The Progressive Rugby League Podcast

A reboot from 2022 of a great chat with Brendan Cowell about his novel Plum, which has just been turned into a beaut TV series. Plum is the tale about the turbulent post-footy life of Rugby League great, Peter Lum.Brendan shared what he knows and what he's learnt about footy, fame, concussion, masculinity, the Johns brothers' reading habits and plenty more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newtown Jets CEO Stuart McCarthy joins the pod to give us a glimpse into what it's like running a Rugby League club away from the bright lights of the NRL. What are the spreadsheet tabs that matter? Is it possible to make ends meet? How does a rainy Saturday at Henson Park impact the bottom line? Who came up with the idea for the Beer Footy Food Festival? Oh and how close were we to experiencing the "Western Jets"? There's nothing quite like second-tier sport. And no-one does second-tier sport quite like the Newtown Jets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parramatta Eels fans have a difficult relationship with momentum. There's an actual physical limit to how much we can talk about a certain match from a certain year against a certain team with a certain 16-point lead with a certain 10 minutes to go... ...maybe it's time we try understand momentum a little better. Dr Caitlin Fox-Harding joins us to go deep on this elusive sporting concept.Read Caitlin's article in The Conversation - https://theconversation.com/the-mystery-of-the-massive-sporting-comeback-whats-the-psychology-of-momentum-in-sports-232598 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Max Easton joins the pod to chat about his new novel Paradise Estate.A sequel to the Miles Franklin-nominated The Magpie Wing, Paradise Estate introduces us to a Hurlstone Park share house, including Rocco, who's making a late tilt at the Italian Rugby League World Cup squad.Like its predecessor, Paradise Estate is a brilliant Sydney snapshot, chronicling the real-life struggles of a generation as it faces up to the brutal reality of an economy and housing market totally stacked against them.And while far from a Rugby League novel, you can betcha bottom dollar we find a way to go deep on some alluring, but fundamental questions about the game in 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Broxton joins the pod to chat about his thoroughly excellent new book Hope & Glory: Rugby League in Thatcher's Britain.A turbulent period for the country meets an ambitious time for British Rugby League. How did it all come to be? And how can we make sense of it 30-40 years on? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the Dolphins' entry into the NRL actually mean for the character and make-up of South-East Queensland Rugby League?Celebrated Australian author and actor, and Redcliffe Dolphins fan from way back, William McInnes gives us 110% and then some, as he reflects on his personal history with the Redcliffe region, the Dolphins and the old Brisbane Rugby League.William also lays the richest foundation yet seen (by us anyway) for the burgeoning Dolphins-Broncos rivalry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three years in the waiting, the 50th edition of the Koori Knockout has been run and won. Bidjigal man Brad Cooke joins us to discuss how it all went down. Plus we chat about how the Knockout continues to evolve, the social dividends it promotes, as well as Brad's memories of some of the all-time great Knockout moments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grade Cricketer and North Sydney Bears lifer Sam Perry joins the pod to ruminate on the lot of Bears fans as the pendulum may be finally, possibly, potentially (don't shout it lest you jinx it!) swinging their way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.