This is a very special 100th edition of the MugPunters.com.au podcast for Thursday 3rd May 2018 and in our breaking news headlines this week:

- Former two time VFL premiership player, one time AFL premiership player and two time AFL premiership coach Mark “Bomber” Thompson is in a massive deep pile of hot, steamy, stinky, sloppy poo this week after appearing in court Tuesday, faced with seven charges. Charges include trafficking ice and ecstasy and possession of LSD and ecstasy, following police raids on his Port Melbourne home in January. It should come as no surprise to fans though as Thompson did appear on Fox Footy back in 2009 stating “I might retire, and go and do something else like, sell frozen water or something”. Well played Mark you cagey old bugger. You even told us in 2009 you intended on selling ice.

- Waratahs club captain Nick Phipps (that’s rugby union for the uninitiated), is also in a touch of strife this week after his bucks night last weekend got a touch out of hand. Phipps has been given a slap on the wrists and a $4000 fine, but will be allowed to play this weekend following the incident, so it probably couldn’t have been that bad, right? Well, let Todd Carney be the judge folks as young Toddy was caught on a mobile phone in the privacy of the mens toilet simply trying to hydrate and he was basically banished from the country and his entire career went down the tubes. Meanwhile Phippsy was told he was simply a “naughty boy” after urinating on a bar in front of the general public at the Woollahra Hotel whilst dressed as a cow following a day of golf, boat cruises and heavy drinking. You tell me boys, does the punishment fit the crime? At least the incident has answered one question though and we wish Phipps all the best in his continued roll as the Channel 7 cash cow.

- And in a move more confusing than the first time I saw porn, the state of origin between New South Wales and Queensland will now be sponsored by Victoria Bitter with games in the coming years to be played in South Australia and Western Australia. Understandably, Queensland fans are fuming over the state dropping long time sponsors XXXX, as they now struggle with trying to have to spell Victoria Bitter rather than XXXX on promotional material.

PLUS, on this weeks' show, we've got:

- NRL

- F1

- Racing

- Winx Watch

- Soccer

- NBA

- Tennis

And possibly more I can't remember right now.

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers

Pete

NBA Futures

Golden State Warriors to win the NBA title

$1.90

Bartz

A-League GF

Jets to win @ $2.40

& Jets 2-0 @ $13

Mills

Racing futures

Redzel to win Doomben 10,000

@ $2.20

This is the MugPunters.com.au podcast for Thursday 26th April 2018 and in our breaking news headlines this week:

- In the NRL and games have been marred in recent weeks with a string of controversial decisions from the bunker in video reviews, with real head scratchers coming in the Melbourne Storm victory over the Brisbane Broncos and the Dragons ANZAC day win over the Sydney Roosters. Referees boss Bernard Sutton has laughed off suggestions that Nene Macdonald simply dropped the ball whilst attempting to score a try to in effect shut down the Dragons win against the Roosters. He’s suggested the bunker was simply following a sponsors directive from KFC and wanted to deliver a Zinger of their own for the fans. He further added on the Slater dropped ball drop kick try decision, that everyone wants to see Brisbane get beaten, so wondered what all the fuss was about though conceded that smoking marijuana to help relax video referees was probably a bad idea and that it may be reviewed in the coming weeks.

- The Jamaican netball team has been shocked following New Zealand’s netball governing body decision not to let them take home a trophy they won in a pre commonwealth games tournament. When asked about the matter, NZ netball operations manager Kate Agnew suggested the Taini Jamison Trophy was a perpetual onshore trophy and had never been won previously by a visiting team. Given New Zealand always whinges about punching above their weight at international sport with a country of 4.5 million, the Jamaicans have suggested they keep the trophy, as their cabinets are already choc full anyway with a variety of gold and silverware and after all, they have 60% of the population of NZ so what would they know.

