PODCAST · sports
The Grapple
by The Grapple
Welcome to The Grapple!Broadcasters, thespians and shameless sports geeks Joel Spreadborough and Johnny Manning take a deep, irreverent tumble into the world of Rugby League, sport, life in general..and god knows what else.
Episodes
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XXXIIXXXIIXXII: The Equinox of the Southern Cross
Grapple Global returns to Austrayan shores in the aftermath of a perfect sporting weekend, delivered via the nation's oval shaped codes. Perfect why, you asketh? Well, we'll tell'eth. It's not the results, although they are spectacular for Roosters/Knights/Lions/Wallabies fans. It sure aint the...
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Grapple & Zoom: The Hiatus ends
Heroes return, technology tests, opinions flow, insight dazzles. The Grapple is back from a short hiatus. All hail our new emperor, PVL Palpatine.
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Grapple Special: A Chop off the old Axe
It's a delightful tonic for a wounded state. Going down in a humbling to the Blues in a cauldron decider is heavy hitting for Queenslanders.. so our heroes figured why not cheer them all up by going all in with a heavy hitting Queenslander? Even the Bluest of Blues will get a tickle from the…
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Origin legacies to cheer up QLD: Trevor Gillmeister Grapple special
Don't worry about Origin 3, 2026 Queensland fans. A minor blip in an illustrious history full of devastating warriors. On that note, enjoy this deep dive into the life, career and inner most everythings of one of the Maroons greatest hitmen. They call him the axe for a reason, and our heroes have…
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The Genesis of Miles: A Grapple Oddysey with a QLD legend
Lewis to Miles, Miles in the clear, TRY time. A version of the above was a very frequently used line in the 80's, as the REAL inventor of the flick pass cemented his legend in one of rugby league's most storied backlines. Gene Miles almost didn't make the journey from Townsville to Brisbane when...
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A State of Origin’al thinking
A series won a series lost, A sacred setting, a twisting plotm Maroon and blue, the chase and the hunt. And a whistleblower who apparently doesn't hate a punt Time to grapple with Ashley Kleins tough week, state of origin, and Australia's best ever FIFA World Cup display. Time to work out who…
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SPECIAL EP: GRAPPLES OF ORIGIN- Mark Coyne and the miracle
'That's not a try, that's a miracle.' An especially special State of Origin adjacent special from our heroes, who go deep with Maroons legend Mark Coyne. From the BRL in the 80's, NSWRL in the 90's, to THAT try, it's a Grapptacular lens into some vintage rugby league folklore. And it's all yours....
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THE MIDWINTER BALLS: ORIGIN FOLKLORE WITH SOME TECHNICAL YIPS
And so we arrive at a critical juncture Premiers buckling like a cyclist with a puncture FIFA takes over, Ben Stokes goes on a bender As Aussie crickets crisis reaches a crescend..a Studio transition pains have forced our heroes into a hibernation at an inopportune time of year. Only a marginal...
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Episode 26.26.26 Walker's On, An Origin Story.
Its that time of year, state vs state, mate vs mate Bill's team looks good, Lozza’s is strong, but who’s will be great? Amongst all this the game is under heavy fire, the best judges have grave fears All we can say at The Grapple.. we’ve been telling you this for years…. A year ago.. this sydney...
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CONFLUENCE OF INTELLECT
The Chiefs have got their guy, what about the bears? In more ways than one, down the barrel Bellyache stares the NRL reckon. the games are not too fast and injuries are down.. The more Annersley digs, the more he just look likes a clown It's a time of great expansion and industry. From the…
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26.856798: CHUBBY HEAT
The dragon lords did gather.. authoritarian their intent Shitting out excuses.. as out Flanno went While the kings of men and women bask upon their thrones Gazing afar to a land of mist, shadow, and royal bones For it is in England the claim of supremacy shall be staked A super duper investment.....
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Episodio 26: McDuffing The Matrix
The QLD Reds wind back the clock The Wahs deliver an ominous shock Gout and Lachy signal a golden era ahead.. And can Flanno put the doubters to bed? Through the trials, tests and tribulations of life, through, natural disaster, acts of god and existential crisis, our heroes stand tall as…
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Episode 26 to the izzle: GRAP AND GO
Our heroes emerge from a two week Easter hiatus like a pair of cracked Easter eggs being devoured by bears with headaches and largely vacant playing rosters; taking derisive aim at everything from tackles to whistles and showing about as much quarter as a late night truth social post. On the...
