Sports Best Friends: Rugby League Podcast · Sports Best Friends Podcasts

SBFs: Heartbreaks and Completion Rates

·30 min·2 clips

Josh reveals how the Bears dominated Penrith for 85% of the game but lost in a heartbreaking finish.

This episode features hosts Big T and Josh Remy Cook, two passionate rugby league fans, discussing the opening round of the NRL season. They analyze team performances, share personal anecdotes, and make predictions for the upcoming week. Big T recounts taking his nephew paintballing and go-karting, revealing a family dynamic where he playfully coaches the boys on sibling rivalry. He also highly recommends the Netflix series "Drive to Survive," which changed his perception of Formula 1 as a sport of strategy and teamwork. The core football analysis begins with the Bears' heartbreaking 20-16 loss to Penrith, where they led for 85% of the game but lost late. The hosts note the Bears' poor 65% completion rate and a significant on/off field impact for one player, with the team winning 4-16 when he played and losing 16-0 when he was off. They discuss the shocking 52-10 victory by Newcastle over South Sydney, highlighting Souths' unusually high 81% completion rate in a heavy defeat. The hosts examine other round-one results, including the Roosters' 48-14 win over the Warriors and the Storm's debut in the competition. Josh expresses excitement for South Sydney's season, specifically praising Cameron Murray's pivotal role and Campbell Graham's return from injury. He also commends Raiders' young fullback Xavier Savage for his performance in a close game against Manly. A memorable moment involves a debate about a player not passing to a teammate for a record-breaking try, referencing a past game where a player was fed a try to win the season's scoring title. The hosts critique new team badges, with both agreeing the Bulldogs' redesign is poor, and Josh specifically hates the Roosters' alternate white jersey with a large BYD sponsor. They analyze the new protective headgear worn by Jake Trbojevic, linking it to his history of concussions and the risk of medical retirement. The tone is highly conversational and informal, filled with inside jokes, friendly banter, and raw reactions to the weekend's football. The style blends personal storytelling with detailed, stats-informed sports analysis and lighthearted tangents. Fans of the NRL, especially those who enjoy unfiltered fan perspectives and club-specific insights into teams like the Bears, Rabbitohs, and Sharks, will love this episode. Listeners seeking a strictly structured, professional analysis or those offended by very casual language might want to skip it.

As heard by us

Loose rugby league chat that keeps landing on specific games, fields, and scorelines.

Sports Best Friends is rugby league chat with an easy, unhurried rhythm. Big T and Josh Remy Cook move from birthday paintball and go-karts to a Bears game that finished 20-16, then on to field conditions, try stamps, and weekend scoreline talk.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want rugby league after a massive footy weekend, not a polished media round-up.

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