Episode 10 - The Tooth In Your Perineum

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Our personal butler Neeves opens the door to the log cabin and welcomes you to this weeks episode.

• Fanmail - Last week we asked what would it take to bail on a team and Jick has forwarded an answer. From following the Bears and then moving onto the Sharks, this gentlemen is obviously a glutton for punishment.

• Raiders vs the Storm - The boys agree on something; they would NEVER like their two teams to merge. A bad colour scheme, Dave Furner as coach and being based out of Albury-Wodonga are just some reasons it is bound for failure.

• Weird Injuries - Poor Adrian Purtell’s heart was bigger than his body gave him credit for. The following are also dangers to NRL players; trampolines, backyard BBQ’s, stray teeth, washing dogs and dressing as a ninja.

• Jumping on the Bandwagon - John Cartwright has been cranking our podcast to motivate his troops. Wayne Bennett on the other hand has merely been teaching players air traffic control skills.

• Former Players as Refs - We discuss the pros and cons of former NRL players donning the pink. Jaded partners, bites on the perineum, journeymen having less bias and concussion are just some aspects.

• Shout out to Kingy - Still no reply from our emails, rudely from South Sydney. How do the Footy Show do it? We find out Kingy is cutting his hair and hold onto the slight hope it may have a Samson effect and he’ll be easier to contact at his new club North Sydney.

Electronic mail is all the rage these days, and as much as we’d never like to see hard post disappear, we encourage you to write to us at leaguebythefireplace@gmail.com, contact us through Facebook, Twitter or leave some feedback on iTunes. We recommend Cognac or Tooheys Old as a listening companion to this podcast (kickbacks)

Enjoy

BONUS - Origin Extra Special Happy Time Number 1

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Welcome to our first ever State of Origin special. We set up the mics and invited some special guests over to the Log Cabin (a lot of them didn’t make it, eaten by wolves..but thats another story) to watch the greatest sporting spectacle on Earth. Fueled by biltong and pure emotion, listen in as this special event was documented for the history books.

If you have any biltong recipes, are a gloating Queenslander or are a New South Welshmen who needs therapy you can get in contact at leaguebythefireplace@gmail.com, Facebook, Twitter or on iTunes. If this is your first time listening, you can download any of the previous episodes as we try no to date them too much!

Enjoy

Episode 9 - We Are Grassroots

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This week we discuss:

• Manu Vatuvei - Manu is to NRL as Shawn Bradley is to NBA? Is he a game breaker, average or simply shit? Pedro brings some stats forward to argue the latter (with no help from David Middleton). If you were a coach would you put your life on the line for him?

• UNIMMORTAL - Another user submitted entry...North Sydney great Mark Soden. No grand final wins (we mentioned he played for Norths right?) and no origins. In fact his final winning percentage is tear-jerking. He can wash the shit out of a dog (literally) but he has not yet garnered a wiki page. With a 50% goal kicking rate, “he’ll wash dogs forever!”

• Bail on your team - What would it take for you to get over your team? Internet heroes are quick to abandon but so far alcoholism, canine sex and salary cap cheating have not been enough

• Shout out to Kingy - Still in pursuit of the one who is hirsute. Twitter, Facebook and emails to management have failed so we thought an email to his NRL club Souths might work. We appeal to their own thoughts of forward thinking, community spirit an player welfare.

• "Salary Cap Cops” - We implore Schubert to look into “the accommodation scandal”. Super league players being bribed with waterfront South Coast mansions. Nuff said.

• Appropriate sponsors - With the Sharks now being sponsored by ‘Sharks’ we discuss potential matching sponsors for other clubs

Please do not email any more suggestion about appropriate sponsors. If you would like to comment on other league matters, have bailed on a team previously or have a nomination for UNIMMORTAL, get in contact on leaguebythefireplace@gmail.com or hit us up on Facebook, Twitter or iTunes. Do you think a dog washer would wash a siamese twin?

Enjoy.

Episode 8 - Open the Origin Flood G8's

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This week on Origin eve:

• Origin Talk - Is the QLD spirit really Darren Lockyer distilled into a bottle? We put on our Hawaiian shirts and cue up to discover. In other news, we are not happy with the person running the Bronco’s twitter feed and their lack of respect for Mick “Staple Head” Devere. Eligibility rules are also at the forefront as we put forward a few novel ideas to end the age old arguments.

• Jumping on the Bandwagon - Multiple NRL bandwagons have bitten the dust like Wile E. Coyote at the bottom of a canyon. We’ve decided to jump aboard the Titans. Who they play next week...we don’t really know.

