Bats and Balls Podcast

Queensland is the centre of the Rugby League world with the announcement of the Dolphins as the 17th NRL club. And the Q Cup Grand Final decided in the final minutes. Plus the Panthers have leaned into their bad boys tag in the aftermath of their NRL Premiership.

Not much player movement in the AFL Trade Period. Most notable were the lack of late trades.

Soccer played out a big international weekend topped off with a home win for Japan over The Socceroos. EPL is back this weekend and we give our tips.

The big horse races continue this week. At Royal Randwick we've got the big sprint showdown in The Everest while Caulfield hosts the Caulfield Cup. We'll give our tips for those races. Stay tuned to our blog and socials for full selections on Saturday morning.

0:00:00 - NRL / QRL 0:42:00 - AFL Trade Period 0:49:00 - NFL 0:57:00 - Soccer Internationals and EPL 1:11:00 - Horse Racing 1:26:00 - F1 & Cricket

Part of the Always Up Network Twitter - @batsandballspod Brendan - @The Producer05 Josh - @PiesJosh Colbee - @colbee6ref Hammer - @notbatting11 Mendy - @BigMendy180 Maybo - @maybo83 Erik - @ErikNielsen2759 Always Up Network - @AlwaysUpNetwork Email - [email protected] facebook.com/batsandballspodcast http://batsandballspodcast.com/

The Producer put Pies on leave due to him being too pro Penrith and Erik Nielsen joins the show.

In the NRL GF the Panthers got the job done against the Rabbits but was Nathan Cleary really the best player on the field? The Producer can't work out why Referees get tagged at pedantic when players constantly break rules. Former West Tigers player Benji Marshall has retired and the Tigers have changed their logo and Erik gives his opinion.

Brighton keep on getting points in the EPL and sit 6th going into International Break. Liverpool and Man City had a draw and only 2pts separate the top 6 teams.

International Break means World Cup Qualifiers. Can Demark and Australia get one step closer to locking in their place in the World Cup?

In the NFL the Bucks got the win over the Patriots in the Tom Brady Cup. The Cardinals are on fire as the only undefeated team and destroyed the Rams. While the Giants got their first win of the season. Can they make a run to the playoffs?

The Bats and Balls Podcast team has started doing weekly Horse Racing Tips. Check out the website batsandballspodcast.com to see the teams tips each week. In the week just gone Pies and Colbee were on fire with the tips.

Erik talks about the IPL and the quality of Indian players we haven’t heard of yet. The guys then talk about the upcoming Ashes Series. Will it be as good as the Indian Test Series last year?

Lastly Erik talks about the MLB playoffs and makes his predictions on who will go all the way. Erik then tells the Padres what they have to do in order to go to the next level. Will they listen?

0:00:00 – NRL GF 0:43:00 – EPL / World Cup Qualifiers 1:01:00 – NFL 1:11:00 – Horse Racing, IPL / Ashes, MLB

Bats and Balls is part of the No Phony Podcast Network

Twitter - @batsandballspod

Brendan - @The Producer05

Josh - @PiesJosh

Colbee - @colbee6ref

Hammer - @notbatting11

Mendy - @BigMendy180

Maybo - @maybo83

Erik - @ErikNielsen2759

No Phony Network - @NoPhonyNetwork

Email - [email protected]

facebook.com/batsandballspodcast

http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Pies and The Producer joined via Zoom by Mendy.

We recap the NRL Prelims and pick our winner for the NRL Grand Final.

Melbourne broke their AFL Premiership drought with a second half thumping of Western Bulldogs. Christian Petracca won the Norm Smith medal with a stellar performance.

Tottenham played Arsenal back into form. While a Liverpool draw at Brentford was enough to top alone. There's a pack one point behind including Brighton!

The good teams are emerging in the NFL. LA Rams and Arizona Cardinals have set up a mouth watering clash this weekend. And Tom Brady goes back to Foxborough.

Mendy catches us up with all the darts competitions. Plus we have a look at a few other sports.

And there's a few horse racing tips also.

0:00:00 - NRL Grand Final 0:50:00 - AFL Grand Final 0:57:00 - EPL 1:05:00 - NFL 1:31:00 - Darts 1:44:00 - Futsal 1:45:00 - Surfing 1:45:00 - UFC 1:47:00 - Boxing 1:53:00 - Supercars 1:58:00 - Formula 1 2:04:00 - Horse Racing

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com Twitter - @batsandballspod Brendan - @The Producer05 Josh - @PiesJosh Colbee - @colbee6ref Hammer - @notbatting11 Mendy - @BigMendy180 Maybo - @maybo83 Erik - @ErikNielsen2759 No Phony Network - @NoPhonyNetwork Email - [email protected] facebook.com/batsandballspodcast http://batsandballspodcast.com/

After substandard performances Pies and The Producer keep getting selected for the big games. It's almost like they're mates with the people running the podcast.

In the NRL Manly were far too good for a depleted Sydney Roosters. While in the other game Penrith held on against a brave Parramatta.

