This week a dagger has thrust into the heart of our heroes. Not only do they have to deal with continuous, rubbish “6 again” calls and dubious at best “on reports… now the news arrives that the weekly briefings from the great and powerful, the Hard Running Graham Annersley have been discontinued. Zero foresight for the upcoming broadcast rights deal, this weekly segment had the potential for Gold, Silver and People’s Choice Logie written all over it. Alas they allay their sorrow with tales of wh...
Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Never before has Bills 16 Century ominous foreshadowing of Caesar’s been more pertinent than right here, right now… after one round of the NRL season. This week our Grapplers go ahead and Over- React-lle in a way only the true Ruggest of Rugba Loigers know how. The NRL Media. Who can and can’t win the comp after a full 80 minutes of the season. Who’s happy as Larry and who wants to get the hell out of Dodge asap. Our heroes Grapple with the richest deal in Rugby League history and wonder what th...
Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 11 min
Yes, your heroes are idiots. Big enough idiots to record an episode on the cusp of a cyclone? You better believe it. Because dont we all need something other than Alfred to discuss?
Mar 07, 2025•27 min
On this 1st Birthday Graptacular, our heroes bemoan and empathise with the victim of one of sports biggest scandals of the last decade. When this kind of thing happens to a person the road back to some assemblance of a normal life is hard, laden with trauma and hardship. However, the commitment to self improvement and to be a role model n to future generation"S" can only serve to allay fears of any permanent castigation. You've dealt with so much and even reached out a couple of times... hats of...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 16 min
There's a whiff in the air, a sniff perhaps.. and the tennis world is reeling. Our heroes main concern around Jannik Sinner's 3 month doping suspension- aside from the cries of foul play and uneven playing fields- are its potentially tarnishing impact on our beloved Aussie Open. Staying positive. Kyrie Irving is welcomed back to the Grapple fold, after his decision to become a Boomer. We'll forgive him for calling him 'Team Australia,' for now, so long as he brings home a medal (at age 36) from ...
Feb 19, 2025•57 min
It's mid February, and Aussies are dominating sporting headlines across the cosmos. We now officially have our very own Australian owned superbowl ring, thanks to Jordan Mailata and the Philadelphia Eagles. We have a world where Sam Kerr is once again an extremely gifted footballer and not a walking, talking late night legal drama/ taxi cab confesser on the juice. And we have Aussies doing great things in the NBA, one of them under a doping cloud. And so, we grapple, and our heroes tred a bold p...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 29 min
Left in two parts last week, as if hewn down the middle by a lightsaber, the Grapple limped to the close of January. Now, as February's moon enters Jupiter's orbit the Jedi Returns to make whole what was broken. Cricket remains front and centre in our heroes' cross hairs. Michael Bevan gets his due credit after being every 90's cricket kids hero, Pup's rein at the top is discussed, Smudger's 10K, and they talk about a fella called Don. (Heard of him?) Mentioning Don's, Luka Doncic's unceremoniou...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 9 min
This week our heroes have been cleft in two, hewn asunder and separated by the stars. But Fear not, whilst their stocks are down and their manpower low you will still get your regular does of Grappling with the sports issues of today From Smudgers record breaking one run to Pat Mahomes cloak of invisibility to Mitch Moses parting the Blue and Gold sea and leading his chosen people to the promised land. Frank Molo says YOLO and ditches training in hold out of sorts, Ezra Mam breaks his silence on...
Jan 30, 2025•27 min
As we usher in the new year our heroes make a Grapp-Tacular splash back into the world of sport, issues surrounding sport, pop culture references and vicious self deprecation. This we discuss failures, the failures of government, governance and The Broncos Guvna. The Failures of mainstream media to appropriately prosecute the aforementioned failure ..... and the failure of one of our guys to finish the push up challenge last year. Yes, no sacred cows in 2025... nothing is off limits and everythi...
