Rugby League Insider - James Hooper NRL podast

Choc Fires Up Over PNG’s NRL Advantage, Bradman Best’s Future & Tigers Rebuild | RLIEP185 🏉 Welcome to The Rugby League Insider Podcast Brought to you by FanaticsTV. James Hooper is joined by Anthony “Choc” Watmough and Brandon Savage to unpack the biggest NRL off-season talking points. The team discuss Bradman Best’s future at Newcastle, the November 1 player market and the PNG Chiefs’ recruitment advantage — with Choc firing up over tax-free deals, third-party agreements and what it all means for the Perth Bears. Plus, Mal Meninga’s coaching tensions, Cooper Bai’s future, Wayde Egan’s Warriors extension and the Wests Tigers’ rebuild. Can Benji Marshall turn things around? ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Welcome to Rugby League Insider 2:49 — International footy preview and Tonga’s big omission 3:26 — Bradman Best’s future: Newcastle or Parramatta? 8:01 — Contract talk in representative camps: has the game changed? 9:56 — Super League stories and rugby league’s contract wars 16:10 — Choc fires up over PNG’s recruitment advantage 22:54 — Perth Bears: Mal Meninga, coaching tensions and recruitment 30:18 — Choc’s Manly exit and the politics of rugby league 35:16 — Cooper Bai’s future and PNG’s third-party deals 42:29 — Wayde Egan’s Warriors extension and Kiwis eligibility 46:18 — Tigers secure Samuela Fainu: a key piece of the rebuild 48:15 — Second chances and the pathway back to the NRL 50:06 — Tigers recruitment and expectations for next season 52:51 — Benji Marshall’s coaching, player managers and burying the hatchet 59:22 — Final wrap-up and weekend plans 📞 INSIDER HOTLINE Got a question, opinion or hot take? We’d love to hear from you. ☎️ (02) 8001 6260 Leave us a voicemail and you could feature on an upcoming episode. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🔥 FANATICS CLUBHOUSE Join the Fanatics Clubhouse for exclusive sports content, live show invites, member-only discounts, sports tours, giveaways and bar shout perks throughout the year. No spam — just quality updates delivered straight to your inbox twice a week. 👉 Join now: fanatics.tv Head to www.fanatics.tv for more insights & banter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🏉 Welcome to The Rugby League Insider Podcast Brought to you by FanaticsTV. James Hooper is joined by Craig Gower and Christian Nicolussi to unpack the biggest rugby league talking points. The team discuss the latest mail linking AJ Brimson to the PNG Chiefs, whether the Perth Bears have the roster to compete, and the debate over PNG’s tax-free recruitment advantage. Plus, Sam Walker’s contract standoff with the Roosters, Australia’s World Cup win over New Zealand, Kalyn Ponga’s injury, David Fifita’s resurgence under Wayne Bennett, Josh Addo-Carr’s uncertain Parramatta future and Eli Katoa’s recovery. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Welcome to Rugby League Insider 1:37 — PNG Chiefs recruitment and AJ Brimson transfer mail 5:14 — Can the Perth Bears compete? Roster concerns and expansion debate 15:10 — PNG’s tax-free advantage, player lifestyle and recruitment challenges 20:55 — PNG’s halfback hunt: Cleary, Walker 23:53 — Sam Walker’s Roosters deadline and contract standoff 35:25 — World Cup reaction: Australia overcome New Zealand 36:43 — Kalyn Ponga’s injury and the Kiwis’ chances 41:36 — Can Tonga and Samoa challenge Australia? 43:22 — David Fifita’s resurgence and Kangaroos opportunity 47:13 — PNG Chiefs logo, jersey reveal and naming dispute 50:50 — Josh Addo-Carr’s uncertain Parramatta future 54:32 — Is Jack Bostock the best winger in the game? 55:03 — Eli Katoa’s recovery and potential return 59:39 — Tonga team news and final wrap-up 📞 INSIDER HOTLINE Got a question, opinion or hot take? We’d love to hear from you. ☎️ (02) 8001 6260 Leave us a voicemail and you could feature on an upcoming episode. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🔥 FANATICS CLUBHOUSE Join the Fanatics Clubhouse for exclusive sports content, live show invites, member-only discounts, sports tours, giveaways and bar shout perks throughout the year. No spam — just quality updates delivered straight to your inbox twice a week. 👉 Join now: fanatics.tv Head to www.fanatics.tv for more insights & banter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🏉 Welcome to The Rugby League Insider Podcast Brought to you by FanaticsTV. James Hooper is joined by Simon Woolford and Sean O’Sullivan to unpack a blockbuster opening weekend of the Rugby League World Cup. The team discuss Tonga’s win over England, Isaiya Katoa’s composure, Jack Bostock’s sensational Australian debut and the Kangaroos’ epic clash with New Zealand. Plus, Kalyn Ponga’s injury, Reece Walsh versus James Tedesco, Australia’s halves selection, Samoa’s attacking firepower and the player market heating up ahead of November 1 — including Hudson Young, Xavier Willison and Herbie Farnworth. