The Magpie Wing is a wonderful new coming of age novel with Rugby League in its veins.
Author Max Easton joins the pod to chat about the threads that connect south-west and inner western Sydney, the quandary that is the Wests Tigers, and a man called Tommy.

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

In a game of fighters, Steve Mascord has always been a Rugby League lover. But what happens when that love runs a little cold?
What do we love when we love Rugby League and what's really happening when it's all getting a little rocky?
Steve joins the pod to candidly reflect on his revolving relationship with the game.

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

Gavin Willacy's past 10 months has mirrored somewhat the state of International Rugby League - an ongoing battle with COVID-19, and a hopeful look ahead towards the Rugby League World Cup on the horizon.
The 'No Helmets Required' author joins the pod to share his experience with Long COVID and sticks around to chat about his thoughts on RLWC2021 - will it go ahead, and if so, what are the fixtures he is especially looking forward to.
PLUS, we discuss the state of Rugby League in London.

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

Rugby League analyst Jason Oliver joins the pod to go deep on the NRL's on-field traits and trends, including - you guessed it - the Six Again rule.
How much of a difference is it making? What are the good teams doing to take advantage? And has it made the NRL more or less attractive?
PLUS we discuss the role of the modern fullback and chat about the two Rugby League topics that get Jason's blood pumping more than any other - the Warriors and Shaun Johnson.

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

Geoffrey Moorhouse's AT THE GEORGE And Other Essays on Rugby League is widely considered to be one of the best Rugby League books of all time.
Rugby League author, publisher and connoisseur of the Rugby League written word, Phil Caplan joins us to reflect on why At The George is still so highly regarded, what lessons it can still teach us and what it says about the game in both hemispheres.
A deep and wide-ranging chat that looks at At The George's legacy and also inevitably hits on intriguing state-of-the-Rugby-League-nation notes.
Plus, to end the show, a very quick stocktake/overview of all thirteen PRL Book Clubs to date.

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

We're especially lucky to be joined by Donald McRae to chat about his magnificent recent article on the beautiful Rob and Lindsey Burrow.

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

Ross Peltier has had a busy week. Just days after contesting his first election, Ross laced up his boots for his post-Covid return to Rugby League for Doncaster RLFC.
Ross also kindly found the time to join the pod to chat politics, Rugby League and his unfinished business playing for his beloved Jamaica Reggae Warriors.

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

So which football code is Australia's most popular - and why isn't it Rugby League??
'Code Wars - The Battle for Fans, Dollars and Survival' is a fascinating examination of Australia's four-football-code landscape, and into the psyche of the nation.
Author of 'Code Wars', Dr Hunter Fujak joins the pod to talk us through the past, present and potential future of Australia's unique football code marketplace, and Rugby League's place within it.
(And for fans of British Rugby League - we also discuss an interesting case study on the impact that going behind a paywall has had on the popularity of the UK game).
'Code Wars - The Battle for Fans, Dollars and Survival' is published by FairPlay Publishing - https://www.fairplaypublishing.com.au/product-page/code-wars-the-battle-for-fans-dollars-and-survival

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

The incomparable Ian Roberts joins the pod for a wide-ranging and candid chat about his life in Rugby League and beyond.

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

Mary Konstantopoulos is The Lady Who (among other things) Leagues, and joins the pod to chat about the lie of the land for women in Rugby League in 2021. How did we get here? What can we do better in the future? And what has Mary's path taught her about the world in which we live? The state of the game for women in Australia is on the agenda. And there's no better time to talk about it.

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