Jan 22, 2025•49 min
The Christmas Extrava- Grappler As the festive season falls into full swing, and on Break-Up Day of all days our hero’s tackle the touchie subject of Reese Robinson breaking up with the Cowboys. No band aid pull there, more so a long slow good night. And with Roosters bedding their new flame in 2026, does this mean a splitting of the sheets with Brandon Smith? Like eating too many left overs on Boxing Day, will the Roosters cut the Cheese? The Broncos, on the other hand, have been drinking from ...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Christmas is calling and our heroes have failed to decorate Grapple HQ. That doesn't stop them from loading up on the jolly joy of the yuletide season with a tinsel laden extravaganza of sporting analysis and insight, as this Graptacular podcast edges toward the conclusion of its exceptionally merry first season. Santa's workshop is abuzz with speculation about the contract of Ben Hunt and the Broncos, and these two little Elves just can't help but remind one and all that THEY TOLD YOU SO. How d...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Just like when Skywalker returned to Tatooine, The Broncos' very own chosen one has returned to Red Hill in a bid to bring balance to the force. The Disturbance felt when Kevvie was exiled was sharp but mercily short. Their failed attempt to destroy Penrith built DeathStar two years ago now a distant memory as the Rebel Alliance led by Patty, Payne, Reese, Adam and now Dozer steal themselves for a full frontal assault on the Empire. In other news how will Flanno and Ilio fare as halves partners,...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 1 min
After a period of inactivity (a week off) our heroes feel a disturbance in the force…. An awakening….a ripple in the fabric of reality…. Back to back Wallabies wins. This so called anomaly has ignited a battle many a League journo thought to be dormant if not extinct- The Code War.In a time of year when only the darkest off-season scandal gets the cockroaches scurrying to the typewriters, it’s the performance of the so called lesser code that has our best bards penning immaculate tributes to the...
Nov 20, 2024•54 min
The grapplers are wearing shorts and it’s f**king not even summer, but let’s put away complaints about this darn weather and focus on the arrival of the Grapplers Summer Series. Ben Hunt is on the hunt, AJ Brimson is being hunted, and the hunt for some sort of actual detailed information from new Broncos Michael Maguire continues. Tonga are the toast of the rugby league world but can they out-hop the Kangaroos? Does Josh Addo-Carr’s new labouring gig have a bit of a whiff of a politician on the ...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Our heroes are in the lab with those sharp and pointy scientific tools, dissecting a post season that has included a distinct shortage of drama. The above mentioned dramas have been reserved for the off field domain, and it’s the Brisbane Broncos again in the shiny lights. Ezra goes off the grid in a bid to save his career, as the scribes of OUR FAVOURITE outlets get up on the apple box and pontificate about the clubs best direction forward. Has anyone asked if he’s ok? Has anyone reported widel...
Oct 23, 2024•1 hr 13 min
International rugby league kicks into gear, as rugby league fans everywhere gasp for air at the end of a seemingly interminable season. Oh wait, it’s not the end… because there’s still internationals to play. And it’s a shame there’s a bit of fatigue around, because the International matchups are juicier than an early 00’s Mad Monday. Can the Kangaroos overcome the ‘second tier’ and reclaim their dignity as the pre-eminent league playing nation? And all rise.. captain Yeoh is on the bridge! Mean...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 1 min
As well as being a highly effective run play in American Football, a delay can also mean time lapsing between two people discussing issues on a podcast using a digital platform. This, amongst many other obstacles and barriers, is what our heroes had to contend with in the Grand Final/Offseason Kick off episode. All the Grand Final stories are disclosed, discussed and dissected and - The Howarth no try, The Yeo no Medal, The NAS no show, The Luai no stay, The Kid Laroi no smoke......and The Hard ...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 4 min
This week our two heroes are squarely sandwiched between the AFL and NRL Grand Finals. On one hand it's all celebrations and leaping on Lions wagons that carry bands, and on the other it's the steely focus on the absolute Clash of Rugby League Titans. (not of the Gold Coast variety) 1-13 who gets over who on Sunday? Early late mail on who gets Herbert Henry's award? Unable to play in the GF and until after a full lunar cycle in the new season..Does NAS go back to Brooklyn? Will Rudolph be red no...
Oct 02, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Did King Arthur and his knights of the round table sweep into Camelot riding a mob of noble Kangaroos? The answer is no, at least if Kalyn Ponga was one of those Knights. Our heroes dissect the decision to say ‘no’ to Straya, whether it’s sensical, and whether punishment is indeed warranted. They then shake off the cobwebs with a spirited correction session, admitting to being human by unpacking a couple of ‘minor’ errors committed in the previous episode. All the nonsense aside, it’s the rare o...
Sep 25, 2024•56 min
This week our star duo are made whole again as Joel returns from the Heart of Darkness- "At first, I thought they handed me the wrong dossier."Conspicuous by his absence is any conversation this week is the Hard Running Graeme Annersley. Are our heroes :"Graeme'd Out"? Are we suffering from the dreaded "Graeme Fatigue"? Or is it like beating yourself in the head with a needle hammer? Only time will tell.Finals predictions abound as teams fight for their survival but is the comp a two horse race?...
