The Grapple

After a period of inactivity (a week off) our heroes feel a disturbance in the force…. An awakening….a ripple in the fabric of reality…. Back to back Wallabies wins. This so called anomaly has ignited a battle many a League journo thought to  be dormant if not extinct- The Code War.In a time of year when only the darkest off-season scandal gets the cockroaches scurrying to the typewriters, it’s the performance of the so called lesser code that has our best bards penning immaculate tributes to the likes Wright, Wilson and Valentini.

Social media awash with claims of “it’s all because of us” and “anything they do, we do better”. Our heroes call for calm and discretion using a reference that is omnipresent in its powers unity - The Three Amigos. 

Equal in their rants and mood altering film references, both charges weigh on where Dozer will move dirt and Pappi’s decision to stay in Mexico. 

The Summer Series is your only place for impartial (cough) discussion on all sports and the story’s you love. Get busy Grappling or get busy dying y’all 

The grapplers are wearing shorts and it’s f**king not even summer, but let’s put away complaints about this darn weather and focus on the arrival of the Grapplers Summer Series.

Ben Hunt is on the hunt, AJ Brimson is being hunted, and the hunt for some sort of actual detailed information from new Broncos Michael Maguire continues.

Tonga are the toast of the rugby league world but can they out-hop the Kangaroos? Does Josh Addo-Carr’s new labouring gig have a bit of a whiff of a politician on the election trail? And on that note, how about some clueless insights from two non Americans on the progress of the US Election and its absolute irrelevance to the world of sport?

Also on the grill plate: the wallabies MUST play Suali’i, the English have mastered the art of losing the unloseable, and Australian cricket finds itself grappling with a fatiguing format and more selection confusion than the diabetic in the candy store. Also, it’s summer, so why not a few random references to 90’s films, the early career trajectory of Chris Pine, and a ponderance of whether many athletes get bigger paycheques at a new club after being sacked by the old one.

Also- Barkley NFL. Google it. And you’re welcome.

The grapple is a movement, it’s making sport podcasting great again, and it will take out both the popular vote and the electoral college without the felonies. Dig it.

Our heroes are in the lab with those sharp and pointy scientific tools, dissecting a post season that has included a distinct shortage of drama.

The above mentioned dramas have been reserved for the off field domain, and it’s the Brisbane Broncos again in the shiny lights. Ezra goes off the grid in a bid to save his career, as the scribes of OUR FAVOURITE outlets get up on the apple box and pontificate about the clubs best direction forward. Has anyone asked if he’s ok? Has anyone reported widely on the other victims of the accident? Or is it just another chance to orchestrate a ‘whats wrong with Brisbane narrative.’ And another thing about the Bronc-

Ok Joel thats enough about the Broncos.. Im taking over-

No John, Im not finish-

Give me that god dam keyboard-

I HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THE BRONCOS!

F**k me. Can you just have a rant in the show, for a change?

Yes that’s acceptable.

OK. Moving on.

A decimated Comm games- how much do sports actually care?

Do we parachute  Suali’i into Wallaby gold? Yes we do.

Is New Zealand’s weekend of sporting glory worth a toast. Sure.

And have the Commonwealth Games created a blueprint for the future?

Shit yeah they have.

It’s the Grapple off season.. And it’s… ALLLIVVVVE.

International rugby league kicks into gear, as rugby league fans everywhere gasp for air at the end of a seemingly interminable season. Oh wait, it’s not the end… because there’s still internationals to play. And it’s a shame there’s a bit of fatigue around, because the International matchups are juicier than an early 00’s Mad Monday. Can the Kangaroos overcome the ‘second tier’ and reclaim their dignity as the pre-eminent league playing nation? And all rise.. captain Yeoh is on the bridge!

Meantime.. Australia’s government snuggles ever tighter to its PNG pillow, as the NRL’s transfer market heats up with a King, a Cobbo, a Dozer and a Stagg all potentially looking a place to rest their weary head.

Premier League is in full swing Liverpool seem to doing just fine in a Post- A-Klopp-olis world, but poor old Man U look like losing another gaffer to the poison chalice, Buzz saw, Angel of Death that is the Managers position at that once proud club.

NFL, Baseball, basketball, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun….. this is actually a “sports” show… if you haven't already realised…..a remember - “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with a Grapple”

As well as being a highly effective run play in American Football, a delay can also mean time lapsing between two people discussing issues on a podcast using a digital platform.

This, amongst many other obstacles and barriers, is what our heroes had to contend with in the Grand Final/Offseason Kick off episode.

All the Grand Final stories are disclosed, discussed and  dissected  and - The Howarth no try, The Yeo no Medal, The NAS no show, The Luai no stay, The Kid Laroi no smoke......and The Hard Running GA brings the press in behind closed doors for a mid match video session.

Then to national teams and Lindsay Smith............. cough cough.........and Mal's Merritt Team.

The Wallabies Spring tour, the NFL is upon us... and the summer of cricket approaches.

 Still plenty of sport to come and still and plenty of issues for our two delusional clowns to Grapple with.

Like It, Share It, Subscribe to it....and as George Herman Ruth said.. 'Never let the fear of striking out keep you from Grappling' 

This week our two heroes are squarely sandwiched between the AFL and NRL Grand Finals. 

On one hand it's all celebrations and leaping on Lions wagons that carry bands, and on the other it's the steely focus on the absolute Clash of Rugby League Titans. (not of the Gold Coast variety) 

1-13 who gets over who on Sunday?

