In this episode of Behind The Roar podcast we speak to NRL assistant coach Wayne "Chops" Lambkin, who is also the NSW Knock On Effect head coach for the Western Suburbs Magpies. We speak to Chops about his playing career and his transition into coaching.

This week’s guest on episode 17 of Behind The Roar is one of our premiership heroes from 2005 and Wests Tigers Player #68 Dene Halatau. After hanging up the boots at the end of the 2016 NRL season, he has forged a successful career at NRL HQ in varying roles, both in player wellbeing, and these days in the injury assessment space.

He has also adapted well to life in the media as a regular on ABC Radio's rugby league commentary team, but acknowledges that many footballers post retirement, aren’t so fortunate.He talks about how the transition from being a full time professional player to retirement can be brutal for some.

All that and much more on this episode of Behind The Roar.

On Episode 16 of Behind the Roar podcast, we speak to inaugural NRLW coach Brett Kimmorley.

On episode 15 of Behind The Roar we chat with English international John Bateman ahead of Friday’s match against Canberra Raiders. We cover plenty of ground over 40 minutes, as we get to know what makes this proud Englishman tick.

He tells us how much rugby league has helped him grow as a person, and how the greatest game of all helped put a ‘difficult young boy’ on the 'straight and narrow'. John also opens up about the sacrifices he’s made in moving to Australia, and leaving family behind in England.

All that and much more on this weeks episode of "Behind The Roar"

On episode 14 of Behind The Roar we chat with Luke Brooks, following a night to remember against the Cowboys last weekend. It’s an inciteful chat about his past, his present and his future. 

We cover plenty of topics including the team’s turnaround in form, his better understanding of how best to work with Api, his dreams as a kid watching his beloved Wests Tigers, what needs to be done to beat the Raiders next weekend, as well as his love of country music, cooking, and being a dad.

Hear about that and much more in this week’s edition of Behind The Roar.

On episode 13 of Behind The Roar we chat with Brent Naden leading into Wests Tigers Indigenous Round match against the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval.

Naden covers a range of topics, some serious, some not so.  He talks about fatherhood, about self-development, about his proud Indigenous heritage, and that of his teammates. 

Hear about that and much more in this week’s edition of Behind The Roar.

On episode 12 of Behind The Roar we talk to rugby league’s longest serving strength and conditioning coach, Ronnie Palmer.

A Balmain junior who would later play for the Tigers in the 70’s, Ronnie has seen it all, having given more than 50 years of service to the game.  That includes twenty-odd years with the Roosters, about 25 years with the NSW Origin team, and working with 23 different coaches in that time.

Ronnie talks about experiences spanning several decades, how the game has changed so much over that time, and how the modern-day rugby league professional is so well equipped to perform at his or her peak.

All that and more in this week’s episode of Behind The Roar.

On episode 11 of Behind The Roar we talk to Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau following the team’s first win of the season, against his former club.

Api talks about the team’s brilliant win over the Panthers in Bathurst, what the team learnt after suffering seven straight losses, why captaincy is so important to him, the influence his mother has had on him as a player and a person, his penchant for reading books, his desire to play in this year’s Origin series, and a whole lot more.

Api also talks about playing ‘the long game’, like they did in Bathurst, and how important it is for the team going forward. And about how he’s honed his craft around the ruck over many years. It’s about repetition. Repetition. Repetition.

All that and more in this week’s episode of Behind The Roar.

This week’s podcast has a focus on the women’s game and coincides with the launch of the 2023 NRLW fixtures. Joining us for episode 10 is Wests Tigers NRLW star, Botille Vette-Welsh.

The New Zealand born fullback is well placed to talk all things footy, having played five seasons at Wests Tigers in the NSWRL Women’s Premiership, NRLW with the Roosters, Dragons and Eels, State of Origin for NSW, as well as international representation for the Australian Jillaroos and Māori All Stars.

She talks openly about her battles through injury, about how an NRL star reached out through the dark times, about her path to Wests Tigers and about Wests Tigers pathways, and about a few of the players to watch out for in the club’s inaugural NRLW season.

All that and more in episode 10 of Behind The Roar.