5 live Rugby League

In this episode we're talking about iconic moments from the greatest rivalry in the game. The focus is England or, more often than not, Great Britain against the old enemy, Australia. Ahead of the first Ashes series in 22 years, the panel discuss and debate what are, undoubtedly, some of the most memorable moments in the history of rugby league. From the game changing 'Invincibles' and 'Unbeatables' of the 1980s, to the ankle tap on Kallum Watkins in 2017 which denied England the chance to draw level and perhaps go on and win the World Cup for the first time in 45 years.In between, two tries from Henderson Gill, the second of which was celebrated with "a bit of a boogie", as described by the Australian commentators, were the highlight in 1988 of Great Britain's first victory against the Aussies in a decade and their first win Down Under for 18 years.Two years later, Ricky Stuart dummied his way up the field before finding Mal Meninga in support for a memorable, match-winning score at Old Trafford in the 'greatest ever test' to level the series and ultimately set the platform for Australia to retain the Ashes.1992 was the last time a Great Britain team took on a full tour of Australasia, led by the legendary Malcolm Reilly, the highlight of the series for the tourists was undoubtedly the Second Test in a cold and wet Melbourne. An all-Wigan pack led GB to a 33-10 victory, equalling their biggest ever win against Australia.Other iconic Great Britain moments up for discussion include Jonathan Davies' sensational try at Wembley, Adrian Morley's red card after 12 seconds and captain Jamie Peacock taking on Willie Mason after he'd floored Stuart Fielden. While, for England, there's Sam Burgess' 'breakthrough' score in the 2009 Four Nations Final and the controversy that became known as 'Pinkygate' after Ryan Hall had a late try ruled out which could have knocked Australia out of the 2014 Four Nations tournament. A decision England coach Steve McNamara described as “disappointing!”All iconic in their own right, but which will come out on top?

The Man of Steel award goes right back to 1977 when David Ward of Leeds was the first recipient of a trophy which got its name because of a sponsor. Many great players have received the accolade as being the best in any particular season, but few have won it on more than one occasion.The versatile Ellery Hanley is the only one to have been voted Man of Steel three times. A Lance Todd Trophy and Golden Boot winner, he captained Great Britain between 1988 and 1992 and scored 189 tries in 202 appearances for Wigan while collecting those three awards.Andy Farrell, another Wigan legend, was a two-time winner whose exploits in league have perhaps been matched by his hugely successful career as a player and coach in union. St Helens' Paul Sculthorpe is the only player be honoured in back-to-back seasons and Sam Tomkins has the distinction of the longest gap between awards, having been first selected in 2012 while at Wigan and then again nine years later with Catalans Dragons.Other great names to have won the prize include Shaun Edwards, the most decorated player in rugby league history with 37 winners' medals to his name. Garry Schofield, the Leeds legend capped 46 times by Great Britain, who was the most expensive player in the world when moving from Hull in 1987. That fee was usurped by dual-code international captain, Jonathan Davies who initially spent four seasons with Widnes after leaving union for £230,000 in 1989, but was named Man of Steel in his first season with Warrington in 1994.Mighty prop, Jamie Peacock, won a record nine Super League Grand Finals from 11 appearances with Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos, while James Roby who also has 11 Grand Finals to his name, all for St Helens, was then the youngest player to claim the prize back in 2007.Our top ten list concludes with his former team-mate, James Graham. A man with over 50 international appearances and the fourth different Saints player to win the award between 2005 and 2008. He actually lost six successive Grand Finals, including one in Australia, but returned to St Helens in 2020 to capture his second Super League Grand Final trophy, 14 years after his first.

