5 live Rugby League

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.

Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined by the RFL's Director of Operations Robert Hicks to discuss the controversial sending-off of Hull FC's Fa'amanu Brown and the governing body's subsequent decision to amend the rules of the game. As the sport continues it's drive to protect players from brain injuries they debate the issues that have arisen in the opening two weeks of the season. There are also reflections on Wigan's epic World Club Challenge win against Penrith Panthers at the DW Stadium.

Tanya Arnold and Kevin Brown are joined by some special guests to preview the World Club Challenge match between the Super League Champions Wigan Warriors and the best team from Australia, the Penrith Panthers. The winners will earn the right to be called World Club Champions. Wigan Head Coach Matt Peet offers an insight into their preparations for the match and talks about his pride in representing the British game in the fixture. Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo joins Tanya and Kevin to talk about his team's time in the UK, and how the Panthers have established themselves as the best team in Australia.

Ahead of the new Super League season the podcast returns with Tanya Arnold at the official launch event to preview the upcoming campaign with some of the key personalities involved. Former dual-code international Sam Burgess is back in the UK as the new head coach of Warrington Wolves, and London Broncos return to the top tier following their promotion from the Championship. Representatives from all 12 clubs discuss their hopes and ambitions for the season, including Matt Peet, the head coach of defending champions Wigan Warriors, who face Australian NRL champions Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge in the second week of the season.

Ahead of this weekend's Challenge Cup semi-finals, Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by the St Helens prop forward Alex Walmsley, whose side face Leigh Leopards for a place at Wembley against either Wigan Warriors or Hull KR. As well as examining the games, Alex talks about what it takes to win a semi-final, the modern science of rugby league recovery and recuperation and the mental strength he needed to come back and play again after breaking his neck.

Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by the legendary Mike Ford. After 20 years as a scrum half in rugby league, playing for the likes of Wigan, Oldham and Castleford, alongside representing his country, he swapped codes and coached for a further two decades in union, with England, Ireland, Bath and Toulon amongst many notable appointments. Now, after swapping codes again to lead a buyout of his home town club, Mike talks about his journey through league to union, his hopes and dreams for Oldham and whether his son and England fly-half, George, could join him at the Roughyeds!

Dave Woods and ex-England international half-back Kevin Brown are joined by the former Widnes Vikings head coach John Kear to discuss a wide range of topics including whether the six-again rule has had its day and should only two men be allowed in the tackle? Plus, who's in line for promotion and relegation from the Championship, have two victories suddenly reignited both Wakefield's and Leeds' seasons and what a job Steve McNamara has done at Catalans.

Dave Woods and ex-England international stand-off Kevin Brown are joined by Neil Ormston of the Rugby League Record Keepers' Club, who's on hand to help answer whether the stats suggest 2023 is the most competitive and unpredictable Super League season ever, why wingers are scoring so many tries and will some of the sport's long-standing records ever be broken? Plus, which current coach should be most worried by Justin Holbrook's potential availability.

Dave Woods and ex-England half-back Kevin Brown are joined by former referee James Child who retired in December after more than a decade of officiating at the top level. They discuss the abuse referees receive, whether they're swayed by the crowd and how they react when they realise they've made a wrong decision. Child also came out as gay while still refereeing and he talks how difficult it was and is for others within sport in general to make that very public decision.

Warrington Wolves' Chief Executive, Karl Fitzpatrick, joins Dave Woods and former England half-back Kevin Brown to discuss IMG's proposals to change the game, grading each professional club to determine who will be in Super League come 2025. Plus, what's behind Warrington's great start to the year and should there be genuine concern amongst the fans of a couple of clubs already?

Dave Woods is joined by former England half-back Kevin Brown and Huddersfield Giants Head of Youth, Andy Kelly, to discuss whether rugby league's reserve team structure is fit for purpose and why it should be a priority for IMG's soon to be released new grading criteria. Plus, there's reaction to the surprise departure of Lee Radford from Castleford Tigers; can the Giants be amongst the silverware this season under ‘rugby league nerd' Ian Watson; and the joys of cold water swimming!