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Episode 26.5 The Cherry Sherry Lomax Effect
Star players dropping like flies, why would you be a coach? PVL reckons its all on the players, now the refs seem beyond reproach? The Queensland Teams are challenged to show some starch… For two of their coaches we say “ beware the ides of March”..... Et Tu Brute? Well No Jules, not…
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EPISODE 26.4 THE UNDULATING ZEITGEIST
Oh where, oh where could our heroes be? Oh where, oh where could they be? Scanning the fields and domes of sporting prowess And sharing all that they see. From Broncos besieged and coaches at ends to justify their means, To grand designs and hastily issued fines, and a very rugby league looking...
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Episode 26.3The Symbology of Ultron
The changing of seasons is not lost on our courageous heroes this week. As the spark of summer subsides, and the leaves begin to brown on the autumn trees, the often common bedfellows of Rugby League and Poetry assume their natural and more favoured positions of front and centre in the cultural...
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EPISODE 26.2: FRYING UP THE ARTICHOKES
As we spiral headlong into a cultural collision course with Las Vegas and its Allegiant Stadium…curiously dubbed the Death Star…. Our heroes lifelong quest to uncover the Sith, who are really running the NRL , is realised. And you’ll be shocked who Darth Jar Jar actually is. This explosive...
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Episode 2/6 + 1.0 : ANONYMOUS HEROES
As a new season sets in and the NRL sets its sights on a possible Friday night footy adventure into Sarajevo or Constantinople, our heroes emerge from the gloom with a belated but brazen return to the microphone for 2026. An off season deemed not really worth coming back early for is swiped left...
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Litigious Arbitratious
As Summer descends and the Mercurio rises our heroes muse over the mere concept of a new world order. One where athletes can play for whomever they wish, where ever they wish and the threat of life long bans is a campfire horror story told by broken down old footballers to their wide eyed...
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THE EMBRYONIC FLEDGE
Australia bloods more bats.. England phones it in Vlandys struggles to put the entire NRL playing group in the bin The Wallabies are a game away from rugbys greatest sin AND the CELTIC COUNTRIES CAUS CHAOS with dramatic last minute wins Alllll happening in the world of sport and our heroes are...
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Andrew and Peter challenge the Klingons for total interstellar rule
Andrew and Peter challenge the Klingons for total interstellar rule Crawleys crying that Kev leaving out the Emus is cruel… The Wallabies slip to seventh but do not despair While Josh Giddey now sits in Rarified This week Grapplers call for action on the NRL. The only consistent is the...
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Chapter BS: Reading the Reader
It’s chaos as always as the rugby logo moidia dishes up the same number of shoddy headlines, only with less personnel on the tools. Our heroes call into question some of the analytical reads read out by B. Read to millions of mainstream readers. Short version: they stink. Assistant coaches are...
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Episode CENSORED: F the Effin' Eff Off
The sun rises on an all new ashes series The Kangaroos team has raised a couple of vexing queries Our women’s cricket team continues in their merry way The Wallabies, the NFL, The NBA and Shohei Otahn-ey Our heroes assess international eligibility and the role of the Kangaroos assistant coach who...
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The Slightest Sniff of Context
The Slightest Sniff of Context In the off season you think there’s nothing to do Why not stay up late and watch the Kangroos Whilst we can always rely on a scandal to keep things spicey Just don’t listen to the media… they info can always a tad The N and L have been removed as prefixes to 360 and...