In the AFL it all boils down to this. Apart from a shaky end to the season for the Dogs, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs have been the benchmark all season. In a season of turmoil, moving house at short notice, lockdowns, quarantines and footy, these two teams deserve to be there on that twilight evening in September... in Perth.

Tottenham haven't got a point since Pies refrained from cursing them with #PiesKnows. Even the whiff of contention is enough to turn Spurs to water.

F1 is back this week in Russia. While in cricket, former St Clair Hawk Hannah Darlington starred in her first ODI for Australia vs India. And Mitch Marsh has made another bid to be recalled to the Australian ODI mens team.

0:00:00 - NRL Finals 0:51:00 - AFL Grand Final 1:04:00 - EPL 1:19:00 - NFL 1:25:00 - Motorsport & Cricket

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com Twitter - @batsandballspod Brendan - @The Producer05 Josh - @PiesJosh Colbee - @colbee6ref Hammer - @notbatting11 Mendy - @BigMendy180 Maybo - @maybo83 Erik - @ErikNielsen2759 No Phony Network - @NoPhonyNetwork Email - [email protected] facebook.com/batsandballspodcast http://batsandballspodcast.com/

The Producer is on the man shakes and Pies ran a half marathon. We're pumped for another week of finals footy.

In the NRL all eyes were on the Panthers and Rabbitohs after a war of words between the coaches and it didn't disappoint. Wayne won the battle. Can Ivan get his troops back up to win the war? The Roosters got out of jail against the Titans and the Eels did enough to see another week.

It had been staring us in the face the whole time. Forget ladder positions. Melbourne and Western Bulldogs had been the best sides in the AFL for most of the year. That they won their Prelims was no surprise. But the manner in which they did it showed just how powerful both teams are. It'll be a fitting Grand Final in two weeks time.

Plus we rattle home with some EPL, NFL and Daniel Ricciardo's first win for McLaren. The Shoey is alive and well in the papaya.

0:00:00 - NRL Finals 0:59:00 - AFL Finals 1:08:00 - EPL 1:14:00 - NFL 1:22:00 - F1

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com Twitter - @batsandballspod Brendan - @The Producer05 Josh - @PiesJosh Colbee - @colbee6ref Hammer - @notbatting11 Mendy - @BigMendy180 Maybo - @maybo83 Erik - @ErikNielsen2759 No Phony Network - @NoPhonyNetwork Email - [email protected] facebook.com/batsandballspodcast http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Mendy joins Pies and The Producer this week.

The NRL season has finished for half the teams. Canterbury finished off a tough year with an inspired defeat of Wests Tigers. While the Corey Norman era is over at St George Illawarra. The Finals are finally upon us. Can anyone stop Melbourne? Are Penrith, Souths or Manly legitimate contenders? How remarkable is the Roosters finish given their injury toll?

In the AFL we're down to the Prelim Finals. Melbourne have been the standard all year. Can they make the big one? Is Port good enough to make it? In an unpredictable season anything is possible.

Tottenham sit atop the Premier League table. Harry Kane is staying. And Pies has decided not to curse them with #PiesKnows this year.

NFL kicks off today. Join our tipping comp at ESPN Tipping. Links on our socials pages.

Max Verstappen continued his winning ways in Formula 1. Then Mendy chips in with the rest of world sport. Surfing, boxing, darts and athletics are all on the agenda to finish off the show,

0:00:00 - NRL Finals 0:39:00 - AFL Finals 0:53:00 - Soccer 1:06:00 - NFL 1:19:00 - F1 1:21:00 - Surfing 1:24:00 - Boxing 1:28:00 - Darts 1:35:00 - Athletics Diamond League

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com Twitter - @batsandballspod Brendan - @The Producer05 Josh - @PiesJosh Colbee - @colbee6ref Hammer - @notbatting11 Mendy - @BigMendy180 Maybo - @maybo83 Erik - @ErikNielsen2759 No Phony Network - @NoPhonyNetwork Email - [email protected] facebook.com/batsandballspodcast http://batsandballspodcast.com/

While half the NRL rests for the Finals. We're pushing through to maintain our form for the big games.

Brendan and Josh are back to review all the big headlines from the NRL. Latrell's reckless hit on Joey Manu. The Eels turnaround in form. And the battle for 8th.

In the AFL Port Adelaide and Melbourne will "host" Prelim Finals, GWS held on for the slimmest of victories over Sydney and will play the disappointing Geelong without Toby Greene. And Western Bulldogs beat Essendon in the wet to book a date with Brisbane.

Cristiano Ronaldo is joining Manchester United after punking the Red Devils fans with early media reports he was signing with City. Harry Kane is still available even though Tottenham are winning and sit atop the Premier League table.

The most exciting motorsport news was seeing the Bats and Balls WRX go around in Gran Turismo SPORT. As the Belgian F1 Grand Prix ended in farce.