It's always difficult to judge whether one game was better than another, so this top ten list concentrates on the most memorable moments in Grand Finals along with the impact each had on that game itself and their subsequent outcomes.From Jason Robinson's jinking try that lit up the first edition between Wigan and Leeds in 1998 to Bevan French's spectacular effort to complete the Warriors' quadruple last year, the 'Big Dance' has delivered some truly outstanding memories. Michael Withers hat-trick in 2001 helped Bradford pile up the most points in a final, while Sean Long's late drop goal won Saints the prize the following year, although not before one of the biggest Grand Final controversies. In the last play of the game, Chris Joynt went to ground leaving the Bulls wanting a penalty for a voluntary tackle as the full time whistle blew.In 2011, Leeds had a point to prove after finishing fifth in the regular season and Rob Burrow had something to prove himself, having once again been named on the bench to face St Helens. The teams were locked at 2-2 on a typically rainy night in Manchester when Burrow ducked and dived half the length of the field, leaving opponents grasping at thin air. Not just the greatest ever try scored in a Grand Final, but probably one of the greatest tries scored anywhere.By contrast, the 2014 final will always be remembered for the wrong reasons. In only the second minute of the match Wigan's Ben Flower became the first and only player to be sent off after punching St Helens half-back Lance Hohaia twice, the second landing whilst the Kiwi was lying prone on the floor.And despite being played at an empty stadium due to Covid, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, John Kear described the 2020 game as the greatest Grand Final ever. With the scores tied and seconds to play, Tommy Makinson's drop goal from way out hit the post, but Jack Welsby reacted quickest to the bouncing ball, touching down to win the game for Saints in the most dramatic of fashion. Picking the most memorable moment in Grand Final history is going to be tough.

The roots of this episode are in 1895 when the sport of rugby split in two and rugby league was born alongside its often distant relative! We're talking about the codebreakers, those who've crossed over and competed on both sides of the divide. Outside of our 40-year rule, but who must be mentioned, are Sir Billy Boston, Gus Risman and Clive Sullivan, three players immortalised as 'The Codebreakers' in a bronze statue in Cardiff Bay. All of them rugby league legends who started out playing union in the Welsh capital. Fellow countrymen who do make the list include Jonathan Davies. A World Club Challenge winner with Widnes and named Man of Steel at Warrington, who many feel his best years as a rugby player were in league. While Iestyn Harris made a big-money move from Leeds to Cardiff, before returning to Bradford where a Grand Final and World Club Challenge followed. Six Championships, four Challenge Cups and 45 caps for Great Britain and England earned Andy Farrell, at the age of 29, the switch to union with Saracens in a million-pound deal jointly funded by the RFU. Injury curtailed his playing career, but in turning to coaching he led Ireland to Six Nations success and the British & Irish Lions to victory down under. From that side of the world are contenders in the shape of Wendell Sailor, who not only played both codes, but also appeared on the Australian version of 'The Masked Singer'! Israel Folau, a somewhat controversial figure, actually competed professionally in three sports, union, league and Australian rules football. The late, great 'Inga The Winger', Vai'aiga Tuigamala, capped by the All Blacks and a multiple trophy winner with Wigan. While the 'offload king', Sonny Bill Williams, won the World Cup with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015 and in-between returned to the NRL with Sydney Roosters winning a Premiership title. While nearer to home, huge names in the world of rugby in the form of 'Slammin' Sam Burgess, 'Ash the Splash' Chris Ashton and 'Billy Whizz', World Cup winner Jason Robinson, complete our top 10 contenders.

It's often said it's a good thing not to stand still, but why is the sport's governing body never happy? In a game which seems to be constantly re-inventing itself, this time on Rugby League Top 10 we're talking innovations.A lot of change has followed the move to summer rugby in 1996, when Super League was born. With it came the introduction of the video referee, now widely copied in many other sports. While two years later, winning the league suddenly wasn't enough and so the play-offs and Grand Final were introduced giving broadcasters the major event at the end of the season they craved.Often, it's the rules which have been altered to improve the game. In 1993, the reference point for measuring the defensive line at a play-the-ball was extended to 10 metres. The new rule promoted more lateral ball movement, but in typical rugby league style it was introduced mid-season and the players had to just get on with it.This season has witnessed the addition of the Captain's Challenge, to mixed reviews. The goal was to reduce incorrect referee calls, though it's been said the system just disrupts the game's flow. Wigan's Liam Farrell was the first Super League player to make a Captain's Challenge. It was unsuccessful!Off the field, the sport has also been creative in its collaboration with sponsors. When a haulage company took the naming rights for Super League it was sold as a progressive deal where, instead of paying any money, the haulage company agreed to plaster Super League players on the side of their vehicles to increase awareness. In the end, sightings of those trucks were few and far between.And not to be confused with a later tie-up with a pizza company. In 2020, during Covid, they supplied post-match pizzas to the teams in exchange for perimeter advertising. It was, to be fair, a cunning plan to feed the players safely during those restrictions, but Sam Tomkins wasn't quite as convinced. He tweeted after one match, "I hope we can negotiate new toppings on the next pizza deal. We can accept no money, but tuna pizza is taking the ****."

