Jones Buchanan to discuss next season’s Challenge Cup Final moving across North London from Wembley to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and whether a new Champions League-style format could revitalise the competition. We also reflect on Chris Chester’s surprise sacking as Wakefield head coach and ask whether the Super League season should be extended following the postponement of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by England player and RLWC2021 tournament ambassador Jodie Cunningham, Wales head coach John Kear and Brad Walter, senior journalist for NRL.com in Sydney, to discuss the immediate fallout to the decision, and whether the tournament can be a success in 2022.
On this week's episode, Correspondent Dave Woods is joined by the Hull KR head coach, and former England head coach, Tony Smith, whose Rovers side are undertaking five days of quarantine after returning to the UK after being asked to play Catalans Dragons at short notice due to Covid cancellations. Previous to that, they hadn’t had a game since June 19. Salford Red Devils halfback Kevin Brown also joins the podcast from isolation following a breakout of Covid in the Salford squad, meaning their next two games have been postponed. The panel discuss whether the season will be completed and how rugby league develops as a sport post pandemic. We also ask whether the 2021 Rugby League World Cup can survive without Australia and New Zealand.
On this week's bonus episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by England forward Alex Walmsley, Wales head coach John Kear and Brad Walter, senior journalist for NRL.com in Sydney, to discuss the immediate fallout to Australia and New Zealand's decision to withdraw from the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, and whether the tournament can go ahead without them.
On this week's episode, Matt Newsum speaks to four-time Challenge Cup winner Martin Offiah about his role fronting the Government-backed 2021 Net Zero Week. The two-time Lance Todd Trophy winner is joined by St Helens' Women's Challenge Cup-winning captain Jodie Cunningham and multiple Challenge Cup finalist Kevin Brown to discuss how rugby league can become more sustainable as a sport. The panel also reflect on Saturday's Challenge Cup Final and ask where Saints rank among the great teams of the modern era.
On this week's bumper episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by Jon Dutton, Chief Executive Officer of RLWC2021, and Wales head coach John Kear to discuss the World Cup officially being given the green light with just 100 days to go until the start of the tournament. We also hear from St Helens prop forward Kyle Amor and Castleford Tigers loose forward Adam Milner to look ahead to Saturday's Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.
Dave Woods is joined by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle as well as Leeds legend and current Assistant-Coach Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
They discuss alignment of the governance of Rugby League. As well as the World Cup, the north-south divide, sponsorship and the future of the game.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by Brad Walter, Senior Journalist for nrl.com; Bradford Bulls and Wales head coach John Kear; and St Helens and Ireland prop forward Kyle Amor to discuss whether the 2021 Rugby League World Cup will go ahead as planned or whether it will be postponed. We also ask how Super League can stem the tide of Covid postponements.
After 18 months with Canberra Raiders in the Australian National Rugby League, England half-back George Williams has returned to England to be closer to his family, particularly as he and partner Charlotte are expecting a baby later this year. In this bonus episode, Williams talks about the factors behind the return and what the future holds for him in rugby league and life in general.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by the England head coach Shaun Wane, as he prepares to take charge of England for the first time against the Combined Nations All Stars. He tells why he hasn't selected star half back George Williams and what it means to coach his country for the first time. England Women star Jodie Cunningham joins the pod to look ahead to Friday's women's international against Wales, and after a 20-month layoff, England Wheelchair star James Simpson looks ahead to their game against Wales on Saturday and the squad's new supersonic wheelchairs.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by the St Helens and Ireland prop Kyle Amor and the former Super League head coach Steve McCormack, current Head of Welfare at rugby league charity Rugby League Cares, to take a deep dive into the brutality of rugby league following this week's news that Australia's 2017 World Cup-winning captain Boyd Cordner has been forced to retire aged just 29 following persistent head injuries. We also hear at length from Amor's St Helens team-mate, and England half back Jonny Lomax about the life-threatening head injury he suffered playing the sport as a child. Lomax was rushed to hospital to have emergency brain surgery when he was just 14 after suffering an extradural haemorrhage, which is when bleeding occurs between the tough outer membrane covering the brain and the skull, after fracturing his skull in a junior game. He also opens up about questioning whether he wanted to continue in the sport after rupturing his ACL three times during his career. And the team discuss rugby league's best rituals.