- Back to the NRL and Manly are in all sorts of hot steamy turds after a lackluster start to the season and now revelations that six players have been fined for breaking curfew at a strip club following the sides round five clash with the Titans in Gladstone. You know the side is in trouble when protocol suggests they should stand down the players, though discover they’ve just receive fines instead, aren’t named to the public and are allowed to take the field this weekend. Coach Trent Barrett has suggested it was all just a misunderstanding though as he said that watching Manly was like watching a show with a pack of dildos running around, whilst the players thought he said they should run around to go and watch a dildo show. Given the players were forced to endure a strip club in Gladstone already as punishment, Barrett said fines of $1500 which matched the costs of lap dances at the club was sufficient for the players at this stage.

PLUS, we've got tips for:

- F1

- Racing

- A-League

- NHL

- NRL

- AFL

And even comments on the Crabs!

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers

Pete

NHL

Winnipeg at $2.10 to defeat Nashville in their upcoming playoff series

Bartz

A League - semi finals

Newcastle Jets $2.60

to defeat Melbourne City

Mills

Racing

Ascot Saturday R6

#1 Valour Road

This is the MugPunters.com.au podcast for Thursday 19th April 2017 and in our breaking news headlines this week:

- Australian Rugby League chairman Peter Beattie has once again hit the headlines this week, mistaking a child wearing a Barcelona jersey as a Knights supporter. Here at Mug Punters, we think the backlash is unwarranted as surely anyone can make such a simple error. And to my wife who is a huge fan of the show, I swear I thought that shop down the side alley in Cronulla was a physiotherapist. See… we all make mistakes

- Johanna Griggs and Basil Zempilas have unleashed the fury following the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony where viewers were left as unsatisfied as a hungry elephant given only a snickers bar to eat. Clearly smoke could be seen coming from Griggs’ ears as channel 7 insiders said they hadn’t seen her that angry since they ran out of pulled pork sliders at the House Rules after party buffet in 2015. Ratings numbers suggested by the time the closing ceremony was finished, only a handful of viewers remained, though channel 7 executives remained upbeat, pointing out that was double their estimates of Australians who actually cared about the Commonwealth Games anyway

- And Kerry Packer is rolling over his grave with the news Channel 7 is set to become the major broadcaster of the cricket starting next summer. Along with the announcement also came speculation over who channel 7 would choose to anchor the broadcasts with early markets showing Bruce Mcavaney at $5, Mel McLaughlin good value at $9 and we definitely pray it’s not Kochie at $31. Given channel 7 CEO Tim Worner (no relation to David) has suggested the first objective is to find someone who will be as charismatic and popular as Mark Nicholas with channel 9, speculation quickly installed a new even money favourite for the job and we wish the Cash Cow all the best in his new role

PLUS we've got

- A full round of NRL tips (sort of)

- Winx Watch

- Group one racing

- A-League

- AFL

- And plenty more where that came from!

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers

Pete

AFL Multi

GWS to beat St Kilda

$1.27

West Coast to beat Carlton

West Coast in the best form in the AFL after their loss in round 1

$1.22

Geelong (+22.5 start) to beat Port Adelaide

$1.50

$2.30 total

Bartz

A-League Soccer

Melbourne City & Melbourne Victory double @ $3.10

Mills

Racing

Ascot Saturday R8

#2 Action

This is the MugPunters.com.au podcast for Thursday 12th April 2018 and in our breaking news headlines this week:

- Eight Cameroon athletes have gone missing from the athletes village at the Commonwealth Games with officials dumbfounded as to what could possibly be going on. Given dozens of athletes and officials from Cameroon overstayed their visas or applied for asylum following the Melbourne 2006 Com Games and Sydney 2000 Olympics, I’d say this was more like the surprise you get when opening a bottle of coke after shaking it rigorously rather than the surprise you get when you win on an instant scratchie

- In the NRL and heavy shots have been fired between coaches with Wayne Bennett suggesting that Newcastle coach Nathan Brown unbuilt all his hard work before rebuilding the club. Here at Mug Punters, we were shocked to hear Brown respond with comments that Bennett had slept with a Knights staff member during his tenure. I mean, seriously… Wayne Bennett got laid in Newcastle? Brownie should be celebrating the fact there is hope for us all when a 70 year old with the personality of a used truck tyre and is hardly ever acknowledged as the best looking bloke in the room, gets use for his little todger