What makes a great coach? Sustained success obviously plays a huge part, but there are several other deciding factors which elevate some coaches above others.Alongside the arbitrary 40-year rule to qualify for the top ten, and to make it a level playing field, our nominees need to have coached a club to a Super League title, that is, during an era when the sport was fully professional. Unfortunately, that rules out legendary leaders like Dougie Laughton and Alex Murphy, alongside a few others who did, but still missed the cut.However, it does include the likes of John Monie, the hugely successful Wigan coach who claimed the very first Super League Grand Final. That was after guiding them to four consecutive league and cup doubles between 1990 and 1993 as Monie won over 80% of the games he coached with the Cherry and Whites.Brian McDermott won four Super League Grand Finals with Leeds, twice guiding the Rhinos to victory after finishing fifth in the regular season and led them to the treble in 2015. While the current England coach, Shaun Wane, steered Wigan to three Grand Final triumphs and will be hoping to add to that success in this autumn's Ashes series.Current Wigan boss, Matt Peet, won a quadruple in 2024, making it seven trophies in his first three seasons in charge of the Warriors. While Kristian Woolf was victorious in each of his three seasons in charge of St Helens and also coached Tonga to victory over Australia in 2019, one of the greatest upsets in rugby league history.Others under consideration include Tony Smith, a winner with Leeds and Warrington, who also took charge of England and Great Britain. Kiwi, Brian McLennan, secured back-to-back Super League titles with Leeds, Ian Millward was a multi-trophy winner with St Helens and Daniel Anderson who led Saints to a treble and two different NRL clubs to Grand Finals. Finally, there's panellist Brian Noble, a three-time Grand Final winner with Bradford Bulls and coach of Great Britain. But can 'Nobby' persuade the others to vote for him as the best coach of the modern era?

For many, the Challenge Cup Final was their first real taste of the sport. Either watching on TV and listening to legendary commentators such as Eddie Waring and Ray French, or travelling down to Wembley to witness rugby league's 'big day out' in person.The 1968 'Watersplash' final remains iconic, but this list of top ten finals begins forty years ago with a record crowd of 99,801 inside the national stadium witnessing a classic encounter between two teams of rugby league superstars wearing their classic hooped kits. Peter Sterling and James Leuluai of Hull manufactured some memorable moments, and there was a sensational try for Wigan's Henderson Gill, but it was Brett Kenny of Wigan who became the first Australian to win the Lance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match after scoring a stunning try.Martin Offiah's 1994 length of the field score and iconic celebration, slumped to his knees with his head in his hands, is now immortalised as part of the rugby league statue at Wembley. Bradford Bulls superstar Robbie Paul scored the first-ever final hat-trick two years later and in 1998 Sheffield Eagles caused one of, if not, the biggest shock in a major final in any sport in any era. Head coach John Kear was at it again with Hull FC in 2005 as Paul Cooke danced his way over the line for a crucial late score. While one of the great Wembley tries occurred in 2011, a real family affair, made by Sam Tomkins and finished by brother Joel.Catalans Dragons played in the first final at the newly developed Wembley in 2007. They lost that day to St Helens, but just over a decade later returned to become the first non-English team in 121 years to win the cup. And when Papua New Guinea international half-back Lachlan Lam travelled half-way round the world to play for his father Adrian, his crucial golden point drop goal which claimed the cup for “Little old Leigh” 52 years after their last success, was the stuff of fairy tales.But which one will come out as the most memorable Challenge Cup Final?

