Kiwi Steve joins us for our 2026 NRL Season Preview!

00:00 We have a crack at (sort of) new game.

17:43 We preview the 2026 NRL season!

53:51 Lachie takes us through his SportshedTV Charity Match from the weekend.

01:01:45 Steve provides some context from the Winter Olympics.

01:05:03 We go through the upcoming Matildas fixtures in the Asian Cup.

01:08:24 We take a look at the Gazelle Gazette and ask our trivia question of the week.

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@playingandsimple

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 Lachie brings a new Winter Olympics themed game to the pod.

11:00 We talk all things NRL, particularly the new Origin eligibility rule.

26:12 We congratulate Brazil and Australia on a history making Winter Olympics.

34:09 We reflect on the very fun looking weekend at LIV Golf in Adelaide.

37:28 We ask where it all went wrong for Australia's T20 World Cup campaign.

42:29 We talk Six Nations rugby and provide a HUGE Raeburn Shield update.

44:59 Lachie gears up for his Sportshed TV Charity Match this Sunday.

50:08 We wrap the poddy and tease some trivia in this week's Gazelle Gazette.

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@playingandsimple

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PODCAST RECORD BEFORE THIS WEEKEND'S NRL TRIAL MATCHES.

Simply the Guest this week is Wests Tigers #1 fan, Matty G. Matty is a podcaster (Speak Free with Matty G) and content creator, and he talks to us about how his love for the Tigers has shaped his content and online presence.

Follow Matty G:

https://www.instagram.com/speakfreepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/thisismattyg/

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@playingandsimple

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 For the first time ever, we go head to head in Sparts.

09:46 We get stuck into the massive Payne Haas news in the NRL.

29:59 Harvey names his transfer team of 2026.

35:04 We each provide our favourite Winter Olympic moments so far.

40:29 Lachie speculates on the viral Man Utd fan who could very possibly be getting a haircut.

43:40 We wrap up the poddy with some exciting news from the Raeburn Shield and the Gazelle Gazette.

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 We play Athlete Venn Diagram for the first time in 2026.

07:05 We farewell the Aus Open and deliver some wild stats from it.

14:25 We gear up for the Winter Olympics and Lachie names an athlete to watch.

20:54 We touch on some hot topics in the NRL.

30:40 We attempt to decipher what the new Retro Rugba Leeg jersey will look like.

33:51 Joel provides news of a Kiwi athlete breaking records.

36:51 We wrap things up with the latest from our weekly newsletter, The Gazelle Gazette.

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back for 2026!

00:00 We welcome the poddy back for 2026 and play Sparts with a new member of the team.

12:58 We give a full wrap of the Ashes.

22:09 We talk Aus Open tennis and give some interesting stats.

29:48 We talk contract dramas in the NRL off season.

39:15 For the first time on the podcast we talk the sport of Free Solo.

44:50 Lachie talks about his upcoming Sportshed TV Charity Match.

48:44 Harvey reveals two new shields and we present our latest Gazelle his cap.

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our 2025 finale! We are joined by the podcast's two greatest friends Kiwi Steve (Gazelle #4) and Charlie White (Gazelle #7). We name our favourite moments from 2025, our favourite players to watch, as well as what we're most looking forward to in 2026.

Follow Charlie:

https://www.instagram.com/charliewhite___/

https://www.instagram.com/thebyeround/

https://www.instagram.com/triplem_nrl/

Follow Steve:

https://www.instagram.com/swtgallagher/

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simply the Guest this week is former chair of the Wests Tigers & Netball Australia, and Lachie's mother, Marina Go! Marina talks about how she started working in sport, the good times and challenges as the chair of a joint venture, and whether she would ever consider returning to sport...

Follow Marina:

https://www.instagram.com/marinasgo/

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 Sparts returns.

06:46 Lachie heaps praise on Harvey, the brand new Toukley Tournament champion!

14:52 We talk all things Ashes Cricket as Australia goes 2-0 up.

23:52 Harvey gives us the full wrap of the F1 final race in Abu Dhabi.

30:18 Lachie works through his feelings on the situation at the Wests Tigers.

40:47 We praise the Bulldogs for their decision to include names on jerseys in Las Vegas.

43:01 We are in World Cup times! We go through the groups for the FIFA & Rugby World Cups.

52:28 We preview the possible matchups for the WBBL Final this weekend.

55:03 We tease our next Simply the Guest episode and thank today's in-studio guest.

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 Lachie cancels our opening game for much more pressing matters.

15:00 We talk R360's postponement and touch on other NRL hot topics.

24:53 We gear up for Ashes Test 2 and pray we see cricket on Day 3.

30:02 Lachie takes a look at the possible World Cup draw scenarios for the Socceroos.

36:29 Harvey takes us through the very exciting final race in the F1 season this weekend.

45:05 We get hyped for the 9th Annual Toukley Tournament, taking place this weekend.

50:25 We congratulate North Melbourne on retaining the Broadmeadows Shield (and winning the AFLW Premiership).

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/

WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.