On this week's episode, correspondent Dave Woods is joined by the England captain and St Helens forward Emily Rudge and the Castleford Tigers three-quarter Jordan Turner to discuss their player-of-the-match performances in the Challenge Cup on Saturday, as Emily's St Helens won the Women's Challenge Cup for the first time, and Jordan reached his first Challenge Cup Final with Castleford. Leeds Rhinos assistant coach Jamie Jones-Buchanan also joins us to debate whether Saints' Theo Fages should have picked up the ball to score a try when Hull's Josh Griffin was stricken with injury, and Jordan tells us why he'll be proud to represent Jamaica for his family at the World Cup.
Matt Newsum is joined by Bradford Bulls’ head coach John Kear and the RFL’s chief on-field officer, Dave Rotheram who explains their controversial elite academy licencing decisions.
In mental health awareness week, Dave Woods is joined by former Super League star Shaun Lunt to talk about the illness that left him battling for his mental health. And ex Leeds and GB ace Keith Senior on how rugby league’s ground breaking Off Load programme is now being used by the NHS.
The only Polish player in Super League tells Matt Newsum about swapping Gdańsk for Leeds, and Gymnastics for Rugby League.
The documentary makers behind the new GB Lions film talk about life with Wayne Bennett's players in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Executive chairman Robert Elstone discusses the future of Super League after Toronto are denied a place in 2021 in a chat with rugby league correspondent Dave Woods. Catalans Dragons half-back Jimmy Maloney, one of the game’s great characters, also shares stories from his richly varied career.
How well has Rugby League reacted to COVID-19 and what can we expect in 2021? We're joined by Professor Ben Jones from Leeds Beckett University and the RFL's Head of Performance and Dr Gemma Phillips, the RFL's COVID-19 Medical Officer.
This week we're joined by Wigan Warriors Executive Director Kris Radlinski on Wigan's rebrand and why he is passionately optimistic for the future of the game.
One of Rugby League's newest board members, Rimla Akhtar, joins us to talk about her own fascinating story as a Muslim woman in sport, falling in love with Rugby League and tells us more about Rugby League's own blueprint for tackling racism together.
Sandy Shipley, is a Toronto Wolfpack superfan and she reveals some myth-busting facts about Toronto, plus Julia Lee, a pioneer for the women’s game back in the 1980’s when she became the first woman to officiate a men's rugby league game in the UK.
Julia took up refereeing aged 17 after seeing an advert in a matchday programme while watching her beloved Hull KR.
St Helens great Paul Wellens and Jon Wilkin join Dave Woods to discuss the privilege of pressure within a top team and why flat pack furniture offers a key life-lesson.
Dave Woods is joined by Scott Taylor, England & Hull FC prop forward and John Kear, Wales and Bradford Bulls Head Coach to discuss Shaun Edwards, Wales rugby union defence coach who is due to take up the head coach's role at Wigan in 2020... or is he, and if so for how long? We hear from Edwards who says he definitely wants to coach in the Six Nations again. The interview is from the Today programme. Plus Scott’s team, Hull FC, became the first to win a Super League game via Golden Point on Sunday when they beat Wigan Warriors 23-22. And we hear from his teammate, Marc Sneyd, who kicked the winning drop goal in extra time.
Dave Woods, Matt Newsum, Robbie Hunter-Paul and Brian Noble discuss a video in which Wigan players Joel and Sam Tomkins are seen abusing bar staff which led to Joel being suspended for four weeks and fined £10,000 and Sam being fined £5,000; plus two of this season's most successful coaches St Helens’ Justin Holbrook and Warrington’s Steve Price talk to 5 live’s Will Perry about a wide range of rugby league issues including their approach to the season, the future of Ben Barba and the challenges facing the new CEO of Super League Robert Elstone.