- And to the AFL where Essendon defender Conor McKenna will miss three matches after a bizarre incident where he was seen biting the neck of Western Bulldogs forward Tory Dickson during the sides’ clash on Sunday. Not even character witnesses Robert Pattinson, Wesley Snipes or Count Dracula himself seemed to help McKenna’s cause and the Irish speedster was last seen heading back to his cave to hang upside down

PLUS, we've got tips for all the big Group One racing in Sydney, Winx Watch, NRL tips galore and even a little Commonwealth Games and Surfing thrown in for good measure!

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers

Pete

Commonwealth Games

Women’s Rugby 7’s

Australia

$1.7

Multi into

Racing

Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Winx

$1.17

Total of around even money

Bartz

Multi: Margaret River Pro Surfing

Heat 4 winner John Jhhn Florence @ $1.60

into Comm games

800m athletics

Nijel Amos @ $1.30.

Mills

Racing

Randwick Saturday

R5

#1 Viridine

This is the MugPunters.com.au podcast for Friday 6th April 2018 and in our breaking news headlines this week:

- Bancroft, Smith and Warner handed 12 month bans for their parts in the South African ball tampering scandal whilst George Pell just tampers with balls

- The Commonwealth Games have kicked off on the Gold Coast with Prince Charles back in town for the first time since he joined mates as a toolie in 2012

- And Masters hopeful Tony Finau has dislocated his ankle on the eve of the biggest tournament of his life following a celebration gone wrong after hitting a hole in one during the par 3 tournament. What a dick head.

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers

Pete

Cycling

Parix Roubaix

Greg Van Avermaet

$6

Bartz

Masters Golf

Brendan Grace

Top 5 finish @ $17

Mills

Racing

Randwick Saturday R9

#9 Kementari

This is episode 95 the MugPunters.com.au podcast for Thursday 29th March 2018 and in our breaking news headlines this week:

F you Cameron Bancroft. F you Steve Smith. F you leadership team. F you Australian cricket

Last Sunday was like finding out Santa, the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy aren’t real all in one go and here at Mug Punters, we want answers

So this week, we’re joined by a very special panel of experts to discuss ethics in sport:

- Marion Jones

- Lance Armstrong

- Horse racing connections of such champions as Fine Cotton

- Members of the Chinese women’s swim team from the 1990’s

- The entire board of FIFA

- Unfortunately Hansie Cronje couldn’t join us as he’s currently dead

- The “Days of Our Lives” saga that is Nick Krygios continued this week after he took a potshot at Fernando Verdasco on twitter during Verdasco’s match with fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis, claiming he hoped the Aussie won and that Verdasco must be frustrated with his record against Aussies. Following the match Krygios deleted the tweet which prompted Verdasco to respond, "when you have the courage to put a tweet insulting another player you need to have the same to don’t delete it." and then blocked the Aussie, before Krygios hit back with another tweet saying, “Thanks for blocking me, I'm sure that took a lot of courage”, to which Verdasco replied “I know you are, but what am I” before Krygios responded with “takes one to know one”. Punters now keenly await Verdasco’s social media response referencing Krygios’s mum and their previous relations.

- The F1 is again under fire this year after just one race with managing director for motorsports Ross Brawn agreeing that the contest lacked any overtaking. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was even more outspoken as he suggested of the contest, that it was, “Completely worthless. I would have turned off the TV”. However despite less overtaking than you’d see on the old Pacific Highway on the Easter long weekend, F1 continued to pull in the fans and even race ace Lewis Hamilton said he was happy to see himself get beaten as even he is aware what a tool belt he is.

PLUS, we crap on about:

- More cricket dribble

- AFL

- NRL

- Winx

- Group One Racing

- The NRL "improved" website

- Commonwealth Games (not really)

and plenty more!