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EPISONCO BRONCO: WHIP IT TIL ITS HOARSE
We will fly way up high Where the cold wind blows The Wallabies leave their worst til last And you will free the beautiful bird That's caught inside your heart Oscar Piastri falls afoul of the favourite child at McLaren And that's the way it's gonna be, little darling We'll be riding on the…
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EPISODE 80B: Delusions of Grandeur
Talty Must be salty after missing the big dance As Teddy plays it steady with a season ending romance The Bledisloe heads West to the land of the bears As the AFL bounces the bounce.. amidst officiating safety fears As one of our heroes is this week in the throes of impending ecstasy as Grand…
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Episode Red 17- The Chronicles of Vlandya: the Horse, the panther and the can of hairspray
Stage is set, and we’re gunna go right over the top.. with Cliches, claims and predictions that are gunna be hard to cop. Don't despair, don't lose hope there’ll be smatterings of intelligent chat But its the Grapple Baby and its finals…and that is mutha fuckin that This week our heroes wax…
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Episode - 3DULTRAMAX: A whiff of Rooster
As things in the NRL start heat up in the finals, one Rooster looks like he could be on the rotisserie ready to be bagged up and left in a warmer at your Coles Local for a much longer time than the health department recommends. And as that Rooster rapidly bakes up a near lethal dose of footy...
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EP150D3 50085: THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY HIP DROP
Sometimes you need to make up or invoke far fetched hollywood movie plots or fairytales to try and translate some of the NRL's decision making; and in the case of the backflip on a would be Nicho Hynes finals missing hip drop charge, look no further than the 1999 Crime Thriller 'Double Jeopardy;'...
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Episode - A2 +B2 = C2 The Mitigating Swayze
This week our Humble Heroes are back on deck in the bunker and spewing forth truth bombs for those whose ears are lucky enough to bath in the self-righteousness. Only the most critical of questions being asked in a forum that has zero space for whim, levity or hoopla. Does Madge have the Broncos...
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Round Penultimate Zero: SHOCK ALLEGATIONS AND EXPLOSIVE REVELATIONS
Our heroes reunite for a fearless and graceful series of pirouettes through an array of Winter ending sporting shenanigans. The NRL's penultimate round has penultimately proven that the NRL actual top 4, which is actually a top 3, is penultimately better than anything below it- especially the...
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Episode 33.333333 Man Down Man Up
This week the NRLs very own Friday Night Lights. Heidelberg United are giving the Aussie Cup an almighty fright Tino hitting the open market to make a quid and this week redemption is pronounced Joe Schmidt! The team sees their linchpin goes down to short term injury and once again the next man…
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Episode Ninety-Na Na - Hiatus Ingratus
The Grapplers are BACK after a mid winter hiatus AND bugger me drunk if a a cavalcade of narratives dont await us THE NRL irons out its contenders with a weekend of truly chaotic stuff The Boomers cant win the Olympics, but sure as shit cant lose the Asia Cup SO STEP ON UP… DONT BE SHY… TIME TO...
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Episode 33.3 recurring ROLLERBALL
Roll on, roll on, the footy is rolling into a new phase of wild interpretation Kevs gone from the outhouse to the hopping heart of the nation Frizelle gives Des the ultimate lack of endorsement So constable hasler might look for a gig back where it all started… in law enforcement This week our...
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Episode Eleventh-Teen You’re gonna hear me Roar…
The Red Coates descend upon Brisbane – Independent fire at will The Wallabies rue the loss of Robbie V Another Red team, A finals appearance for the Dolphins could be on the Bill.. The Open Championship at Port Rush.. Aussies struggle on that Irish Tee… Time to Grapple..and yes indeedy it is the...
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EPISODE MAROON 5: THE ORIGIN STORY OF ORIGIN STORIES
EPISODE MAROON 5: THE ORIGIN STORY OF ORIGIN STORIES Another Origin series goes to plan Big Pappi showed he is the man, The Lions played the Brumbies, Canberra Stadium was full And Christian Horner finally given the ass by Red Bull.. It’s important to be balanced and resist bias in the world of...
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EPISODE 65ty: KEEPING ON KEEPING ON
The Lions are roaring… and Owen Farrell is never boring 4 tours of duty.. and the Wallabies are in the crosshairs The decider countdown is on.. Who's gonna be happy.. In Origin 2 the Blues were crappy.. Will they handle the comeback of big Papi. In an age of constant media scrutiny and attention...