0:00:00 - NRL 1:06:00 - AFL Finals 1:30:00 - Soccer 1:38:00 - Motorsport

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com Twitter - @batsandballspod Brendan - @The Producer05 Josh - @PiesJosh Colbee - @colbee6ref Hammer - @notbatting11 Mendy - @BigMendy180 Maybo - @maybo83 Erik - @ErikNielsen2759 No Phony Network - @NoPhonyNetwork Email - [email protected] facebook.com/batsandballspodcast http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Brendan, Erik and Josh on the Zoom call this week.

First up is the NRL and The Producer has a few more bees in bonnet. Are the Wests Tigers heading in the right direction? And the Eels are obviously in the big 6 still, right?

Plus we have a look through the NRL Fan Poll and discuss the average NRL Fan and how average their thoughts are!

The AFL Finals are upon us. Melbourne look primed to win the flag. But it looks a very open Finals. Will there be an upset in the first week? There could be four of them.

And the English Premier League has given us some fun results. Including Brighton Hove Albion being in a Champions League spot. Stop the competition!

0:00:00 - NRL 1:43:00 - AFL Finals 2:05:00 - Soccer

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com Twitter - @batsandballspod Brendan - @The Producer05 Josh - @PiesJosh Colbee - @colbee6ref Hammer - @notbatting11 Mendy - @BigMendy180 Maybo - @maybo83 Erik - @ErikNielsen2759 No Phony Network - @NoPhonyNetwork Email - [email protected] facebook.com/batsandballspodcast http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Pies and The Producer back on the airwaves brought to you by the wonders of the NBN. After a couple of weeks of watching only the Olympics we're back watching regular sport again.

In the NRL Brendan found some interesting rule interpretations and application of the laws of the game. While Josh was puzzled by how little Newcastle use Kalyn Ponga.

The AFL have a dream fixture with the Top 4 sides playing off for the Minor Premiership and jockeying for positions. The rest of the Top 8 is not locked in with GWS and Essendon needing to win to maintain their spots. The Giants will have to spoil the Eddie Betts farewell match. While the Bombers face the might of Collingwood. West Coast and Fremantle are waiting to pounce if either slips up.

Supercars have rejigged their season and released the last rounds. Bathurst has been pushed back to November with a Summer Gold Coast 500 if you can get into Queensland!

The English Premier League kicked off this weekend. Most of the big clubs started with wins. Manchester United and Chelsea looked really good. Liverpool are a lot stronger with actual centre backs available for selection. And Tottenham have massive Ewing Theory potential if Harry Kane does ship out for the reported 150 million price tag. Meanwhile Man City stumbled at the first hurdle. But it's early days.

Finally we whip around the grounds for other sports. MLB had their first ever Field of Dreams game and it was spectacular. The NBA Summer League has unearthed a few fun rookies. NFL is into preseason and kicks off in 3 weeks. And India took a 1-0 lead over England in the test series.

0:00:00 - NRL 1:08:00 - AFL 1:29:00 - Motorsport 1:34:00 - EPL 1:47:00 - Other Sport, MLB, NBA, NFL, Cricket

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com Twitter - @batsandballspod Brendan - @The Producer05 Josh - @PiesJosh Colbee - @colbee6ref Hammer - @notbatting11 Mendy - @BigMendy180 Maybo - @maybo83 Erik - @ErikNielsen2759 No Phony Network - @NoPhonyNetwork Email - [email protected] facebook.com/batsandballspodcast http://batsandballspodcast.com/

In the middle of a global pandemic it's amazing that the Tokyo 2020 organising committee could get a games going at all. That they could bring the athletes of the world to Japan and get them to compete with no socialising, in front of no crowds, at such a high level is nothing short of a miracle.

Australia equalled its best gold medal count with 17. Thanks largely to the women's swim team. While aquatic sports in general won 15 of the 17 gold for Australia. Aussies tore up the track and field events with three medals. And the Boomers won their first ever medal after so many heartbreaking moments over the years.

Penrith's own Jess Fox won a gold and a bronze in the whitewater canoeing and Penrith born Melissa Wu won a bronze in diving which is almost as good as gold given the two Chinese divers were out of this world.

Internationally there were some amazing performances. Karsten Warholm burning up the 400m hurdles track sits atop the mountain. But Eliud Kipchoge going back to back in the marathon, Katie Ledecky winning the distance double, Marcell Jacobs winning the first 100m track title for Italy and the 4-way battle for the men's 1500m freestyle were all great moments.

All the hurdles, the Covid tests, the masks, the awarding teammates medals, the friendly TV time zone, and the world class performances made Tokyo 2020 one of the most satisfying Olympics in memory.

0:00:00 - Introduction 0:07:30 - Swimming 0:24:00 - Athletics 0:43:50 - Cycling 0:58:40 - Kayak & Canoe 1:07:00 - Basketball 1:16:00 - Football 1:19:00 - Other Sports 1:26:00 - Favourite Moments

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com Twitter - @batsandballspod Brendan - @The Producer05 Josh - @PiesJosh Colbee - @colbee6ref Hammer - @notbatting11 Mendy - @BigMendy180 Maybo - @maybo83 Erik - @ErikNielsen2759 No Phony Network - @NoPhonyNetwork Email - [email protected] facebook.com/batsandballspodcast http://batsandballspodcast.com/