Backstage with Cooper & Matty Johns

Backstage Best Of: NRL Stars

We're kicking off the first edition of Backstage Best Of with highlights from some of the biggest names in Rugby League! Relive the best moments with Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic, Campbell Graham, and Luke Brooks as we revisit their incredible interviews from this series.

Enjoy the top stories and insights from these NRL superstars throughout November and December. Don’t forget to check out the full episodes with each player—and we’ll be back with more in 2025!

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SXSW Live Show Special

Matty & Cooper sit down with Australian National Treasure, mathematician, and comedian Adam Spencer. The trio dives into an eclectic mix of topics, from NRL and AFL to the mysteries of asteroids and the role of mathematics in casinos. With his trademark wit, Adam demonstrates his incredible ability to break down complex ideas, making even the most intricate subjects accessible for everyone—including Cooper and Matty.

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In this episode, Cooper & Matty sit down with newly retired NRL legend Aaron Woods. They dive into all things Rugby League in 2024, with Woodsy reflecting on the best and worst coaches of his career and some of the high points along the way. Cooper reminisces about their time together at Manly, sharing some behind-the-scenes stories, and they explore ways to continue growing the game.

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0:00 Intro

4:40 Retirement

10:00 Vegas

14:10 Jordan Mailata

15:45 Growing Up

21:10 Tigers

25:00 Debut

31:45 Tigers Drama

35:00 Big 4 Drama

42:30 Bulldogs

45:40 NSW

52:20 Laurie Daley

55:00 NSW Try Celebration

56:00 Australia

59:00 Bulldogs

1:00:30 Worst Coach

1:07:30 Best Coach

1:15:00 Beyond Footy

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In this episode, Cooper & Matty sit down with Newcastle Knights Captain Kalyn Ponga for an in-depth look into his career and personality. Kalyn opens up about pivotal behind-the-scenes stories from his journey so far, reflects on standout moments, and shares insights on the challenges of balancing his unique personality with the demands of professional rugby league. The conversation also covers his thoughts on Seasons 2024 and 2025 and his aspirations for what's next.

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0:00-Intro

2:15-257 Collective

6:00-Off Season

9:15-Growing Up

16:30-Sport

26:00-Cowboys

34:00-Cowboys Exit

36:00-Knights

40:45-Kalyns Personality

43:00-Leadership

44:40-State of Origin

47:00-QLD Call

50:30-Headknocks

56:00-Routine

1:00:00-Online

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In this episode, Cooper and Matty sit down with Gold Coast Titans hooker and one of Cooper's great mates, Sam Verrills. They dive into Sam's journey to the NRL, sharing the highs and lows that shaped his career. Sam opens up about a personal family tragedy and how it influenced his path. The conversation also highlights the impact of Des Hasler at the Titans and the changes he's bringing to the club. Plus, Sam relives his incredible story leading up to the 2019 NRL Grand Final, where he made history by scoring against the Raiders.

Please note that this episode contains discussions of sensitive topics, including trauma & mental health.

Listener discretion is advised.

If your battling your own personal mental health challenges, please Visit:

www.lifeline.org.au

www.gotcha4life.org

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0:00-Intro

2:00-Adele

4:00-Manly Juniors

6:15-Sam's Father

8:40-Avalon & Joey

12:30-Passing of Brother Jack

21:00-Roosters

29:00-Grand Final

30:30-Ollie Verrills

31:50-Grand Final Try

36:40-Leaving Chooks

39:50-Gold Coast Titans

45:40-Des Hasler

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This week, Cooper & Matty are joined by Denan Kemp from Bloke in a Bar. They discuss Denan's journey in building the Bloke brand, dive into all things rugby league, and compare coaching legends Wayne Bennett and Ivan Cleary. The trio also share their personal highs and lows from the season and cover much more throughout Denan's career off the field.

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0:00-Grumpy

6:00-Bloke

14:30-Rugby League

28:00-Iterations

35:00-Blokes Rise

38:00-The Bar

43:00-Sandor Earl

46:00-Business

49:00-Early Interviews

58:30-SEN Show

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In this episode, Cooper & Matty dive into the aftermath of the 2024 NRL Grand Final, breaking down each team's performance in the big game. They discuss the entertainment value of the event, analyze the dominance of the Penrith Panthers dynasty, and explore Jarome Luai's upcoming move to the Wests Tigers. The hosts also tackle the burning question on everyone's mind: "Is Nathan Cleary the greatest player of all time?" Tune in for in-depth analysis and lively debate as they wrap up the 2024 season.

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0:00-NRL GF

3:00-Harry Grant/Melbourne

6:00-The Kid Laroi

8:00-Grand Final Contest

23:00-3,2,1

25:30-Melbourne Post-Game

28:30-9 Penrith Players

35:10-Jarome to Tigers

38:00-Nathan Best Ever?

41:00-Top 4 2025

42:20-Australian Side

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First Edition of the Matty Johns Quiz - Grand Final Special

Join us for the inaugural edition of the Matty Johns Quiz, where Matty takes you through 50 challenging and entertaining questions all about rugby league grand finals. This quiz is designed for the true rugby league tragics, testing your knowledge of the biggest stage in the game. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just want to see how much you remember from past grand finals, this episode is a must-listen!

Matty's Scorecard

0-10 = GO BACK TO AFL

10-20 = THE FAKE FAN

20-30 = WATCH MORE FOX LEAGUE

30-40 = MORE THAN JUST A FAN

40-45 = PROFESSOR OF SPORT

45-49 = RUGBY LEAGUE SEVANT

50 = IMMORTAL

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0:00-Intro

1:56-Q's 1-5

6:03-Q's 6-10

10:10-Q's 11-15

14:43-Q's 16-20

19:03-Q's 21-25

23:10-Q's 26-30

25:50-Mid Quiz Break

29:30-Q's 31-35

34:09-Q's 36-40

39:23-Q's 41-45

45:01-Q's 46-50

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In this episode, Cooper and Matty dive into the big news of Michael Maguire’s arrival at Broncos HQ, analyzing what this means for the club moving forward. The duo also speculates on who will step up as the next Blues coach for the State of Origin series. As the NRL Grand Final approaches, they provide an in-depth preview of the highly anticipated clash, sharing insights and predictions. To wrap up, they reveal the winners of their backstage awards for the 2024 season, celebrating standout players and moments.

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0:00-Intro

2:00-Madge to Broncos

6:25-Matty to Blues?

12:45-Grand Final Preview

20:02-Husqvarna

21:12-Grand Final Preview

36:15-Backstage Awards 2024

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In this episode, Cooper and Matty dive into a massive week of NRL Finals action, starting with the shock resignation of Broncos head coach Kevin Walters. They discuss what led to his departure and speculate on potential candidates to take over the reins. The duo also examines the impact of Nelson Asofa-Solomona's looming 4-5 week suspension ahead of the Melbourne Storm's Grand Final clash against the Penrith Panthers, and what it means for the Storm's chances. Wrapping up, they break down the key matchups and offer their predictions for a blockbuster Grand Final showdown.

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0:00-The Weekend

1:45-Kevin Walters Resignation

10:00-Storm v Rooster

12:00-Nelson Asofa-Solomona

14:00-Storm Performance

23:40-Roosters Performance

26:20-Panthers v Sharks

34:45-Storm v Panthers Grand Final

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