Fire Up!

What a joy to welcome Dave Faulkner and Steve Mascord back to Fire Up! Dave's Hoodoo Gurus are about to head out on the Rewind tour, playing somewhere near you, and release an album with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Silk Purse. Steve is not releasing an album but he's certainly on tour with the Rugby League World Cup (in italics)This is a really wide-ranging episode including reflections on falling out of love (with league) and the Doomsday Clock (of league). And, in homage to the Gurus, we see the return of the Axegrinder segment (about league). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Carnovale has designed the Perth Bears logo. Fact. And he talks about the return of the Bears to the big rugby league show. Bronson Xerri's cosmetic journey also features. There is a Rugby League "World Cup" and there is no off-season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite being anything but in the game, the Newcastle Knights still almost had the fairytale finish everyone was wishing for (even Roosters fans). But our game is one of no quarter asked for or given and dreams often come crashing down. To reflect on the biggest week in league, we are joined by Yvonne Sampson from Fox League and PJ Lane of no fixed address. Their combined wisdom gives us the only answer to dashed hopes and bleak results: Fire Up! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fire Up! adds to the great father/son combinations if rugby league by welcoming Dave & Josh Ray to the mike. As Kurt Cobain once put it so well, we say to PVL, "Here we are now. Entertain us." And after the disappointments of Deans and Tones, he is now promising us 11 minutes of joy this Sunday. We review how we got to the Chooks v Knights/Broncos in the GF cheeseburger. And, oh Bullfrog Ritchie, you've done it again! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are joined by Shaun "Tiger" Mielekamp, Wests Tigers CEO, to discuss the NRLW (and the NRL) Finals, the secret life of plastic plants and what's been a packed first year in the job. And we learn that he likes to get his grunge on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fire Up! icon, Redfern Pat, returns to the mike to talk all things footy bunker and footy punter. The NRL Finals got into full swing last weekend but the hip pocket continued to take a hit and they stayed away in droves...or did they?The NRLW instigates its own Deflategate, the Fox falls foul (fowl?) of the Inner West hipsters [allegedly] and we cast an eye over another tale from music history from Matty Johns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broncos whisperer, James Campbell, joins us in time to imagine what the proposed rugby league theme park will involve. Gale reflected on Sydney's previous best theme park but forgot the correct name was Bullen's African Lion Safari Beyond the NRL Finals, we break two huge stories - Robbie Farah & Jason Taylor are on the next season of Australian Survivor and Harry Grant is a Communist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NSWRL supremo, Dave Trodden, joins us, along with Fire Up! regular, Stephen Gorry, to celebrate the dual triumphs of the NSW Blues in the State Of Origins this season. We could have talked forever.But we also had time to look at the Tale Of Two Farewells for Jai and Reyno, the rise of rugby league robots (not the Storms!) and the encroaching censorship of our game that meant that the PNG PM had no idea what Benji Marshall was so ticked off about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PJ Lane joins us to discuss what happens when the likes of Toby Rudolph and Jason Ryles turn their eyes skyward and get hit with that big pizza pie, the moon. We explore all corners of the rugby league globe as refs get together to share offside-coloured jokes, coaches tell the truth (as they see it), players continue their learnings and mascots determine the future of our game. Fire Up! It's Out There!!! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JR returns to Fire Up! and manages to offend an entire country and an entire gender as we review the second Instalment of Indigenous Round. JR's Bugbears also return with 80% all new material. To his credit, JR does dig in and defend the Sydney Roosters, arguing that they are more than just a feeder team for rugby union - they are a humanitarian organisation. And speaking of other codes, we give thanks that we are not the AFL which has more troubles than a monkey on a rock right now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OG Mal Meninga understands. It's an West Coast v East Coast thing.So with a 2028 Perth GF in the offing, the Bears are getting their act together (finally).We're joined by PJ Lane and Alby Talarico to inspect the Bears' jersey, mascot and salary cap/player concessions. And we even preview the new team song.Meanwhile, at SuperJesus HQ, Sarah McLeod AKA PVL is unleashing a torrent of content ideas - 3rd v 4th Froth, Global Round, Global GF, Global NRL Cop and Global NRL Jet. We unpack it all.And what's the deal with the popcorn chicken @ Allianz!?!?!Turn on your grill and Fire Up! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We here at Fire Up! totally respect the NRL's initiative to keep the coverage positive.So Emma Domoney joined us to talk up the game with the exception of the following:blowout scorelines; angry birds (ie. Roosters); blueing Tigers; PVL; visually challenged touchies; Reece Walsh; threatened teddy bears; PVL; Global Rounds; PVL; Matt King's lack of emotion; Manly Sports Management Diplomas....on, and PVL. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Touchline Troubador, Denis Carnahan, paints The Bye Round Studios a shade of Raiders green as we get to grip with what more can be said about the Tigers after you’ve had 21 seconds. Answer: Nothing.Big Club Theory rears its ugly head in the NRLW. PVL may not have been on The Queen’s speed dial. Denis is doing Rugby League the Musical for a 10th consecutive year come Finals time. How can you not be FIRED UP!?!?! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are joined by Kellis Hollis from Hear Her Roar, a Wests Tigers NRLW podcast, as we look at the latest concerns around Big Club Theory as Dragons CEO, Tim Watsford, sees a problem that extends "beyond the football field."We also usher in the era of Sarah McLeod AKA Peter V'landys AKA The Supreme Being.And producer, Jordan Weis, comes off the bench and plays some crashball. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Rule joins us to talk through the delight that is the 10th anniversary of the Beer Footy Food Festival taking place at Henson Park, Marrickville this Saturday.And PWA's Kai Drake says that he will send North Shore Wrestling's Jack Osborne back over the Sydney Harbour Bridge with no belt as the Beer Footy food Championship is put up for grabs for the very first time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Beer Footy Festival is looming large (18 July @ Henson Park, Marrickville) and we welcome independent brewer, Hawke's Brewing Co., to the mike via the agency of their digital marketing guru, Ben Hansen, to talk about their role in the festivities. Fire Up! favourite, Alby Talarico, adds the Newtown Jets perspective. And Fire Up! relationships correspondent, Emma Domoney, looks towards a Taylor & Travis/Vegas/Fire Up! tie up in 2027 (as opposed to a Benji Marshall tie in). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby league means pain, none more right now than is the case for followers of St. George Illawarra. We bring in the Prince of Punishment and media baron, John Gregory, to help process the particular discomfort being endured by Dragons fans. And we tackle one of the greater dilemmas in footy today which has seen Lord Benji Marshall be at odds with Emeritus Professor, Roy Masters, in working out whether league is a game of momentum or a game of thrones…sorry, moments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby league pundit, Stephen Rae, joins the show and adds his voice to Fire Up! in that we collectively know nothing about rugby league. Stephen also is unmoved by the return of Captain Charger up on the Gold Coast. However, alarm bells are ringing that the Storms have remixed their clanging cowbell tape. An inquiry seems inevitable.Fire Up! Covering the real rugby league stories. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Origin II time and it is apparent that rugby league, racing and the punt have never been more intertwined.Helping us unpack it all is Duncan Fine, a renaissance man whose love for the Bunnies is a matter of great pride (of the league).Who is rugby league's Justin Hemmes before there was ever a Justin Hemmes?And for all those who oppose the Leichhardt refurb, we say 'shoosh'...just like Romey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After an inevitable moratorium owing to the goings on at the weekend at CommBank Stadium, Fire Up! returns to duty to explore the existential void associated with being a league fan, nay a sports fan.We trawl through three of the most downbeat of pressers in recent memory in Fire Up!'s Medley Of Misery . Returning guests, PJ Lane and Terry Bull, find out they are connected by Don Lane's love of sport and have Don to thank for their own personal fan miseries.And we take a peek at Hoppa's shopping bag and what makes up his 'Day On A Plate' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.