The signing of overseas players hasn't always meant adding quality to the competition, but this list of the very best certainly did. Although it's fair to say some made much more of an impact than others.For instance, the 'greatest player of all-time', Andrew Johns, made just three appearances for Warrington at the end of the 2005 season, and couldn't lead them to silverware. In the 1980s it was common practice for legendary NRL players to sign short-term contracts in England during the off-season 'Down Under'. More recently, imports have actually made their name in Super League, winning Grand Finals, Challenge Cups and earning recognition as the Man of Steel.Widely regarded as one of the games' finest players, Australian international player and coach, Mal Meninga, joined St Helens for the 1984/85 season and helped them win the Lancashire Cup and Premiership title. While Kiwi centre, Dean Bell, won seven successive Challenge Cup Finals with Wigan, including three as captain, and made such an impact he was the subject of 'This is Your Life' in 1993.Robbie Paul followed his brother Henry to Bradford and lit up the game making rugby league 'cool'. He was named 'Super League Player of the Season' aged just 20, whilst loose-forward Adrian Vowles with Castleford, centre Jamie Lyon at St Helens, full-back Brett Hodgson with Huddersfield and winger and goal-kicking machine Pat Richards at Wigan were all crowned the 'Man of Steel' between 1999 and 2010.Joining Robbie at the Bulls was 'The Volcano', Lesley Vainikolo. The huge New Zealand winger won two Super League titles and three Challenge Cup finals with Bradford scoring 149 tries in 152 games. And more recently, Wigan's Bevan French has really shone in Super League, not only winning silverware, but incredibly being named as 'Player of the Match' in three finals during 2024.So, who will take the accolade as the greatest import of all?

There's nothing more dramatic than a game which is won or lost in the last meaningful moment. These are the ones which live longest in the memory for fans and players alike and which bring both tears of joy and despair in equal measure. And, when it's on the biggest stage, those memories last a lifetime.Some are lifted by the iconic commentary that sits alongside them. “Long fancies it, Long fancies it. It's wide to West, it's wide to West... ” makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up to this day as Chris Joynt finished off an incredibly desperate last play for St Helens against Bradford that ultimately led to a Grand Final victory.Occasionally, these dramatic endings also settle city rivalries. David Hodgson for Rovers against FC at Magic Weekend and Chris Green the other way around the following year to equal the score for example. Whilst others have more major consequence, such as Shaun Johnson breaking English hearts at Wembley in the World Cup semi-final or Gareth O'Brien's huge drop-goal in the Million Pound Game which capped off an incredible comeback by Salford in golden point extra-time.Then there's the drama of the helicopter hovering over the Pennines, waiting to see where the trophy was heading, when Ryan Hall's last second try for Leeds at Huddersfield secured the League Leaders' Shield and completed part two of the Rhinos treble campaign.While Jack Welsby's try on the hooter for his home town club against their fiercest rivals in the Covid hit Grand Final was equally dramatic despite hardly anyone being there to witness it. The players waited anxiously for the video referee to check it was a try and when confirmed went absolutely wild, even though there was no-one else there to celebrate with them!The more personal the occasion, the more memorable is the ending, and there's absolutely nothing worse than losing that way, but nothing beats winning like that either.

These are the guys who used to play on 'the edge'. In the days when almost everything was considered 'legal', some were employed as enforcers, whilst others never ever took a backward step. Many were just simply fearless, but you'd definitely try and avoid running towards all of them. They are rugby league's hard men. Rugby league was a little bit different in the 1990s. A mainly part-time sport where the attributes of some players could have easily secured themselves alternative employment as bouncers! Such as the charging rhino himself, Barrie McDermott, who used a not so subtle trick to further intimidate his opponents. Or Kelvin Skerrett, who won six Championships and four Challenge Cups with Wigan. The Wales and Great Britain international is the man described as a "dirty get" on Mick Morgan's famous viral commentary. Castleford legend Mal Reilly was just as tough as a coach as he was as a player. When he moved to Manly he used to ask his team-mates who the toughest players on the opposition were so he could target them to gain respect. Later, he coached at Newcastle Knights, where he found out which of his players had the best records on the rowing machine before smashing them all with his own stamina and fitness. He's even got a an intense training drill named after him... the Malcolm! And then there's the likes of Adrian Morley. Known as 'The Enforcer' in Australia, 'Moz' kept his own little black book to keep tabs on opponents who were due a little retribution. He once received a seven-match ban for kneeing an opponent in the chest. However, the ban was expected to be more than double that before a character reference from long-time foe 'Big' Willie Mason described him as "one of the toughest players in the toughest competition in the world" helped his case. There's a fine line between legal and illegal violence in rugby league and often some of these fellas crossed it. Nowadays it would lead to an instant red card, but that doesn't mean hard men don't exist in the sport today. They just go about showing it slightly differently!