Early late mail on who gets Herbert Henry's award? 

Unable to play in the GF and until after a full lunar cycle in the new season..Does NAS go back to Brooklyn?

Will Rudolph be red nosed in Vegas?

More Bandwagoning on Fagan and the Pride

North Sydney's week from hell as North Brisbane look to enter the promised land 

Madge calls QLD home  and how much did Connery forgo when knocked back the role of Gandalf?

It's a great day for sport and a great day for Australia. It's all happening, the tension, the drama, the buzz, the atmosphere, the buffoonery. 

Its a sports podcast baby, we welcome all comers. 

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, hate cannot drive out hate... only Grappling can do that 

Did King Arthur and his knights of the round table sweep into Camelot riding a mob of noble Kangaroos? The answer is no, at least if Kalyn Ponga was one of those Knights. Our heroes dissect the decision to say ‘no’ to Straya, whether it’s sensical, and whether punishment is indeed warranted.

They then shake off the cobwebs with a spirited correction session, admitting to being human by unpacking a couple of ‘minor’ errors committed in the previous episode.

All the nonsense aside, it’s the rare opportunity of an ‘Equinoctial Convergence,’ or ‘Sporting Equinox,’ as multiple codes come together for a super Saturday of sporting utopia.

In a nutshell:

Up the Lions.

Carn the Wallabies.

And Lord have mercy on the Roosters and Sharks.

The spirit of the game is discussed, and exemplified by the deeds of the All Blacks in recognising the feats of 140 cap Wallaby James Slipper. Australia’s return to England, and the origins of the ‘DLS method’ are analysed, and the belief of Brisbane’s AFL team is forensically sussed out- will it be enough?

Finally, the end of the road. We talk retirements in all their different forms, and highlight the poignant words of Demons star Angus Brayshaw at the Brownlow medal, and the emotional cockpit lingering of Daniel Ricciardo. The end comes in many forms, but it doesn’t make it any less the end.

In the words of some smart motherf**ker:

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin Grappling”

This week our star duo are made whole again as Joel returns from the Heart of Darkness- "At first, I thought they handed me the wrong dossier."Conspicuous by his absence is any conversation this week is the Hard Running Graeme Annersley. Are our heroes :"Graeme'd Out"? Are we suffering from the dreaded "Graeme Fatigue"? Or is it like beating yourself in the head with a needle hammer? Only time will tell.Finals predictions abound as teams fight for their survival but is the comp a two horse race?Cleary's shot a serious piece of history, the stare Nicho needs to give the Shire a chance, has PVL chewed too much BeetleNut or is the PNG deal idea "good for the game'? Battle of the felines in the AFL  as Queensland echo's Princess Leia's finals words to R2.... "Help me Lions and Cowboys, you're my only hope" All will be revealed in a bum tickling weekend of sport, but before you dive in to the kick off or the opening bounce, Grapple with this pair of fools.Like Share Subscribe. The road to Grappling  and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.

With milestones in the rear view for the time being, our hero duo have been cleaved asunder again. The rock upon which the Grapple was built, Mr Spreadborough, has earned some R&R before a balls to wall tilt towards the Grand Final.

In his stead, Mr Manning required a man for all seasons, an experienced sports head, a calm head, a bald head .. so the choice was simple- Mr Worldwide. Cowboys and Eels former great Shane Muspratt takes reins on Joley’s side of the desk to carry Johnny through week 1 of the finals.

And carry the weight he did! 

Our charges cover all things from the upcoming finals games, to the NFL, Socceroos, the Lions 2 quarter cricket score against Carlton and a couple of cheeky multi’s the fellas have their fingers crossed for.

Tribute is paid as our Paralympians return to Oz, and chats of beers of bygone eras…(Saturday)

The obstruction rule is called into question, as is the hunky Bunkers interpretation of said rule. 

Uncle Wayne departs the Peninsula in search of greener (and redder) pastures at Redfern.

And the guys go deep on the 4 NRL games facing us fans in Finals weeks 1.

Tips, bets, predictions, permutations, sensations, home comings and short comings.

All that and much much more….and remember – Life’s not about the amount of breaths you take, it’s about the amount of times you Grapple.  

With milestones in the rear view for the time being, our hero duo have been cleaved asunder again. The rock upon which the Grapple was built, Mr Spreadborough, has earned some R&R before a balls to wall tilt towards the Grand Final.

In his stead, Mr Manning required a man for all seasons, an experienced sports head, a calm head, a bald head .. so the choice was simple- Mr Worldwide. Cowboys and Eels former great Shane Muspratt takes reins on Joley’s side of the desk to carry Johnny through week 1 of the finals.

And carry the weight he did! 

Our charges cover all things from the upcoming finals games, to the NFL, Socceroos, the Lions 2 quarter cricket score against Carlton and a couple of cheeky multi’s the fellas have their fingers crossed for.

Tribute is paid as our Paralympians return to Oz, and chats of beers of bygone eras…(Saturday)

The obstruction rule is called into question, as is the hunky Bunkers interpretation of said rule. 

Uncle Wayne departs the Peninsula in search of greener (and redder) pastures at Redfern.

And the guys go deep on the 4 NRL games facing us fans in Finals weeks 1.

Tips, bets, predictions, permutations, sensations, home comings and short comings.

All that and much much more….and remember – Life’s not about the amount of breaths you take, it’s about the amount of times you Grapple.