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Episode 42.3: Go West, life is peaceful there
We love Selwyn, according to Madge Yet here’s 2 signings… wearing the same badge.. A bloodbath in Barbados.. Or just a slow start.. And Wayne redefines working into the grave.. Cos hes a bit of an old fart. The future of wayward Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo is revealed by the Grapplers, who have…
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EPISODE IV: THE MUNROONS STRIKE BACK
The Maroons live to fight another day Cant wait to hear what Woodsy has to say Fort the rest of the Rugby League media, Crow is on the menu And where the hell was Spencer Leniu? Plenty to Grapple with as our heroes digest a significant Queenslands bounceback on a sodden and miserable Optus…
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Volume THX1138: The Cherry falls far from the tree
Billy names anew skipper and he’s on the Munny The blowback on DCE hasn’t been real funny Wayne hoses down rumours of Cobbo becoming a bunny… Socceroos go straight through on a Metcalf strike… sweet like honey This week our heroes tackle the topics of Origin selections, Aaron Woods words and the...
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Episode 7.65.3214: The sound of football
It’s the sound of footy right now.. and its nothing new Gus plays us all… we collectively stew The prospects of the maroons… look decidedly blue So lets distract ourselves with lachlan Kennedys very fucking fast SHOES TIME TO GRAPPLE. The optics of the NRL’s relationship with key broadcasters and...
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Episode I (not really but State of Origin One) - The Post Mortem
The Autopsy of the Queensland Corpse will be conducted by Johnny and special guest host Shane Muspratt It's the day after the night before. Our heroes, fresh from an evening that began with confident anticipation and ended with deep, dark depression, have the unenviable task of picking over the...
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Episode VIVIXA - The Hero's Journey
As one of our heroes takes a sabbatical his seat is filled by a special Guest Host. Regaling tales of Paris, Osaka, Suncorp Stadium and nights on the jars with Alf, Luttsy places his feet in the sizable shoes left by Joely. The Origin teams have the rule run over them and surprisingly the…
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Horses
An overcast Queensland Autumn Tuesday evening , on the roof of a Leagues on Fulcher Road Red Hill, a solitary man cuts a forlorn figure as pulls the cover off a large spot light pointed into the Brisbane sky and grits his teeth as he flips the switch….. he sighs as sparks shoot from the steampunk...
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EPISODE XIXIXXXIIXXX: The UMPIRE STRIKES BACK
It is a time of great upheaval. The NRL.. obsessed with its quest to flood players' veins with hyperdrive fuel and create the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy, have created a paradox of umbilical proportions. Referees are afraid not to blow the whistle, while also being terrified of its…
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Uncompromisingly Safe
As player safety continues to be the number one issue in Rugby League today our heroes are buoyed with confidence knowing the NRL will not.... ever.... compromise...... if there's a fire. Our heroes provide the CSA that there has been no crackdown, none...Crackdown here, no... The 18 sin bins…
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BLOW THE WHISTLE & PUT IT IN THE BIN
As any Statistician on a juicy consulting wage from the NRL will tell you, records are made to be invented, and it's with this gusto that our heroes grapple with yet another glorious 'crowd record' declaration issued from Pyongyang. That, alongside the scheduling of a double header to take on the...
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Tigers Time to...GALVINISE
The only thing Grappling harder than our heroes this week isLachie Galvins Instagram algorithm. Withthe young man being essentially boned this week by Benji our heroes doingsomething no other media outlet is doing...provide an opinion on the Tigers/Galvin saga..... but wait there's more. Despite...
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Grap around the 8th: SMEARING THE SMEARERS
Join our heroes for a crucial investigation, as they try and work out exactly WHO started the ugly, damaging smear campaign against outgoing Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans. A long list of suspects and a longer list of clickbaity dickheadery; let’s just say it’s an investigation breaching deep...
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Season 2025 Episode 8- Where the hell is Graham?
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....
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Grapple have?
The Grapple currently has 98 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Grapple about?
Welcome to The Grapple!Broadcasters, thespians and shameless sports geeks Joel Spreadborough and Johnny Manning take a deep, irreverent tumble into the world of Rugby League, sport, life in general..and god knows what else.
How often does The Grapple release new episodes?
The Grapple has 98 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Grapple?
You can listen to The Grapple on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Grapple?
The Grapple is created and hosted by The Grapple.
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