Tanya Arnold, Kevin Brown, Andrew Henderson and John Kear reflect on a gripping Grand Final after Wigan defeated Hull KR 9-2. Victory meant the Warriors completed an incredible quadruple in 2024 and their CEO and former player, Kris Radlinski, joins the team to give an insight in to the preparations, celebrations and what now lies ahead for the most successful side of the Super League era.

It's Grand Final week with Wigan Warriors and Hull KR battling for the right to be crowned Super League Champions. Tanya Arnold is at Old Trafford to preview the biggest night of the Rugby League year. Wigan are looking to win the Grand Final for the 7th time, whilst Hull KR are playing in their very first Super League title decider. Head Coach Matt Peet and players Bevan French and Kruise Leeming offer an insight into the Warriors' preparations as they seek to lift their fourth trophy of the campaign. Hull KR boss Willie Peters, Captain Elliot Minchella and forward James Batchelor reveal their thoughts ahead of the big game. Rugby League legend Paul Sculthorpe and commentator Matt Newsum set the scene for what promises to be an epic contest.

Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown look ahead to a crucial weekend of Super League action featuring the Women's Grand Final in St Helens and the Semi-finals in the men's competition. Zoe Harris of St Helens and York Valkyrie's Kelsey Gentles join the podcast to talk about their preparations for the Women's Final in which Saints will be looking to complete the Treble against the defending Champions from York. They describe their own journeys through the sport, the physical and mental demands of playing the game and their own personal motivations for Sunday's Final. Grand Final places are up for grabs in the Men's competition and Kevin offers his analysis of the two Semi-finals.Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised you can find support via the BBC Action Line at https://bbc.co.uk/actionline/

It's Play-off time in the 2024 Men's Super League season and six teams are still standing in the race to be crowned Champions at the home of Manchester United. Tanya Arnold is at the official launch event to preview the upcoming series with representatives from all the teams involved. Salford coach Paul Rowley and his Leigh counterpart Adrian Lam look ahead to their clash in the elimination round, where the winners will progress to the semi-finals but the loser's season will end. It's the same scenario for Warrington and St Helens when they meet on Saturday. Warrington Full-back Matt Dufty and St Helens Coach Paul Wellens reflect on their seasons so far and what they hope to achieve in the play-offs. Wigan and Hull KR have earned a week off in the opening round of matches and we find out from Liam Marshall, Mikey Lewis and Willie Peters how they will approach the break. Leeds' Rhyse Martin discusses his final season with the Rhinos and Rugby League legend Paul Sculthorpe makes some predictions about how the play-off series might unfold. Tara Jones of St Helens and York Valkyrie's Sade Rihari react to their success in the Women's semi-finals before they meet in the Grand Final on October 6th.

As a player and coach Mike Ford has been involved at the very top level in both codes of Rugby and is currently the Managing Director of Oldham. He talks to Tanya Arnold about the recent revival at the club which has seen them promoted to the Championship, and reveals his vision for Rugby League in the town which prioritises pathways for junior players and establishing a permanent base at Boundary park. He reflects on his time as a player with Wigan, and his coaching journey through Rugby Union, including spells with Ireland, England, Saracens and Bath. He discusses why so many Rugby League players have become successful defence coaches in Rugby Union, and ponders whether it might be time to start a discussion on merging the two codes. Ford also talks about the challenges his club face in gathering enough grading points for potential promotion to Super League one day, and whether his England Rugby Union international son George might play Rugby League for Oldham in the future.

Salford Red Devils captain Kallum Watkins joins the podcast as his team continue their quest to secure a place in the Super League play-offs. After losing two of their key players before the start of the campaign Salford have defied expectations this year and enter the final fortnight of the season in fourth place. Watkins reveals some of the secrets to their success and discusses his own positional move from centre to second-row forward. He highlights the players who influenced him most during his early career at Leeds Rhinos, and responds to recent speculation linking him with a return to Headingley. He talks openly about the three ACL injuries he has suffered during his career and how he hopes that talking about his mental health challenges will help others in the future.