The RFL’s Ralph Rimmer suggests New York as a possible venue for Magic Weekend next year and discusses his meetings with Barry and Eddie Hearn and his royal appointment in Windsor on Saturday. Plus Dave Woods is joined by Bradford Bulls Head Coach John Kear, Toronto Wolfpack Head Coach Paul Rowley and BBC commentator Matt Newsum to discuss the latest edition of rugby league’s Magic Weekend in Newcastle and pick their team for England’s test match in Denver next month.
Disabled Australian comedian, TV presenter and South Sydney Rabbitohs fanatic Adam Hills tells Dave Woods about the formation of the Physical Disability Rugby League competition in England and how he takes a four-hour return journey every week to play for his adopted side Warrington Wolves; the Wakefield player Chris Hall reveals how he ‘died’ twice in hospital after being punched and elbowed on the field and how he returned to playing the game he loves, and John Kear looks back on the Sixth Round of the Challenge Cup.
What affect would withdrawing central funding have on clubs? Dave Woods explores the potential impacts with the Doncaster CEO Carl Hall, the business manager at Warrington Wolves Richie Mathers and the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Peter Smith; plus Salford owner Andy Rosler talks about the club's finances, their New York ambitions and a Magic Weekend yellow shirt.
Following the Challenge Cup 5th round weekend Dave Woods and Leeds Rhinos’ Jamie Jones-Buchanan focus on League One side York City Knights who narrowly lost to Super League’s Catalans Dragons and hear from the owner and chairman John Flatman about their philosophy, their ambitions for the club and plans for a new stadium plus the Head Coach James Ford reflects on how far the club has come both on and off the field in the past 18 months. Finally journalist Gareth Walker explores whether the Challenge Cup still has a prized place in rugby league.
Dave Woods examines the future of rugby league’s TV rights and what the game needs to do to ensure it gets the best deal in 2021; he finds out why Masters Rugby is the sport’s fastest growing sector as it celebrates it's 10th anniversary and hears from Neil Kelly who talks about his experiences as head coach of Romania and Namibia.
As the 20th anniversary nears former Sheffield Eagles coach John Kear relives his memories of his sides’ 1998 Challenge Cup final victory over Wigan Warriors; Jon Wilkin reviews the candidates for Wayne Bennet’s assistant coach and compares it to the situation in New Zealand plus Salford owner Andrew Rosler talks about the club’s future and their plans to take the game to New York.
Dave Woods speaks to the England and St Helens Women's Super League star Jodie Cunningham about why we should all be taking the women's game seriously; John Burke, the would be 70s superstar cut down by devastating injury tells his inspiring story and Andrew Henderson says London could be the future for rugby league.
Dave Woods convenes a panel of three PR and marketing professionals to discuss how rugby league can improve its image, attract new fans and what the sport can learn from Eddie Hearn.
Former prop forward Rob Parker tells Dave Woods how rugby league has helped inspire his acting career ahead of the release of his new film Walk Like a Panther; St Helens and proud Cumbrian Kyle Amor reveals his thoughts on the way forward for rugby league in his home county; Brian Noble gives an update on what’s happening in Toronto while the Wolfpack are playing in England and the club’s Chris O’Connor reveals the life of a rugby league analyst.
Dave Woods hears from Leeds Rhino's Stevie Ward on how mediation has made him a better player; the Warrington chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick reveals how he went from the playing field to the boardroom; Ray French remembers St Helens great Geoff Pimblett and Phil Wilkinson of the Wigan Observer discusses where all the sport's nicknames such as 'The Brick with Eyes', 'the Axe' and 'the Wall' have gone.
Dave Woods gets an insight into the re-appointment of Wayne Bennett as England coach from the RFL's Director of Rugby Kevin Sinfield and discovers why Bennett has a 2 year deal and who else was in the running; plus the current Chief Executive of the RFL Ralph Rimmer gives his thoughts on International games, the way forward for the sport, the Challenge Cup schedule and whether there's a plan for a Cumbrian development.
