The Rugby League Cemetery

As we unexpectedly hit 50 episodes, here's some bits and pieces from Cemetery history, featuring Paul Carige, Captain Charger, Blocker, the Nanny named Fran, and Origin Bolter Mark Tookey.

For us, the real joy of grand final week is all in the nervous waits, the races against the clock, the judiciary showdowns, the late fitness tests, and the defiance of doctor's orders, especially doctors affiliated with Manly. We've hit the hyperbaric chamber, explored our options and given ourselves every chance to bring you a very special Grand Final week Cemetery return.

What separates a journeyman from a battler or a Mr Fix-It? How good is too good to be a journeyman? And who is Johnathan Thurston's Barry Berrigan?

How do you spot an Origin bolter? What are the three major categories? And how would all our lives be different if Mark Tookey had got picked for Queensland?

Trademark moves, indiscretions, blunders and triumphs. There are plenty of different ways to be remembered in rugby league.

Leichhardt, packed on a Sunday afternoon with the Tigers' season on the line. Ellery Hanley on the prowl. The first recorded instance of 'Hold the phone Blocker!'. Brad Izzard re-arranging Benny Elias' torso. A runaway try scored by a public servant. Round 21 1988 was as good as it gets.

The 2008 World Cup Final was played in a magnificent vortex, where form, history, reputation, and all sense disappeared.

July 1996 saw the glorious return of Monday Night Football, featuring fireworks, 250 people playing Smoke on the Water, Darren Junee's miracle try, and Adrian Lam's stomach trouble. But would it be enough to out-rate The Nanny?

A reliable and dependable look at the concept of 'underrated' players in the NRL era, featuring safe wingers, defensive centres, scheming hookers, workhorse locks and Mr Fix-it utility men.

The Adelaide Rams gave us so much in their two year existence, from Chubby Checker in full kit, to Tony Iro literally running down the clock. In this episode, we celebrate it all.

The Phantom Siren is a hero of rugby league, but nobody has ever taken the time to tell the full story. Until now. Join us for a journey through more than two decades of Siren shenanigans, from the dizzy highs of bringing about half time 17 seconds early, to the desperate lows of NRL victimisation and repression.

Cronin, Price, Sterling, Kenny, Minogue, Donovan. Just some of the names who achieved glory on the 28th of September, 1986.

Two glorious, exciting sides met in the 2002 Preliminary Final, and neither of them were going to change their style for the occasion.

Wests probably shouldn't have been anywhere near the finals in 1996, and Andrew Willis wasn't anywhere near the posts when he tried a field goal with 45 seconds to go.

After 4 wooden spoons in 8 miserable years, the Magpies welcomed the Wok to Campbelltown with the club on the brink. He got straight to work.

In the first post-Super League Origin, NSW scored more tries, played the better football, and barely missed a tackle. So how did they lose?

Down 34-10 with 25 to go, the Dragons had to find something. Nathan Blacklock found it.

Australia dominated 80 minutes of the 1995 World Cup Semi Final. But somehow it went to 100.

No Leo Dynevor, no 97 Grand Final.

In 1992 the Steelers came good, but not quite good enough.

For three minutes of the 1994 Preliminary Final, it looked like the Bears' luck was turning.

A very long celebration of Priddis, Gower, Sattler, Lang, and one of the absolute finest grand finals.

The baffling madness of the Hunter Mariners and the 1997 Super League World Club Challenge.

If you're not keen to talk about the Chargers and the Steelers, then this podcast probably isn't for you.

Tigers fans, it's time for us to make amends.