Leeds Rhinos' Sporting Director Ian Blease joins the podcast to talk about his role at one of the biggest clubs in Rugby League. After an inconsistent season the Rhinos have three games left to secure a place in the play-offs and Blease discusses the decision to bring in Brad Arthur as Head Coach midway through the campaign. He talks about his short, medium and long-term goals for the club, and the pressures of trying to deliver success for the eight-time Grand Final winners. Transfer deals, the financial challenges facing the sport and development pathways for players are also on the agenda.

With four rounds to go until the Super League play-offs it's Hull KR who lead the way at the top of the table and their captain Elliot Minchella joins the podcast to talk about the run-in. He discusses the secrets of their success in 2024, and how the players have benefited from the philosophies of Head Coach Willie Peters. Minchella reflects on his own Rugby League career, including a spell playing part-time with Bradford which he combined with work on a building site. He reflects on his England debut, the influences on his career as a loose forward and the challenges of captaincy. He also discusses the progress that has been made on and off the field at Hull KR in the last few years.

Huddersfield Giants' Jake Connor joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown for a rare interview about rugby league and his reputation. Seen as one of the most divisive characters in the game, he talks openly about his on-field personality and his often controversial interactions with opposition players and supporters. He reveals the current Super League player he believes has a very similar character to himself, and talks about which Head Coach got the best out of him as a player. He reflects on a disappointing season for the Huddersfield Giants, how hours of practice in his back garden helped him develop some of his unique skills and discusses his unusual international career in which he has played both for, and against, England.

Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined by Simon Grix to discuss his role as interim Head Coach of Hull FC. A difficult season for the club has seen them win just three matches all year and they sit just one place off the foot of the table. Grix talks about the challenges he has faced since replacing his mentor Tony Smith and how the club are preparing for the arrival of their new Australian Head Coach John Cartwright next year. He highlights the opportunities presented this year for some of the club's younger players and his relationship with his brother Scott, who is currently the Assistant Coach at Leeds Rhinos. He describes the dynamics of working with the club's Director of Rugby Richie Myler, the rivalry with Hull KR, and how there is optimism for a brighter future.

Wigan Warriors' Kris Radlinski joins the podcast to talk about his Rugby League life. Radlinski represented the club as a player but now steers the Super League Champions as Chief Executive Officer. He discusses the transition in his career, the people who helped him along the way, and the challenges in creating the right culture at the club. He talks about the plans to take a home game to Las Vegas in 2025, bringing live music events to Wigan, and reveals how a late night session on a treadmill was key to the appointment of Matt Peet as Head Coach.

Canberra Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead joins the podcast to talk about rugby league life in the Australian Capital and his move back to Super League at the end of the year. He reveals how a promise to Catalan Chairman Bernard Gausch will see him return to the south of France for one last season before he retires from the game and sets up a new life in Australia. He reflects on his early days with his hometown club Bradford, and discusses the best players he has played against. He also chats about the highlights of his international career with England and Great Britain.

Warrington's Lachlan Fitzgibbon joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to talk about his first year in Super League. The second row forward joined the Wolves from Newcastle in Australia for the start of the 2024 campaign and is widely considered to be one of the best signings of the season. He reveals how playing in the northern hemisphere has been a long-term goal, and how recent successes for the Super League clubs in the World Club Challenge underlines the quality of the British game. He describes the lessons Warrington have learnt from their defeat in the Challenge Cup Final and their goals for the rest of the season. He talks about exploring Europe, rugby league in Las Vegas, watching the Euros, and as an Australian living in the UK what does he think of the British summer?

In an emotional 5 live Rugby League Podcast, Tanya Arnold and former stand-off Kevin Brown are joined by Leigh flying winger Josh Charnley. The former England international opens up about the highs and lows of his stellar career, including the drive to become Super League's record try-scorer, the joy of the Leopards recent Challenge Cup success, his long-term passion for fishing and bricklaying, falling out of love with the sport and the heartache of a fellow player mocking his disabled son.

Reflections on the victories for England's Men and Women in the mid-season internationals against France. Author and journalist Steve Mascord was at both matches in Toulouse and shares some ideas about how to raise the profile of international Rugby League in the Northern Hemisphere. England men's Assistant Coach Andy Last and debutant Elliot Minchella assess their game, and Head Coach Stuart Barrow gives his reaction to a comfortable win for England's women and looks ahead to future challenges for his team.

