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00:00 Lachie brings a new Winter Olympics themed game to the pod. 11:00 We talk all things NRL, particularly the new Origin eligibility rule. 26:12 We congratulate Brazil and Australia on a history making Winter Olympics. 34:09 We reflect on the very fun looking weekend at LIV Golf in Adelaide. 37:28 We ask where it all went wrong for Australia's T20 World Cup campaign. 42:29 We talk Six Nations rugby and provide a HUGE Raeburn Shield update. 44:59 Lachie gears up for his Sportshed TV Charity Match this Sunday. 50:08 We wrap the poddy and tease some trivia in this week's Gazelle Gazette. INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@playingandsimple WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PODCAST RECORD BEFORE THIS WEEKEND'S NRL TRIAL MATCHES. Simply the Guest this week is Wests Tigers #1 fan, Matty G. Matty is a podcaster (Speak Free with Matty G) and content creator, and he talks to us about how his love for the Tigers has shaped his content and online presence. Follow Matty G: https://www.instagram.com/speakfreepodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/thisismattyg/ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@playingandsimple WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 For the first time ever, we go head to head in Sparts. 09:46 We get stuck into the massive Payne Haas news in the NRL. 29:59 Harvey names his transfer team of 2026. 35:04 We each provide our favourite Winter Olympic moments so far. 40:29 Lachie speculates on the viral Man Utd fan who could very possibly be getting a haircut. 43:40 We wrap up the poddy with some exciting news from the Raeburn Shield and the Gazelle Gazette. INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 We play Athlete Venn Diagram for the first time in 2026. 07:05 We farewell the Aus Open and deliver some wild stats from it. 14:25 We gear up for the Winter Olympics and Lachie names an athlete to watch. 20:54 We touch on some hot topics in the NRL. 30:40 We attempt to decipher what the new Retro Rugba Leeg jersey will look like. 33:51 Joel provides news of a Kiwi athlete breaking records. 36:51 We wrap things up with the latest from our weekly newsletter, The Gazelle Gazette. INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back for 2026! 00:00 We welcome the poddy back for 2026 and play Sparts with a new member of the team. 12:58 We give a full wrap of the Ashes. 22:09 We talk Aus Open tennis and give some interesting stats. 29:48 We talk contract dramas in the NRL off season. 39:15 For the first time on the podcast we talk the sport of Free Solo. 44:50 Lachie talks about his upcoming Sportshed TV Charity Match. 48:44 Harvey reveals two new shields and we present our latest Gazelle his cap. INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our 2025 finale! We are joined by the podcast's two greatest friends Kiwi Steve (Gazelle #4) and Charlie White (Gazelle #7). We name our favourite moments from 2025, our favourite players to watch, as well as what we're most looking forward to in 2026. Follow Charlie: https://www.instagram.com/charliewhite___/ https://www.instagram.com/thebyeround/ https://www.instagram.com/triplem_nrl/ Follow Steve: https://www.instagram.com/swtgallagher/ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simply the Guest this week is former chair of the Wests Tigers & Netball Australia, and Lachie's mother, Marina Go! Marina talks about how she started working in sport, the good times and challenges as the chair of a joint venture, and whether she would ever consider returning to sport... Follow Marina: https://www.instagram.com/marinasgo/ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 Sparts returns. 06:46 Lachie heaps praise on Harvey, the brand new Toukley Tournament champion! 14:52 We talk all things Ashes Cricket as Australia goes 2-0 up. 23:52 Harvey gives us the full wrap of the F1 final race in Abu Dhabi. 30:18 Lachie works through his feelings on the situation at the Wests Tigers. 40:47 We praise the Bulldogs for their decision to include names on jerseys in Las Vegas. 43:01 We are in World Cup times! We go through the groups for the FIFA & Rugby World Cups. 52:28 We preview the possible matchups for the WBBL Final this weekend. 55:03 We tease our next Simply the Guest episode and thank today's in-studio guest. INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 Lachie cancels our opening game for much more pressing matters. 15:00 We talk R360's postponement and touch on other NRL hot topics. 24:53 We gear up for Ashes Test 2 and pray we see cricket on Day 3. 30:02 Lachie takes a look at the possible World Cup draw scenarios for the Socceroos. 36:29 Harvey takes us through the very exciting final race in the F1 season this weekend. 45:05 We get hyped for the 9th Annual Toukley Tournament, taking place this weekend. 50:25 We congratulate North Melbourne on retaining the Broadmeadows Shield (and winning the AFLW Premiership). INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 We kick things off with a game of Athlete Venn Diagram (AVD) 07:58 We talk the first Ashes test for almost as long as the match lasted. 16:00 We get stuck into the news of the week from the NRL. 26:51 We preview this weekend's AFLW Grand Final. 30:29 Harvey gets Lachie caught up on all the F1 drama with only 2 races left in the season. 36:29 We open up the Gazelle Gazette and wrap up the show. INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simply the Guest this week is Rugby League journeyman Blake Austin! Blake tells us about growing up a Parramatta fan, playing for the Panthers, Tigers and Raiders before heading to England to play for Warrington. Blake also takes us through his new perspective of the game in retirement, and rejuvenating his passion simply as a fan of the game. Follow Blake: https://www.instagram.com/blakeaustin6/ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🌐 EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ nordvpn.com/playingsimple Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! 00:00 We kick things off with a game of NRL Career Paths. 17:33 We talk NRL including Eli Katoa, R360 and the format for a 20 team comp. 34:01 Lachie takes us through his day at the Wests Tigers 2026 jersey launch. 38:31 We talk through the upcoming Cricket Ashes. 46:55 Lachie brings yet another wild tennis stat to the poddy. 54:45 We provide your weekly shield updates. INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kiwi Steve joins the show filling in for Harvey! 00:00 We kick things off with a game of NRL Career Paths. 14:58 We review the now finished Rugby League Ashes and Pacific Championships. 27:53 We predict how the Payne Haas R360 saga is gonna go down. 38:46 Steve delivers a dire warning to the Wallabies. 42:45 We talk the upcoming Tennis Battle of the Sexes. 47:13 We honour Harvey by stumbling our way through an F1 chat. 51:43 We provide your weekly shield updates. INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simply the Guest this week is the Godfather of Rugby League podcast producing, Matty the Waterboy! Matty tells us about his love for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, his journey from working with the NSWRL to producing the biggest Rugby League podcast in the country Bloke in a Bar and working alongside the king of it all, Denan Kemp. Follow Matty: https://www.instagram.com/mattythewaterboy/ https://www.instagram.com/blokeinabar/ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 We kick things off with a new game! 10:34 We talk all things Rugby League Ashes and Pacific Championships. 23:18 We talk through a variety of random and surprising NRL stories from the week. 33:05 We review the Raeburn Shield match between England and Australia. 35:09 We give the weekly shield update and talk AFLW finals. INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/playingandsimple/ WEBSITE: https://playingandsimple.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.