• UNIMMORTAL - Wayne Bennett’s lovechild Scott Minto..nuff said. True NRL (kinda) great.

• Raiders vs the Storm - Pedro talks about the Raiders non-existent defence and Lobby has to delve into the recent history books to come up with a flimsy argument.

• Refs as personalities - We encourage NRL refs to show more love for the game in the hope of getting some quality new recruits. We don’t discriminate...they can own a giant plasma or a 34cm Teac. They better practice up on the art of magic though.

• Fanmail - Nathan got a bit sticky over vaseline tactics that he wanted us to discuss

Whether you drink XXXX Gold or something else that is actually mildly potable, we’d love to hear from you. Also, if you know of a spirit distilled in NSW you can drop us an email at leaguebythefireplace@gmail.com, hit us up on Facebook, Twitter or on iTunes.

Enjoy.

Episode 7 - 7th Heaven

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“7th heaven..when I see their happy faces smilin' back at me!!”"

This week:

• Shout out to Kingy - With no reply from Blake Ferguson on Twitter we decide to go “old school” and email Matt Kings management company. If we get any more old school we might eventually send a telegram.
• Jumping on the bandwagon - The Sharkies have lost so we have quickly disembarked the moving bandwagon. Pedro wants to jump straight aboard a new one but Lobby is a little hesitant...once bitten twice shy.
• Fanmail!!! - Jimi_Hendrix brings up some great points about our great game, including an NRL phenomenon he has dubbed “the Passing Prop”. He also nominates an...
• UNIMMORTAL - Lance Thompson, as red as you can get. This rudolph rednose son of a gun is a deserving nom' as he truly exemplifies averageness; cusp of rep selection, no grandiose finish and not one to back away from a “sword-fight”. 
• Low Percentage Plays - We live for this shit...the coach killing, heart in the mouth stuff that is borderline crazy genuis. Ankle taps and gridiron passes within. We also attempt to educate; “the optional restart”, sit back and learn bitches. (feat Brian Smith via Jim Henson’s Muppets)
• “Salary Cap Cops” - Former players getting cushy jobs. Ian Schubert (supposed NRL salary cap auditor) thinks a few days work two years ago is sufficient. We don’t. Get out there and crack some skulls Mr. Schubert!!! (especially of unqualified junior coaches and baristas)

As usual you can contact us through Facebook, Twitter or at leaguebythefireplace@gmail.com. Rate us on iTunes (bad or good!). Throw 20 cents into the hat of the next long haired hobo siamese twin you see.

Enjoy

Episode 6 - The 5/8 is number 6. Wait...WHAT?

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We’re a bit late on the power band craze, but this week we decided to wear them whilst recording to see if they enhanced our performance. You be the judge:

• Unimmortal - After discovering Luke Patton is ineligible, we cast our first nomination....Simon “The Germ” Woolford. Retired, no grand final wins, no representative football and fired from his job at Fox Sports; a tragically comic figure and not a shy guy either ;-)
• Fashion in Football - We get all Vogue upside your head. Firstly NRL haircuts; Corey “Silver Fox” Parker, corn rows, David “Grown out Horsehoe” Barnhill and head strapping are just a few. We also debate socks up vs socks down and discuss whether players should have the right to be super tuff and remove their sleeves.
• Jumping on the Bandwagon - Lobby is conflicted as his beloved Raiders are trounced by the fast moving Sharkies bandwagon. A newfound respect is made for some of the Sharks lesser lights. Pomeroy for Origin?
• One on One Rivalries - We yearn for the days of the classic rivalry of Harragon vs Spud Carroll. The bar is set high for the few current NRL rivalries (mostly revolving around Ennis). We also suggest some potential new rivalries including Polar Bears and mascots.
• Home Ground Advantage - We pontificate on the various factors that can give a team the edge while playing at home, be they ambient, innate or simulated. We know about the Storms short in goal, the heat in Townsville and the Raiders big milky goal pads but we put forward some suggestion that we think will help. Pack your Aeroguard.
• Shout out to Kingy - *Warning; this segment contains loud and explicit language* Ok, well just one swear, but you can hear the frustration is Pedro’s voice. We decide our next step to contact Kingy will be through enigmatic winger and prolific twitterer Blake Ferguson who become BFF’s with Kingy in Country Origin camp. We might have to send some noodz though. We’re coming for you Blakey!

Get in contact through Facebook, iTunes, Twitter or our email (leaguebythefireplace@gmail.com), & put forward a nomination for an Unimmortal. Or share us round with your friends like you would a video of a dog riding a skateboard.