The Grapple

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&#...

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 gre...

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 discus...

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...

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 finis...

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...

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 Br...

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...

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 t...

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...

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 pontif...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 w...

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 an...

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 ano...

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...

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 on...

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 jour...

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 arou...

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...

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...

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...