The Rugby League Cemetery: Recent Episodes
The Rugby League Cemetery
In a desperate and leagueless world, we're filling the void by digging up dead football. The format is simple - watch old games, talk about them. Join us and tell us what you see. No detail is too small, no argument is too pointless.
As we unexpectedly hit 50 episodes, here's some bits and pieces from Cemetery history, featuring Paul Carige, Captain Charger, Blocker, the Nanny named Fran, and Origin Bolter Mark Tookey.
For us, the real joy of grand final week is all in the nervous waits, the races against the clock, the judiciary showdowns, the late fitness tests, and the defiance of doctor's orders, especially doctors affiliated with Manly. We've hit the hyperbaric chamber, explored our options and given ourselves every chance to bring you a very special Grand Final week Cemetery return.
What separates a journeyman from a battler or a Mr Fix-It? How good is too good to be a journeyman? And who is Johnathan Thurston's Barry Berrigan?
How do you spot an Origin bolter? What are the three major categories? And how would all our lives be different if Mark Tookey had got picked for Queensland?
Trademark moves, indiscretions, blunders and triumphs. There are plenty of different ways to be remembered in rugby league.
Leichhardt, packed on a Sunday afternoon with the Tigers' season on the line. Ellery Hanley on the prowl. The first recorded instance of 'Hold the phone Blocker!'. Brad Izzard re-arranging Benny Elias' torso. A runaway try scored by a public servant. Round 21 1988 was as good as it gets.
The 2008 World Cup Final was played in a magnificent vortex, where form, history, reputation, and all sense disappeared.
July 1996 saw the glorious return of Monday Night Football, featuring fireworks, 250 people playing Smoke on the Water, Darren Junee's miracle try, and Adrian Lam's stomach trouble. But would it be enough to out-rate The Nanny?
A reliable and dependable look at the concept of 'underrated' players in the NRL era, featuring safe wingers, defensive centres, scheming hookers, workhorse locks and Mr Fix-it utility men.
The Adelaide Rams gave us so much in their two year existence, from Chubby Checker in full kit, to Tony Iro literally running down the clock. In this episode, we celebrate it all.
The Phantom Siren is a hero of rugby league, but nobody has ever taken the time to tell the full story. Until now. Join us for a journey through more than two decades of Siren shenanigans, from the dizzy highs of bringing about half time 17 seconds early, to the desperate lows of NRL victimisation and repression.
Cronin, Price, Sterling, Kenny, Minogue, Donovan. Just some of the names who achieved glory on the 28th of September, 1986.
Two glorious, exciting sides met in the 2002 Preliminary Final, and neither of them were going to change their style for the occasion.
Wests probably shouldn't have been anywhere near the finals in 1996, and Andrew Willis wasn't anywhere near the posts when he tried a field goal with 45 seconds to go.
After 4 wooden spoons in 8 miserable years, the Magpies welcomed the Wok to Campbelltown with the club on the brink. He got straight to work.
In the first post-Super League Origin, NSW scored more tries, played the better football, and barely missed a tackle. So how did they lose?
Down 34-10 with 25 to go, the Dragons had to find something. Nathan Blacklock found it.
Australia dominated 80 minutes of the 1995 World Cup Semi Final. But somehow it went to 100.
For three minutes of the 1994 Preliminary Final, it looked like the Bears' luck was turning.
A very long celebration of Priddis, Gower, Sattler, Lang, and one of the absolute finest grand finals.
The baffling madness of the Hunter Mariners and the 1997 Super League World Club Challenge.
If you're not keen to talk about the Chargers and the Steelers, then this podcast probably isn't for you.
Rugby league in the snow, feat. the Supermacs and Lesley Vainikolo (and gratuitous Tom Jones).
After the confusion of 77, the League had a year to work out a new procedure for drawn grand finals. It didn't go well.
There might have been quicker wingers, more skilful wingers, and better finishers, but none had the mad destructive power of Taniela Tuiaki.
In front of a crammed SCG, St George and Parramatta battered eachother for 100 minutes, and all they decided was that they needed to do it again.
A look at the longest professional game in history, and the final of News Limited's rep football Frankenstein, the Super League tri-series.
The Bears had some bad days during the 90s, but they also had plenty of good ones, like the 1994 Minor Semi Final.
In 2008, Melbourne welcomed the Warriors as their ritual sacrifice in the dreaded 1st v 8th final. The Warriors weren't keen on that role.
In 1998 there were two reigning premiers. When they met in driving rain in Newcastle, people started queuing six hours before kickoff.
'Bring Out Your Dead' is a break from regular Cemetery programming, a (relatively) short soapbox about a particular player from the past. In the first instalment, we look at the magic of Tim Smith, and his historic rookie season of 2005.
In 1985, New Zealand marched into Lang Park to stand up for themselves. We celebrate a great New Zealand side, some of our favourite Polynesian players, and pore over the oddities of international rugby league.
We celebrate one of our favourite sides, some favourite players, and one of the great finals upsets.
In 1981, Newtown, on the charge after some grim years, met Manly, Kings of the 70s. Chaos followed.
The biggest crowd in rugby league history, the most famous coathanger in rugby league history, and the worst cartwheel in human history.
The magic and madness of the 1985 Challenge Cup final. Kenny and Sterling try to keep up with eachother, and everyone tries to keep up with Chicka.
Everyone remembers the 1997 Grand Final. But the Knights nearly didn't get there in the first place.
Pushing for a first grand final since 1922, the Bears experience a mix of incredible fortune and incredible misfortune.
The only tryless Origin, and the only Origin to feature five South Queensland Crushers.
Is it the best game ever played? Did Bill Harrigan stiff the Tigers? How did Mick Neil not score? And why hasn't Gaz watched it until now?