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers

Pete

Cycling

Tour of Flanders

Peter Sagan - winner

$3.25

Bartz

Multi:

NRL - Cowboys and Broncos

Cricket - South Africa

@ $2.25

Mills

Ascot Friday Racing

R6 #4 Driftstar

all-up R7 #2 Assetro

This is the MugPunters.com.au podcast for Thursday 22nd March 2018 and in our breaking news headlines this week:

- The F1 roars into life this week in Melbourne as Lewis Hamilton was asked whether his rivalry with Sebastian Vettel would become psychological to which Hamilton replied, "I don't play psychological war. Never, ever, ever have. My psychological war is I arrive fit and ready and I'm there to kill, and others know I'm good at what I do.” Well Lewis, they also know you are a wanker, so it’s nice to hear you’re world class at that too.

- If it’s not hard enough going to an NRL home game and watch your team lose, imagine doing it on a hot night where you’re only allowed to purchase two beers at once and the beer taps are cut off at half time. That’s the ugly predicament the Cronulla Sharks were faced with last Thursday night and fans weren’t happy with local Sharks supporter Shane saying he’d even saved his dole cheque from that morning resisting the urge for a few slaps on the pokies just so he could enjoy 20 or 30 beers at the footy. Unfortunately Shane left the ground relatively sober, but the link feature on Queen of the Nile at Northies was no doubt in for a pounding.

- And Romania has qualified for the Rugby World Cup after Spain were defeated by lowly Belgium in a final qualifying match this week. Belgium kicked six penalty goals to win 18-10 on the back of what appeared to be some Barry Gomersall like decisions. Upon further investigation from Mug Punters, it was found the referee for the match was indeed Romanian, as were every assistant referee as well. Outraged and upset Romanian officials have spoken with media outlets who have since agreed to publish stories stating the match was refereed with full integrity. Those media personnel are hoped to be released as hostages as soon as the stories are broken.

PLUS, we're choc-a-bloc full of tips for:

- NRL

- AFL

- Formula 1

- SIX Group One races

And more!

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers

Pete

NRL Multi

Panthers h2h vs Dogs @$1.57

Manly h2h vs Souths @$1.67

$2.60+

Bartz

Racing

Golden Slipper: 1,8,10,15

Box Trifecta

Rosehill R7 on Saturday

Mills

Racing

Ascot Saturday R7

#3 Action

This is the Mug Punters dot com dot au podcast for this Thursday the 15th March 2018, and coming up in news headlines this week:

Winx’s jockey Hugh Bowman will undergo cognitive testing before he returns to race riding after sustaining concussion in a heavy fall last weekend. The aim of the tests are to ensure poor Hugh is aware of his actions. Pete wants to know if the same cognitive testing should be applied to the jockey that cost him the final leg of the Melbourne quaddie recently, and while we’re at it why not also run the entire cast of ‘I’m a celebrity get me out of here’ through the same process.

Formula one’s controversial cockpit halo makes its debut in just over a weeks’ time at the Australian Grand Prix. But there have been issues fitting the device for some drivers, with Mercedes revealing initially the halo simply wouldn’t fit around the circumference of Lewis Hamilton’s head and Ferrari unsure whether their bad-boy driver Sebastian Vettel is deserving of one.

And, Hawthorn president and serial attention grabber Jeff Kennett has slammed the AFL’s desire to play games in other nations, branding it a waste of time and money. Port Adelaide and the Gold Coast will again play a game in China this season, while there have also been report Richmond and GWS are pushing to play in India. The AFL has confirmed that unlike in china last year when spectators could not even get a pie, the footy staple would be available if a game is played in India, but said they are likely to all be curry flavoured.

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers:

Pete:

Some NRL rubbish

Bart:

Some more NRL rubbish

Mills:

Pretty sure he has found a winner. Moonee Valley Friday R7#1 Cliff's Edge.

This is a special round one NRL preview show for the MugPunters.com.au podcast this Friday 9th March 2018 and in our breaking news headlines this week:

- Controversy following the first cricket test where Australia dispatched the South Africans, after Quinton de Kock allegedly made an inappropriate remark about David Warner’s wife Candice. Here at Mug Punters we took these allegations seriously and wanted to get to the bottom of things, so we headed to facebook (where everything said is always true, so you should share it even if you don’t do two seconds of research to back it up) and found that sources close to the cricketing couple were surprised about the comments made as Candice has always been a huge fan of de Kock. Did we check the accuracy of that report? I’m not sure.