Toulouse Head Coach Sylvain Houles joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown. As the England men's and women's teams head across the channel for a weekend of international Rugby League they discuss the status of the sport in France and what the future holds for Toulouse under the new grading system for clubs. Houles reflects on the challenges of Toulouse's last Super League campaign in 2022 and lessons the sport can learn from that season to help grow the game on the continent. He reveals how his interest in Rugby League first came about, the philosophies that have shaped his coaching career and how working with Rugby League players compares to life on the family sheep farm in the French countryside.

Matt Newsum is joined by Hull KR winger Ryan Hall and England Head Coach Shaun Wane. Hall crossed for his 248th Super League try last week and is now the leading try-scorer in the competition's history. He reflects on the relief of reaching the milestone and picks out some of his favourite scores from his record-breaking tally. Shaun Wane looks ahead to England's 2024 schedule which now includes a two match series against Samoa in the autumn, and a game in France at the end of June.

Wigan winger Liam Marshall joins Matt Newsum and Kevin Brown to discuss the Warriors success in the 2024 Challenge Cup Final. Their victory at Wembley means they now hold all four trophies available to them, with the Super League title, League Leaders Shield and World Club Challenge already residing in the Wigan trophy cabinet. We hear about the Warriors post match celebrations, their motivation to win more silverware, and how a unique culture in the club drove them to their current position as the undisputed Kings of British rugby league. There are also reflections on St Helens' fourth consecutive victory in the Women's Challenge Cup Final and Wakefield's triumph in the 1895 Cup Final against Sheffield.

Former team-mate Sam Burgess and Daryl Powell, the coach who gave Rob Burrow his first start in Super League, lead tributes to the Leeds Rhinos Legend who died on Sunday. They reflect on his amazing achievements as a player and his drive to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease after his diagnosis in December 2019. The Wigan coach Matt Peet describes the impact Burrow had on the whole of Rugby League and how Saturday's Challenge Cup Finals Day provides the perfect platform for people to pay their respects. Players and personalities involved in the Men's and Women's Finals and the 1895 Cup Final look ahead to the matches on what will be an emotional day under the Wembley arch.

Daryl Powell joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to talk about Rugby League life with Wakefield Trinity and the ups and downs of his coaching career. Powell has guided Wakefield to Wembley, where they will play in the 1895 Cup Final in June and to the top of the Championship table after nine wins from nine matches at the start of the season. With significant off-field development at their stadium the club are confident they will be back at Super League level in 2025. Powell also reflects on how he might have approached things differently during a difficult spell in charge of Warrington Wolves and how the 2017 Grand Final with Castleford left him wanting to sit in a dark room. He also reveals how he loves spending time on the river and how a call on a camping trip persuaded him to take on his latest challenge.

London Broncos Head Coach Mike Eccles joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to talk about Rugby League life in the capital. The Broncos were promoted to Super League for 2024 but under the current grading system won't have a place in the elite competition next year. Eccles outlines the challenges the club faces and his reasons why the Broncos should be given more support in the drive to establish a strong presence for the game in London. He reflects on how the club's history can be used as evidence that anything is possible and describes his own unusual journey to becoming a Head Coach. Eccles also gives an insight into his approach to leading a group of players who lost 10 of their opening 11 matches of the Super League season.

Phil Bentham, who was recently appointed as the RFL's new Head of Referees joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to discuss the current issues around officiating in Rugby League. He reveals his priorities as he settles into his new role and talks about his previous experience working with the VAR team in Premier League football. He discusses some ideas for Super League in 2025 and the challenges presented by proposed new tackle-height laws. And we find out who he thought was the most difficult player to referee.

St Helens Captain Jonny Lomax joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown for a rare interview about his remarkable life. Widely regarded as the one of the best players in Super League, Lomax talks in great detail about the life-threatening brain injury he suffered on the field at the age of 14, and how the support of his family helped him through. He describes his emotions after a third ACL injury left him close to retirement in 2015 and how he found the motivation to continue his career. He has since won four Super League Grand Finals. He also discusses the current season with St Helens, fatherhood, and his thoughts about what he might do at the end of his career.