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Welcome, Simon’s wedding weekend and Sean’s watch-along debut 2:25 — Tonga beat England: defensive grit and controversial calls 6:24 — Isaiya Katoa’s masterclass and Tonga’s forward power 8:46 — World Cup crowds, TV ratings and representative pride 12:05 — Offseason training, fat clubs and old-school Raiders stories 19:08 — Tonga’s injury setbacks and Siua Wong’s dummy-half effort 21:16 — Robert Toia’s rise and Herbie Farnworth’s future 25:39 — Samoa’s attacking clinic and the Tonga showdown 27:42 — Phoenix Crossland, Mitch Moses and Australia’s halves options 30:34 — Jack Bostock’s stunning Kangaroos debut 32:00 — Kalyn Ponga’s injury and the Kiwis’ World Cup hopes 34:35 — Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and New Zealand’s attacking adjustments 37:00 — Reece Walsh versus James Tedesco: who owns the No.1 jersey? 41:19 — November 1 approaches: Hudson Young and PNG’s recruitment push 44:12 — Xavier Willison’s contract situation and Brisbane’s retention battle 46:38 — Herbie Farnworth and the decisions facing off-contract stars 49:05 — Final wrap-up 📞 INSIDER HOTLINE Got a question, opinion or hot take? We’d love to hear from you. ☎️ (02) 8001 6260 Leave us a voicemail and you could feature on an upcoming episode. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🔥 FANATICS CLUBHOUSE Join the Fanatics Clubhouse for exclusive sports content, live show invites, member-only discounts, sports tours, giveaways and bar shout perks throughout the year. No spam — just quality updates delivered straight to your inbox twice a week. 👉 Join now: fanatics.tv Head to www.fanatics.tv for more insights & banter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🏉 Welcome to The Rugby League Insider Podcast Brought to you by FanaticsTV. James Hooper is joined by Anthony Watmough and Brendan Savage to unpack Australia’s thrilling Rugby League World Cup win over New Zealand. The team discuss Jack Bostock’s incredible Kangaroos debut, the selection calls facing Kevin Walters, and whether Australia’s forward pack needs reshuffling for the next Test. Plus, Choc relives the 2008 World Cup final, the debate around responding to the haka, Isaah Yeo’s remarkable injury battle, Bostock’s future, and World Cup previews including England v Tonga. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Welcome to Rugby League Insider 1:24 — Australia v New Zealand: instant Test-match classic 6:06 — Jack Bostock’s remarkable Kangaroos debut 7:45 — Kangaroos selection calls and players short of match fitness 15:40 — Australia’s halves, Munster and the game’s key moments 19:05 — Choc relives the 2008 World Cup final 21:16 — The haka debate and Australia’s potential war cry 29:05 — Jack Bostock’s future and the player market 32:48 — Isaah Yeo’s ruptured pec and playing through injury 36:50 — How Australia can improve: pack balance and team changes 41:30 — Sam Walker, Tom Dearden and the next halves pairing 46:25 — World Cup fixtures: Samoa, PNG, Lebanon, England and Tonga 49:40 — Final wrap-up 📞 INSIDER HOTLINE Got a question, opinion or hot take? We’d love to hear from you. ☎️ (02) 8001 6260 Leave us a voicemail and you could feature on an upcoming episode. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🔥 FANATICS CLUBHOUSE Join the Fanatics Clubhouse for exclusive sports content, live show invites, member-only discounts, sports tours, giveaways and bar shout perks throughout the year. No spam — just quality updates delivered straight to your inbox twice a week. 👉 Join now: fanatics.tv Head to www.fanatics.tv for more insights & banter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🏉 Welcome to The Rugby League Insider Podcast Brought to you by FanaticsTV. James Hooper is joined by Sean O’Sullivan and Brandon Savage to preview the opening weekend of the Rugby League World Cup. The team unpack Australia v New Zealand, including the Kiwis’ imposing forward pack, Kalyn Ponga’s threat, Australia’s selection calls and who can make the difference. Plus, the latest on Jack Bostock, Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Nathan Cleary, Peter O’Sullivan’s move to Brisbane, Newcastle’s roster squeeze, and previews of Samoa v France, PNG v Lebanon, England v Tonga and Fiji v Cook Islands. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Welcome to Rugby League Insider 2:20 — Jack Bostock: Dragons interest, Test debut and rise at the Dolphins 9:06 — Cody Walker’s Souths future and Latrell Mitchell’s contract situation 17:38 — Nathan Cleary puts contract talks on hold 22:00 — Peter O’Sullivan to Brisbane, Justin Holbrook’s Newcastle extension and the Knights’ halves puzzle 33:28 — Australia v New Zealand preview: can the Kangaroos stop the Kiwis? 45:04 — Samoa v France preview 51:28 — Papua New Guinea v Lebanon preview 54:48 — England v Tonga preview 1:03:42 — Fiji v Cook Islands preview 1:09:24 — Final wrap and Australia v New Zealand watch-along 📞 INSIDER HOTLINE Got a question, opinion or hot take? We’d love to hear from you. ☎️ (02) 8001 6260 Leave us a voicemail and you could feature on an upcoming episode. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: Rugby League Insider with James Hooper 🔥 FANATICS CLUBHOUSE Join the Fanatics Clubhouse for exclusive sports content, live show invites, member-only discounts, sports tours, giveaways and bar shout perks throughout the year. No spam — just quality updates delivered straight to your inbox twice a week. 👉 Join now: fanatics.tv Head to www.fanatics.tv for more insights & banter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.