- Craziness surrounds the number nine jersey for several clubs on the eve of the NRL season kick off with both South Sydney’s Robbie Farah and Kiwi international Danny Levi at the Newcastle Knights both being left out of their starting 17’s despite being fully fit. Meanwhile at the Broncos, Sam Thaiday is set to don the nine jersey in a move that Wayne Bennett has described will make him the biggest and slowest rake to play the game (ah, superb jokes Wayne, you are a funny guy). Although media and fans have been left perplexed about the decisions, NRL boss Todd Greenberg has come out and assured followers that it’s not the only time there will be controversy this season involving hookers.

- And back to the cricket where the Aussies have staged a bit of a protest in response to local broadcasters keeping stump mics open during the first test. Most cricketing broadcasters around the world lower the volume between deliveries so players can discuss things such as Quinton de Kock’s mum and sister without the viewers at home being able to hear. But not in South Africa where they try to sneak in some of the friendly banter. Aussie keeper Tim Paine led the charge by using the open mics to plug some of the key Aussie sponsors suggesting after a South African boundary… “great shot mate. That deserves a XXXX, the best beer in the world”, but was also heard explaining to umpires how far superior Qantas was as an airline and how much he enjoyed travelling with them, no doubt aware of the lucrative deal Emirates has with umpires around the world. I dare say the broadcasters will think twice before the second test.

And tips this week on the show for:

- Group 1 racing - 4 big races!

- A full round of NRL tips

- A sneaky cricket special

- Even some NRL futures at good value

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers

Pete

Looking ahead with NRL futures

Round 2

Nth Qld at $1.88 to beat the Broncos

Parra at $2 to beat Manly

Newcastle at $2.45 to beat the Raiders

Round 3

Nth Qld $2.3 to defeat the Storm

Multi these together

Almost $22

Bartz

Parra to beat Penrith

NRL Round 1

Mills

Randwick R7

#3 Kementari

This is the MugPunters.com.au podcast for Thursday 1st March 2018 and in our breaking news headlines this week:

- The Winter Olympics draw to a close and what spectacular games they were. But following the final curtain of the closing ceremony, punters everywhere are left wondering what to watch on television now they can’t tune in to the figure skating to check out the double toe, triple toe and even the camel toe on the super slow mo replays

- The NRL is set to get underway next week and journalists are struggling for headlines to hype the game. Whilst some are leading with stories about the NRL naming a 9th immortal, others are chasing the old “league expansion” headlines. When speaking with Mug Punters .com.au, journalists have expressed their dissatisfaction over there not being a single cocaine bust, glassing, bubbler or even an animal related episode to report on, though Clint Newton from the Rugby League Players Association assures us it’s only a matter of time

- And golfer Justin Thomas has had a fan ejected from the golf course prior to his play-off win in the Honda Classic. The spectator allegedly said just before his tee shot on the 16th that “I hope it goes in the water” and after the ball was struck followed up with “get in the bunker”. Thomas’ mum has come out in support of her son’s move suggesting he never would have had the balls to take real sledging in a proper sport like footy and she’s just happy he didn’t end up pursuing his passion for crocheting full time

PLUS on this week's show, we've got:

- Breaking news about the 2022 FIFA World Cup!

- Group One racing tips from Mr Mills

- Discussion about the NRL's 9th Immortal*

- Cricket, with the Aussies in South Africa

- NRL banter

- Winter Olympics wrap up comments

And so much more!

 * player doesn't actually become immortal. They can still die. 

Worthwhile Weekly Wagers

Pete

NRL Round 1

Parramatta to beat Penrith

$2.10

Bartz

NRL Round 1

Parramatta to beat Penrith

$2.10

Mills

Something about racing. You'll have to listen to the pod to get it.