Sep 19, 2024•1 hr 2 min
With milestones in the rear view for the time being, our hero duo have been cleaved asunder again. The rock upon which the Grapple was built, Mr Spreadborough, has earned some R&R before a balls to wall tilt towards the Grand Final. In his stead, Mr Manning required a man for all seasons, an experienced sports head, a calm head, a bald head .. so the choice was simple- Mr Worldwide. Cowboys and Eels former great Shane Muspratt takes reins on Joley’s side of the desk to carry Johnny through w...
Sep 12, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Our heroes launch into the milestone 30th episode of the Grapple with a eulogy of sorts, lamenting ongoing mutations and bastardisation of a game once known as Rugby League. Former NRL hard man Jamie McDonald calls in to weigh in on the plight of a game that’s gone too far down the path of change to retract, and ponders what it might mean for the future. Then we shake off the sads and rip into another epic round of confusion and point scoring. We all love attacking footy but 434 is just a bit mu...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 8 min
As the saying goes, two heads are better than one, this week our heroic duo is made whole again as Joel returns from the deep, dark abyss of a Brisso winter flu. With a full deck in our hands and systems operating at full capacity our two soldiers take aim at the Hard Running Graeme again and the fascist language contained in the NRL email out for his weekly briefings....not so brief these days. The bunker is under siege and the reffing in the cross hairs, but just like Wyatt at the OK Corral, G...
Aug 27, 2024•49 min
As our Heroes battle the Dreaded Brisbane Exhibition one falls a foul of the infamous Ekka Flu. And so The Grapple Lite is born.As Joel battles Dante’s 7th circle of hell Johnny fumbles his way through the announcement of the 14th Immortal - You little Ronny Coote!! A stack of the boys responsible for 8 straight getting a start in the HOF, plus the Pearl and Lionel Graeme Graeme-splaining as only Graeme can, age old arguments against 6 agains and challenges, and what needs to happen for your tea...
Aug 22, 2024•31 min
As the games of the 33rd Olympiad draw to a close (enough about old Frenchie's mort already) our heroes look for inspiration from some of the great performances, memorable moments and influential figures - From Turkish-Jason Bourne to Noah “Weekend-at-Bernie’s” Lyles to Cam” Mark Watney” McEvoy.... (Never a shortage of Matt Damon references) .... - Enter Aragorn Meares, cleaving quipping journo's asunder and prompting one little black duck to delete a slightly derogatory social media comment. Th...
Aug 14, 2024•1 hr 11 min
This episode sees our two heroes on a quest to find out what in god's name has gone wrong with the Broncos. Switching gears there's always grappling in the Olympics and home town favourite, poor old Anthony Ammirati is grappling with an early exit from the pole vault...but let's be honest the 21 year old may have lost the battle, but he's definitely won the war. Not one to sit around and console himself with a baguette or two, his Instagram followers have grown faster than a honeymooners horn. T...
Aug 07, 2024•1 hr
Our heroes are dissecting the truth behind the NRL's head honcho undertaking a 'recruitment mission' to Paris, and dreaming about rugby league's inevitable and eventual foray into the Olympic games. They are a little confused by some of the commentary around Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds' suitability for the (c) in Brisbane, and are calling a big steaming pile of BS on Brian To'o having the s**ts at Penrith. They get the medical hats on to try and understand why confusing neurological terminolog...
Aug 01, 2024•55 min
Well done to the NSW blues on an epic victory in the 2024 state of origin series. And commiserations to those enjoying the victory, who had to deal with some of the BS in the aftermath. Our heroes lift the lid on some poor form detracting from the grace of a well deserved victory, and unpack the words of an anonymous letter sent by someone in the maroon hierarchy. The broncos are back, the cowboys are initialising a changing of the guard, and the Knights are ready to rumble with their own coach....
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 1 min
An Origin decider.... at the Cauldron...... QLD is up against it...... No Bloody Worries...... This week our Heroes Grapple with a game 3 that seems unwinnable against a team that looks unbeatable in a series that is all but unsalvageable....... But isn’t this exactly how we like it? We draw on the spirit of Arthur, the work rate of Horse, the tenacity of Turtle, the guile of Alf, the physicality of Boxhead the Toughness of Jed and the finish of Dozer. This week we need all the greats, all the F...
Jul 16, 2024•43 min
Billy's under pressure, QLD are underdogs, and the bunker cocks another one up. It's a big week for rugba legg, and our heroes are up to their necks in a tireless search for answers to questions you didn't realise you needed to know. Are media bans actually media bans? What would Reece Walsh talk about anyway? Who's been the most under pressure State of Origin coach in history? Is a broken leg a blessing for Nicho Hynes? And are the NRL's touted record participation numbers actually papering ove...
Jul 10, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 22