Craig Lingard joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to chat about his role as the Head Coach of Castleford Tigers. He reveals how his life has changed since becoming a full time Head Coach in Super League, and discusses his previous occupation as a prison officer. Lingard talks about the issues facing Castleford and the sport of Rugby League in general, and how he has faced the challenges of leading a team in the lower half of the competition table. Also on the agenda is his reluctance to wear shoes, and the current location of the teapot he once won as a contestant on the TV word game “Countdown”.

Warrington Wolves Full Back Matt Dufty joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to discuss his terrific start to the season. He reveals why Head Coach Sam Burgess has been exactly what the Wolves needed to turn their form around, and talks about developing his skills playing touch-rugby alongside Wigan's Jai Field and Huddersfield's Adam Clune. Dufty was the leading metre-maker in the competition through the opening eight rounds and he discusses his combinations with England captain George Williams and how humility, late-night phone calls, and some scary eyes from the coaching staff have helped get the Wolves back on track in 2024.

Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined by former Hull FC Captain Gareth Ellis and former Scotland Head Coach Steve McCormack to discuss their current roles with Rugby League Cares, an organisation which provides off-field support and advice for players, coaches and officials within the sport. They talk about how the approach to player-welfare has developed over the last decade, and what they learnt on a recent fact-finding trip to Australia. There are also reflections on the Challenge Cup Quarter-finals as four men's and four women's teams moved a step closer to the Wembley finals. Kevin also gives his thoughts on an eventful few days at Hull FC, who have parted company with Head Coach Tony Smith and appointed former Leeds Half-back Richie Myler as their new Director of Rugby.

Ahead of the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup, Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Willie Peters joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to relate his rugby league journey from Sydney to Humberside via Gateshead and Wigan. He talks about the culture he's trying to create in East Hull, the progress being made on and off the field, the growth of players like Mikey Lewis and why his year playing at the Warriors alongside the likes of Andy Farrell was the best of his career.

Tanya Arnold talks to Ryan Brierley, the Salford Red Devils Full Back who played in his 300th professional game over Easter. He talks about the highs and lows of a career which has seen him represent Leigh, Huddersfield, Toronto, Hull KR, Salford and Scotland. Ryan reveals the importance of the relationships he has built up during his time in the game, how he suffered from imposter syndrome for a long time in his career, and a difficult end to his time in Toronto. He also discusses his involvement in the drive to ensure players are better represented in the governance of Rugby League and his role as an agent in women's football.

Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined from Australia by the Brisbane Broncos Assistant Coach Lee Briers to talk about life in the NRL. The former Warrington and Wales Half-back has been coaching on the other side of world for the last 18 months and helped steer the Broncos to the Grand Final there in 2023. He describes what it's like to be working with some of the best players in the world, reveals his coaching philosophies and talks about his ambitions to be a Head Coach either in Australia, or back home in Super League. There are also reflections on the Broncos visit to Las Vegas for the opening round of NRL fixtures, and he talks about his time working with Shaun Wane and the England team.

Super League's leading try-scorer Ash Handley joins Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown to talk about his flying start to the 2024 campaign and the secrets to his success so far this season. The Leeds Rhinos winger has scored seven tries in the opening five rounds of the competition and reveals how he was inspired by Basketball legend Michael Jordan to visualize key moments in games and develop new off-field habits to help improve his performance. He talks about his hopes for the rest of the season, and the impact made by Leeds' new signings this year.

Tanya Arnold is at the official launch of the 2024 Women's Rugby League season to preview the new campaign. Guests from all 8 Super League teams reveal their hopes and expectations for the months ahead, including reigning Woman of Steel Sinead Peach, and former Great Britain international forward Denis Betts, who is now in charge of the Wigan women's team. York Valkyrie start as defending Champions whilst St Helens are looking to retain the Challenge Cup, which they won at Wembley in August.

Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined by Catalans Dragons half-back Jordan Abdull to discuss life as a Rugby League player in the South of France and how he is adapting to his new surroundings. Considered to be one of the finest play-makers in the competition, Abdull was surprisingly allowed to leave Hull KR during the winter and is spending the 2024 season on loan with the Dragons. They also discuss the latest Super League stories and what happened in Vegas on the opening night of the Australian NRL season.