What an adventure. Travel disruptions, a pre-game injury and somehow the Southland Stags dug deep to open their 2022 NPC campaign with a deserved bonus point, beaten 27-20 after trailing by 17 at halftime. Nathan & Nick run through the game's key moments (3'14) before discussing the effort with Head Coach Dale MacLeod (8'02).

We look at the solid foundations at set phase (18'50) and discuss some of the key individuals for the Stags ... we don't leave many out (20'48) before spending some time with a very proud Stags' captain Josh Bekhuis (26'26) before closing with a look over the full opening round of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC (34'20).

To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at [email protected] and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen.

While we are here, for plenty of great Southland sporting stories visit southlandsport.com and follow Southland Sport on Facebook and Instagram

#AntlersUp

Note: timecodes are approximate

Welcome to the week that, as a Stags' fan, is filled with optimism and promise ... before anyone has played a game. Nathan & Nick are joined by Stuff and The Southland Times' Logan Savory to bring you the definitive Stags' Season preview.

We begin with a recap of last year's campaign (2'38) and cast our eye across the 2022 Stags' squad (9'24). The boys look at the Stags' player or story we are most interested in this season (19'52), the new format to this year's NPC (26'24) and the way the Stags' draw has fallen (29'27) before taking stabs in the dark picking winners for the opening round (36'53).

To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at [email protected] and for plenty of great Southland Sporting Stories visit southlandsport.com and follow Southland Sport on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

Note: timecodes are approximate