Dave Woods speaks to a neurology expert who reveals some shocking figures about head injuries in rugby league but says science can reverse the damage caused by concussions, the Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington comes out fighting in favour of the Super 8s and the league‘s coaches reveal the one change they’d make to the British game.
Dave Woods is joined by Jamie Jones-Buchanan from the champions Leeds Rhinos to look ahead to the new Super League season. They hear from Wigan’s Sam Tomkins who's aiming to rediscover his magic touch; Castleford captain Michael Shenton reveals the lessons he learned from 2017; Catalans coach Steve McNamara talks about the change of culture at the French club; Salford co-captain Mark Flanagan reflects on life without Marwan Koukash; and Toronto’s Paul Rowley looks forward to the spicy match up with Leigh and whether they’re ready for life in the Championship
As England prepare for the Rugby League World Cup final Brian Noble talks to Sam Burgess who he signed as a 16 year old about moving to Sydney, playing for England in Union, his thoughts on the final and if he fancies returning to Super League one day; Wayne Bennett talks to Dave Woods during a tropical storm which halted England’s training session and England tour manager and former England and Great Britain captain Jamie Peacock talks about how envious he is of this squad’s talent and unity. Plus interviews with Gareth Widdop, Chris Hill, Luke Gale, Kallum Watkins, Aaron Woods and Matt Gillett.
Dave Woods, Brian Noble and Justin Morgan hear from an emotional James Graham and fellow forwards Tom Burgess and Chris Hill after England reach a World Cup final for the first time since 1995 to set up a meeting with holders Australia.
Dave Woods and Brian Noble experience a fan event in Auckland in which thousands of Tongan supporters turned up to give their players a rock star reception; Trad McLean, one of the Tonga tour managers, reflects on the incredible support the team have been getting in recent weeks; England coach Wayne Bennett, captain Sean O'Loughlin and prop James Graham and Tonga coach Kristian Woolf gives their opinions on Saturday's semi final; and the former England captain and current tour manager Jamie Peacock talks about how the international game can build on the Tongan success.
Dave Woods and Brian Noble preview the World Cup quarter-finals and hear from England coach Wayne Bennett and forward Sam Burgess following his knee ligament injury; Jermaine McGilvary, the flying superstar England winger talks about on his tournament so far including his brush with controversy and his unlikely route into rugby league; Paul Aiton, the PNG hooker explains what rugby league means to Papua New Guinea; and the Leeds Rhino's chief executive Gary Hetherington gives his thoughts on the announcement of next year's Melbourne v Leeds World Club Challenge.
Dave Woods, Brian Noble and Ian Millward review England's victory over France which set up a quarter-final against Papua New Guinea; the Scotland coach Steve McCormack reflects on his sides' heroic 14-14 final game draw with Samoa; Australian journalist Steve Mascord looks back at Tonga's incredible win over New Zealand in the "Game of the Ages" and the Tonga assistant coach David Furner reveals the mood from inside the Tonga camp; plus French commentator Rodolphe Pires talks about the future for French rugby league after their disappointing World cup exit.
Dave Woods and Brian Noble are in Perth ahead of England's match against France and hear from Kevin Brown and Scott Taylor following their call ups; coach Wayne Bennett reveals what he expects from his side; France and St Helens captain Theo Fages says his side's confidence is high and that sending home Eloi Pellisier has not affected morale; and Wales coach John Kear reflects on the disappointment of the Welsh World Cup and how the northern hemisphere risks being left behind by the southern hemisphere.
Dave Woods and Brian Noble assess the second weekend of the Rugby League World Cup and talk to England's Sam Burgess about his injury situation and his brother Tom's try; the Papua New Guinea coach Michael Marum discusses the potential of playing England in the quarter-finals and the Scotland Chairman Keith Hogg gives his first broadcast interview after three Scottish players were sent home for being too drunk to board a flight.
