The Magpie Wing is a wonderful new coming of age novel with Rugby League in its veins. Author Max Easton joins the pod to chat about the threads that connect south-west and inner western Sydney, the quandary that is the Wests Tigers, and a man called Tommy.

In a game of fighters, Steve Mascord has always been a Rugby League lover. But what happens when that love runs a little cold? What do we love when we love Rugby League and what's really happening when it's all getting a little rocky? Steve joins the pod to candidly reflect on his revolving relationship with the game.

Gavin Willacy's past 10 months has mirrored somewhat the state of International Rugby League - an ongoing battle with COVID-19, and a hopeful look ahead towards the Rugby League World Cup on the horizon. The 'No Helmets Required' author joins the pod to share his experience with Long COVID and sticks around to chat about his thoughts on RLWC2021 - will it go ahead, and if so, what are the fixtures he is especially looking forward to. PLUS, we discuss the state of Rugby League in London.

Rugby League analyst Jason Oliver joins the pod to go deep on the NRL's on-field traits and trends, including - you guessed it - the Six Again rule. How much of a difference is it making? What are the good teams doing to take advantage? And has it made the NRL more or less attractive? PLUS we discuss the role of the modern fullback and chat about the two Rugby League topics that get Jason's blood pumping more than any other - the Warriors and Shaun Johnson.

Geoffrey Moorhouse's AT THE GEORGE And Other Essays on Rugby League is widely considered to be one of the best Rugby League books of all time. Rugby League author, publisher and connoisseur of the Rugby League written word, Phil Caplan joins us to reflect on why At The George is still so highly regarded, what lessons it can still teach us and what it says about the game in both hemispheres. A deep and wide-ranging chat that looks at At The George's legacy and also inevitably hits on...

We're especially lucky to be joined by Donald McRae to chat about his magnificent recent article on the beautiful Rob and Lindsey Burrow.

Ross Peltier has had a busy week. Just days after contesting his first election, Ross laced up his boots for his post-Covid return to Rugby League for Doncaster RLFC. Ross also kindly found the time to join the pod to chat politics, Rugby League and his unfinished business playing for his beloved Jamaica Reggae Warriors.

So which football code is Australia's most popular - and why isn't it Rugby League?? 'Code Wars - The Battle for Fans, Dollars and Survival' is a fascinating examination of Australia's four-football-code landscape, and into the psyche of the nation. Author of 'Code Wars', Dr Hunter Fujak joins the pod to talk us through the past, present and potential future of Australia's unique football code marketplace, and Rugby League's place within it. (And for fans of British Rugby League - we also...

The incomparable Ian Roberts joins the pod for a wide-ranging and candid chat about his life in Rugby League and beyond.

Mary Konstantopoulos is The Lady Who (among other things) Leagues, and joins the pod to chat about the lie of the land for women in Rugby League in 2021. How did we get here? What can we do better in the future? And what has Mary's path taught her about the world in which we live? The state of the game for women in Australia is on the agenda. And there's no better time to talk about it.

You are invited on a (virtual) road trip around the grounds and towns of the French Elite One. Yes, it high time we focused on this storied Rugby League institution, so grab a seat as we cruise through the towns, cities and villages of the Elite One with our esteemed French Rugby League guides: Mike Rylance as our driving companion Pierre Carcau on life outside the heartlands Rodolphe Pires on his home town of Albi Laurent Garnier on playing and coaching in the Elite One Steve Brady on...

Dr Heidi Norman joins the pod to give us a bit of a history lesson and help us better understand the societal factors behind some of the big milestones in Aboriginal Rugby League in NSW.

The Guardian's Jonathan Liew joins the pod from London to help us traverse the UK sporting landscape to try find Rugby League's place in it.

Once Were Lions is a fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary about the 2019 Great Britain Rugby League Lions tour of the Pacific. The film's Director, Tom Magnus joins the pod to give us a glimpse into how it all unfolded.

Toronto Wolfpack Chairman and CEO Bob Hunter joins the pod to reflect on his time on the frontline of Rugby League's northern frontier. Growth, promotion, COVID, expulsion - Bob gives an honest account of where it went wrong and what could have been.

Journalist Mike Meehall Wood joins the pod to lay out the case for Private Equity to take International Rugby League to the next level, and to discuss the pros, cons, possibilities and barriers. Plus, how might a private equity investment work for the Super League?

Toulouse Olympique coach Sylvain Houles joins the pod to reflect on his life in French Rugby League - rising through the ranks, cracking Super League, representing the French national team and leaping into coaching. PLUS Sylvain shares his best French XIII from his lifetime.

Rugby League is turning 125! So what can the last 125 years of Rugby League tell us about what we could expect in the next 125 years? Professor Tony Collins joins the pod to help us take on the impossible task of wondering aloud on what may (or may not) happen way down the track. That's right, it's an episode of pure (but hopefully informed) speculation! Tony's new book, Rugby League: A People's History is out through Scratching Shed Publishing

Lech Blaine joins the pod to chat about his latest The Monthly essay, The Art of Class War, which tackles Rugby League's relationship with class in Australia, as well as the rise of Rugby League as a prized voting-bloc and what that means for the code's future.

Romeo Monteith joins the pod to give us a glimpse into the Jamaican Rugby League experience. From early days learning the game off VHS, to State of Origin Jamaica-style, Romeo steps us through the long winding road that ultimately led to glorious Rugby League World Cup qualification. Plus, Romeo explains how the Reggae Warriors will be preparing for their debut World Cup appearance in the midst of COVID-related uncertainty.

The Wolfpack are down, but are they out? Canadian broadcaster and reporter Bryan Thiel gives us the view from downtown Toronto. How did it come to this? Can something be salvaged from the 2020 ruins? Plus Bryan gives us a glimpse into the Lamport experience, the challenges of winning over UK fans, and how Wolfpack fans have taken to Rugby League in Toronto.

Richmond Rose, Kiwi Fern and NZ Warrior, Georgia Hale is our very special guest to chat all things Kiwi Ferns; from debuting as a 19 year-old, to the 2019 World Cup Nines triumph and the challenge of wresting the 13s mantle from the Jillaroos. Georgia also gives us a glimpse into what it's like being named Young New Zealander of the Year and the amazing community work that led to her award.

The world is drowning in data, statistics and information. And Rugby League is not immune. Liam from Pythago NRL joins the pod to help us make a bit more sense of it all. How should we approach the use of data and stats in Rugby League analysis? What are the pitfalls we should avoid? How much faith should we put in statistical modelling? And what are some tips to help us use stats and information more wisely?

What's the latest with Toulouse Olympique in 2020? What's life like for an Aussie plying his Rugby League trade in south-west France? Mark Kheirallah and Johno Ford join the pod to give an insight into how they've handled lockdown, their thoughts on a 2020 return, how a Rugby League Grand Final Day rolls in France, RLWC2021 thoughts, and plenty plenty more...

This one's all about Queensland. We're joined by Joe Gorman to discuss his book Heartland: How Rugby League Explains Queensland. We go deep on how Rugby League has both reflected and helped shape Queensland over the past 40 years. From the mania around Origin and the rise of the Broncos, to Super League, the Cowboys' coming of age and the contribution of indigenous Queenslanders to Rugby League, Heartland covers more terrain than a Sunshine State road...