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Foreign and public policy specialist, Hugh Piper takes us deep on soft power, sports diplomacy and the role Rugby League is playing and may play in Australia's foreign policy strategy in the Pacific, including through a potential PNG-based team in the National Rugby League.

Trevor Gibbons joins the pod to discuss the writing and legacy of Dave Hadfield, with a focus on the seminal essay collections, XIII Winters and XIII Worlds. Trevor warmly reflects on Dave the person, his influence on British Rugby League writing, as well as some of the escapades he and Dave shared around the world in the name of the thirteen-folk code. Dave passed away in March 2022. And stay tuned after the outro for an excerpt from one of Dave's essays, A Tangerine Machine (with thanks to Phil Caplan and the kind folk at Scratching Shed Publishing).

For Sydney Rugby League fans, there's a bit of mystery and allure about the concept of a one-team-town. Like seriously, how does it work? THE MILK is a super new book that sneaks us a handy little glimpse into what it's like to follow one such team - the Canberra Raiders. But more than that, it's a fun ride through the history of a real community club; a club that arguably changed Australia's bush capital for good.

Raiders legend Alan Tongue joins the pod to talk us through the unsung senses of Rugby League - the stuff that can't penetrate our TV sets. Which smells dominate the dressing sheds, or at a scrum? What does it feel like to 'put on a good shot' or to succumb in a wrestle? And how common is the pre-game spew? Plus, Alan shares his experiences as a community servant and gives us his thoughts on the Raiders' chances in 2022.

PLUM is a cracking new novel about the turbulent post-footy life of Rugby League superstar, Peter Lum. Author Brendan Cowell joins the pod to discuss the process of piecing Plum together and shares what he knows and what he's learnt about footy, fame, concussion, masculinity, the Shire, the Sharks, the Johns brothers' reading habits and much more.

Steve Mascord joins the pod to explain why he took it upon himself to bring back into focus the rollicking ride that was the 1997 Rugby League season in Australia. Armed with a thick wad of interviews with the most influential figures of the Super League era, Steve reflects on what it all meant then and what it all means now. How can we judge who won the war? How should international Rugby League devotees feel about that period? How would the Super League war be reported upon if it unfolded in the 24/7 media and communications landscape of 2021? Lots to chat about; let's get stuck in.

Sports broadcaster, journalist and media coach Niav Owens joins the pod to discuss how professional Rugby League players are preparing themselves to navigate the sprawling world of modern communication. What's involved in turning a shy suburban kid into a formidable sporting ambassador? How has media and communication training evolved with the times? What does the word 'certainly' have to do with it? And what's the deal with eye contact?

Professor Megan Davis joins the pod to discuss the deep and fascinating connection between First Nations and Rugby League, why the Uluru Statement From the Heart matters and how Rugby League helps to bind our society. Plus, Megan gives us a glimpse into how things roll at the Australian Rugby League Commission.

Toulouse Olympique are officially a Super League club. And we have two guests to help us reflect on this sweet sounding sentence. Toulouse Olympique CEO Cédric Garcia joins us to chat about how it all unfolded, as well as the road ahead for the club. And the doyen of French Rugby League history and author of The Forbidden Game, Mike Rylance, helps us put this achievement into historical context.

Author Lech Blaine joins the pod to chat about his Quarterly Essay 'Top Blokes - The Larrikin Myth, Class and Power', which surveys the changing nature of the Australian larrikin and how Rugby League is bearing witness.

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 intriguing state-of-the-Rugby-League-nation notes. Plus, to end the show, a very quick stocktake/overview of all thirteen PRL Book Clubs to date.

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 discuss an interesting case study on the impact that going behind a paywall has had on the popularity of the UK game). 'Code Wars - The Battle for Fans, Dollars and Survival' is published by FairPlay Publishing - https://www.fairplaypublishing.com.au/product-page/code-wars-the-battle-for-fans-dollars-and-survival

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.