Dave Woods and Brian Noble look ahead to this weekend’s World Cup fixtures and hear the thoughts of England coach Wayne Bennett on his sides performance against Australia; the recently retired Hull and GB international Gareth Ellis talks about playing alongside the Lebanon captain Robbie Farah; the Chairman of the Rugby League European Federation Danny Kazandjian reveals the origins of Lebanese Rugby League and the St Helens and Welsh International Morgan Knowles tells Huw Morgan what it’s like playing in Papua New Guinea.
Dave Woods and Brian Noble reflect on the opening round of matches in the Rugby League World Cup and hear from England's Tom Burgess on training in the heat; the Ireland captain Liam Finn dissects his side's victory over Italy; the Welsh coach John Kear delivers his verdict on their defeat to Papua New Guinnea; Australian coach Ian Millward gives his thoughts from inside the host's camp and Channel 7's Liam Cox reports on what Australia has made of the World Cup so far.
Dave Woods and Brian Noble discuss the upcoming Rugby League World Cup. Hear from Kevin Brown, who is predicting a glittering World Cup for Ben Currie, St Helens hooker James Roby talks about his return to international action after a two-year absence, Steve McCormack explains why Scotland are not overawed by their opponents in Group B - plus Wales coach John Kear looks forward to an adventure in Papua New Guinea and reveals his dreams of playing England in the quarter finals.
Dave Woods delves into the history of the Rugby League World Cup with Andrew Marmont; journalist and author of ‘Their Finest Hour: A History of the Rugby League World Cup in 10 Matches’. Plus new Warrington coach Steve Price outlines his aims and objects for the club.
Dave Woods and Brian Noble discuss the Super League Grand Final where Leeds Rhinos claimed a record eighth title with victory over Castleford Tigers and hear from Toronto Wolfpack owner Eric Perez on his plans to launch two more rugby league sides in North America.
Brian Noble and Iestyn Harris look ahead to the Super League Grand Final between Castleford and Leeds and discuss the rights, wrongs and agonies of the Million Pound Game.
Tim Sheens discusses his career, the great players, Hull KR's promotion, the future of Super League and England's World Cup chances with Dave Woods and Paul Rowley reflects on a remarkable season with Toronto.
As the RFL rule out structural changes to the sport next season Dave Woods asks a coach, an agent and a journalist their opinion on what should change for 2019 and beyond.
Jamie Jones-Buchanan selects his starting 13 for England's World Cup opener against Australia, Andy Lynch talks about his hopes for a grand finale to his phenomenal career and Jamie Peacock reacts to Hull KR's return to Super League
As Eorl Crabtree is inducted into the Huddersfield Rugby League Hall Of Fame he sits down with Dave Woods to talk about his incredible career, why he didn't become a wrestler, how he nearly joined Saints and the prejudices within rugby union.
Mark Chapman reflects on last weekend’s Challenge Cup final with Jamie Peacock, John Wilkin and Brian Noble which saw Hull FC retain the trophy against Wigan Warriors at Wembley.
Wigan and Hull legends Kris Radlinski and Lee Crooks recall Challenge Cup heroics and heartaches, the incredible tale of Lance Todd and which Cas side is the classiest: 1994 or 2017?
Australian Rugby League journalist Steve Mascord talks to Dave Woods about the NRL's financial worries and gives an update on England's NRL stars plus Toronto's Ryan Burroughs reveals his USA World Cup dreams.
Dave Woods talks to Jack Bussey of Toronto and Tony Clubb of Wigan about their startlingly swift recoveries from serious illness and looks at London Broncos' rise and the future of rugby league in Cumbria.
Dave Woods talks to Zak Hardaker about the buzz around Castleford, Jamie Peacock reflects on the Challenge Cup semi finals, Brian Noble discusses the challenges facing Toronto and the RFL's Roger Draper silences some Super League myths.
St Helens wing sensation Regan Grace gives his first broadcast interview, John Kear selects the candidates for Coach of the Year and the sport pays tribute to the 'Pocket Rocket' Rob Burrow on his retirement
Dave Woods talks to Martin Offiah about talented wingers, hears from England's James Simpson to asses their chances at the wheelchair World Cup and speaks to women's rugby league international Jodie Cunningham ahead of the start of the Women's Super League.
