The Rugby League Digest

  • 22. Adelaide Rams with Guy Wilson

    01:02:25
    Michael is joined by our long time Adelaide correspondent Guy Wilson to discuss the rise and demise of the Rams, Rugby League in South Australia before and after and the case for a return to big time Rugby League in Adelaide. 
  • 21. The Super League War - Chapter 39 - Crushed

    01:00:31
    In this episode we discuss the demise of the Reds, Crushers and Chargers, troubling economic realities, transit lounges, the "original sin" of 1995 mass-expansion, gifting Perth to rugby union, the Crushers’ surprisingly good start, Packer the (off)white knight, packed lunches, throwing open the gates, winning their last ever game, failed merger plans, the great Rugby League man Eric Cox, players getting shafted and much more!
  • 20. The Super League War - Chapter 38- Steel City Miracles (Part 2)

    01:21:24
    Our extended recap of all the on-field action in 1997 concludes with the Newcastle Knights historic grand final win over Manly. We trace the Knights' road to glory, Joey's redemption arc, the convoy of Sid Foggs willing them to victory, Chief's leadership masterclass, that famous last second win, the insane scenes that followed in Newcastle, and much, much more!
  • 19. The Super League War - Chapter 38 - Steel City Miracles (Part 1)

    01:13:19
    In this long awaited episode we discuss Newcastle's mining history, identity as the steel city, BHP's closure, the tragic Newcastle earthquake, the miners' strike, seige mentality as a cultural feauture, Barabara Davis and the Aussies for the ARL, vitriol towards the Hunter Mariners, mascot mayhem, stadium wars, merger discussions, further Graham Murray appreciation, and much, much more!  
  • 18. The Super League War - Chapter 37 - The Optus Cup (Part 3)

    54:09
    In this concluding episode of 'The Optus Cup', we discuss the 1997 RLW Player's Poll, shorts fuses of the era, an odd but pleasantly competitive finals system, knee-jerk calls to implement the video ref, Nick Kosef vs the Johns family, Tony Butterfield vs Terry Hill, some pre grand final Darren Albert magic, a Craig Field game-winner, some cruel injuries, suspension mayhem, and much more!
  • 17. The Super League War - Chapter 37 - It's My Game (Part 2)

    01:12:05
    In part two of our 1997 ARL recap we look at the battlers, the heavyweights, and everyone in between. From coaching drama in Campbelltown to a Tigers resurgence, Roosters on the rise, the miracle of the Chargers and much, much more!
  • 16. The Super League War - Chapter 37 - It's My Game (Part 1)

    01:22:23
    In this instalment, we discuss the RLW Players' Q and A, performance-enhancing drugs, the Perth Reds, pokies taxes, schoolboy brawls, notable player scandals, Craig Field, Willie Peters, Paul McGregor, Tim Brasher, Tom Brock, Ken Shine, Craig Coleman and much more! 
  • 15. English Rugby League with Anthony Broxton

    01:20:10
    Michael is joined by English labour historian and author of the upcoming Hope and Glory: Rugby League in Thatcher's Britain Anthony Broxton. In a wide-ranging and fascinating interview we look at the state of ENglish Rugby League before, during and after the disastrous 1997 World Club Challenge
  • 14. The Super League War - Chapter 36 - The World Club Challenge (Part 3)

    01:00:27
    The culmination of an unbridled and unmitigated disaster, a piece of ingenious club marketing, Graham Murray's impact on the Mariners, format issues, for and against taken to the extreme, Paris St Germain squalor, coaching carnage, London Broncos on the rise, Shaun Edwards and Heather Small, Richard Branson and London, the WCC finals, Renouf scores five, a lackluster grand final, the cold hard stats, disastrous crowds, yet another fact-finding report, passing the buck, the legacy of the competition and much, much more!
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