Dave Woods looks at this year's Man of Steel contenders with Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Phil Caplan plus discusses the history and the redevelopment of Headingley with Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington, talks to Rugby League European Federation Press Officer Phil Caplan about the global expansion of the game and hears from Wigan Warriors' Amanda Wilkinson - the only female Grade 3 qualified coach in the world.
An unpredictable Super League season is assessed by journalists Chris Irvine and Gareth Walker plus the Chief Executive of Widnes James Rule tells Dave Woods about the clubs ambitions, Huddersfield's man of the moment Jake Mamo reveals the delights of West Yorkshire and the team hear from Catalans' new coach Steve McNamara.
Dave Woods is joined by Jon Wilkin who spent six years trying to set up a players union called League 13 to discover what went wrong and what needs to change if the players want their voices to be heard plus catches up with Toronto Wolfpack's Head of Rugby Brian Noble after he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours and talks to author Frank Malley about his new book on Wigan's 'Invincibles' side that won the Challenge Cup for an incredible 8 years in a row between 1988 and 1995.
The former Super League referee Ian Smith describes how he hit rock bottom after leaving the sport and how constant criticism of the man in the middle can leave a lasting impact on mental health.
Super League head coaches Lee Radford and Brian McDermott despair over the scheduling of a second period of three games in seven days to accommodate an England pre-season training camp in Dubai that never happened, and John Kear talks to Dave Woods on how, when and why referees should be criticised.
Kyle Amor, Richie Mathers and Tony Hannan discuss the St Helens resurgence and whether player welfare is at the top of the RFL's agenda after Mark Minichiello accused them of failing to "look after their players" by scheduling two double-header weekends during the Super League season.
Roger Draper, the RFL's Chief Commercial Officer, reflects on the success of the third Magic Weekend staged in Newcastle and discusses what's next for the showpiece event.
Hull FC skipper Gareth Ellis, in conversation with Matt Newsum, discusses his life in rugby league and what it's really like to lift the sport's most iconic trophy, the Challenge Cup.
Ahead of England's mid-season test match against Samoa Dave Woods and Steve Mascord discuss the rights and wrongs of two native Australians being selected in the England squad.
Kris Radlinski & Jon Wilkin on how changes to the salary cap alone won't get more stars in to the game, while Jamie Peacock reveals the perfect way to prepare for the London Marathon.
As Super League hits 21, Wasps express interest in its expansion policy while Leeds say failing clubs should give others a chance. Plus, Marwan Koukash on salary caps and Salford Red Devil's success.
Brian Noble and Dave Woods discuss Tony Smith's job at Warrington, whether Wakefield will sell their franchise and if amateur clubs should have the chance to reach Super League
Dave Woods talks to Daryl Powell about creating Utopia in Castleford and to Leeds Rhinos forward Jamie Jones Buchanan about 'that letter' and how to get through the tough times.
Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce talks about his passion for rugby league and how football can learn from it, John Kear discusses under pressure coaches and Super League General Manager Mark Foster gives his thoughts on clubs moving cities.
Dave Woods climbs aboard HMS Bulwark where this week's Challenge Cup draw took place and is joined by Paul Sculthorpe and Brian Noble to discuss the England camp and their blueprint for World Cup success and the incredible impact Toronto Wolfpack have made so far in the sport.
George Riley is joined by Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Brian Noble to discuss the Four Nations, including the controversy surrounding England coach Wayne Bennett.
A look back at the 4 Challenge Cup QF ties with reaction from Michael Carter, Chris Chester, Shaun Wane, Tony Smith & Lee Radford whose sides all progressed to the semi-finals.
Dave Woods presents reaction to Warrington Wolves' Super League victory over Wigan Warriors.
Reaction and insight from the World Club Series with George Riley and Lestyn Harris. Hear from Paul Green, Shaun Wane, Jon Wilkin and England RFL Chairman Nigel Wood on new England coach Wayne Bennett.