Whippets & Flat Caps: THE Rugby League Podcast

Episode 33: The Last Time

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 22:22:51 +0000

The band are back together for the very last time. After drinking away his Saints sorrows, Jon explains his decision to join Toronto Wolfpack and the Burgess twins pop in to say hello whilst on England duty

Episode 32: The Funeral

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:43:42 +0000

The boys discuss plans for their funerals. Jon reveals he'd want to be sent out on a lake in Cheshire like a viking when he pops his cloggs. Other topics up for discussion...bootcut jeans, oxford services being the official north/south divide. Will Sharon Stone still turn out to support Widnes in The Championship and would Wilkin save Willie Mason from a burning building?

Episode 31: Anthony Crolla's trainers

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 12:42:41 +0000

With the Whippets boys on the verge of forming their new band "The Smitherines", they found the time to discuss when a sportsperson oversteps the mark in the wake of Serena Williams' outburst at the US Open. There's also an impromptu appearence from Anthony Crolla and his new trainers, not his boxing trainer, literally...his trainers. AND who would have thought Kim Jong Un was a Wigan Warriors fan?!

Episode 30: Loyalty in sport

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 22:39:01 +0000

The Whippets gang celebrate the big 30! Will recalls the weekend's antics after disgracing himself at Jon's house. "Don't drink whiskey with Phil Wilkin" is the key message of the week and they get their teeth stuck into loyalty in sport

Episode 29: Return of the Mark

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 22:43:14 +0000

We've missed him so much and we know you have too!! Mark Flash Flanagan is back where he belongs as bridges are mended. After Catalans' triumph at Wembley there's a French twist this week as we're joined by the excellent Rodolphe Pires followed by one of the best Question Times of all time

Episode 28: Lowry and a 1985 Margaux

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 20:30:06 +0000

Mark is issued with a one show retropective ban for being extremely boring so it's date night for Jon and Will who open a bottle of red which is almost the same age as them

Episode 27: Maaaa wife

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 18:29:56 +0000

Jon's wife Fran Halsall, a former Olympic swimmer, graces the podcast with her presence becoming the first woman on Whippets. She hasn't half got some opinions!!

Episode 26: The end of an era

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 10:17:31 +0000

After 16 years at St Helens, Jon Wilkin reveals he's leaving the club while sipping on a glass of Pinot noir and flicking through the 1983 Guinness Book of Records

Episode 25 - Brian Noble MBE

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 16:46:31 +0000

Will is back from New York after becoming best friends with Bruce Springsteen. Brian Noble MBE joins us to talk Toronto and reveals his very particular cycling fashion attire

Episode 24 Jon Wilkin: gardener extraordinaire

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 21:15:50 +0000

Jon opens up about his love for all things horticultural. Will he survive the hose pipe ban? Mark’s back from his weekend holiday/ Salford game in the South of France and reveals how a 6 year old boy got into his head before a match

Episode 23 - Love Island

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 22:29:37 +0000

The boys discuss the key points made by Super League CEO Rob Elstone, Nigel Wood’s RFL payoff and was Will really asked to go on Love Island?

Episode 22 - Robert Elstone

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 06:58:34 +0000

An in-depth interview with Robert Elstone, the newly appointed chief executive of Super League, who's left the swanky boardrooms of the Premier League to return to the sport he loves.

Episode 21 - Denver recap and the New Zealand national anthem

Fri, 29 Jun 2018 07:35:02 +0000

Episode 20 - Rugby League Royalty

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 21:11:16 +0000

All the latest news, views, gossip and analysis from the world of Super League. And the great Barrie McDermott is on the pod.

Episode 19 - In the boardroom and front page news

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 07:04:47 +0000

Jon and Mark discuss THAT video of the Tomkins' brothers while looking back on the Challenge Cup quarter-finals. Also, what's the right length of time for a Super League coach to say in charge? And we search for the rectum of Wigan.

Confidence, captaincy and Michael Vaughan

Wed, 30 May 2018 13:07:25 +0000

Former England captain Michael Vaughan is the special guest this week. He offers a fascinating insight into life at the top of English cricket and, with Jon and Flash, discusses the vagaries of confidence in elite sport.

Episode 17 (Plus Ending) - A magical weekend and what next for 'John' Wane

Wed, 23 May 2018 16:28:09 +0000

After a weekend of Super League and big-time weddings, the boys look back on Rugby League patron Prince Harry's big day and Will regales us with tales of his sporting prowess against the Royals. Jon and Mark reflect on the Magic Weekend - not so magical for Salford - and discuss the future of the sport under the gudiance of former Everton chief executive Robert Elstone. Shaun Wane, the Wigan coach, has announced he's leaving the club at the end of the season - is he heading for union or the West End?

Episode 17 - A magical weekend and what next for 'John' Wane

Tue, 22 May 2018 20:54:28 +0000

Episode 16 - Friendly Fire and Saint George Ford?

Mon, 14 May 2018 20:55:46 +0000

England and Leicester Tigers fly-half George Ford joins us from the England rubgy union camp ahead of their tour to South Africa to chat about his love of League and growing up next door to Paul Sculthorpe. Find out why Flash has had a tough week and why Jon's face is mashed up again. And respect for referees is on the agenda. It's a two-way street, according to Toronto skipper Josh McCrone, whose backchat got him sent to the sin-bin against Warrington in the Challenge Cup.

Episode 15 - Diving? It's just not Rugby League

Wed, 09 May 2018 18:32:09 +0000

Will is back from LA - fresh from hanging out with his A-List friends - just in time for Jon and Mark to get stuck into the issue of diving in Rugby League. They say it is creeping into the sport and that it's as bad as it's ever been. The former Premier League referee Chris Foy tells us how he dealt with it in top-flight football and you'll find out how Jon used to be woken up by a goat.

Paul Wellens and the PKB II Review

Tue, 01 May 2018 16:39:43 +0000

Former St Helens, Great Britian and England full back Paul Wellens is this week's special guest and Jon and Mark relive the second, one-sided PKB derby. Your questions answered, as always.

Episode 13 - The head physio: noggins and nuggets

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 08:52:23 +0000

The entertaining Nathan Mill, head physio at St Helens, joins the boys this week and gives us a fascinating insight into the advancements in player welfare in Rugby League. Is Albert Kelly a nugget after his foul-mouthed tirade in McDonald's? And Leon Pryce's views on coaching half-backs are put under the spotlight. Jon and Mark also look ahead to the second 'PKB derby' of the season on Thursday night and junior Rugby League ends up in the sin bin.

Episode 12 - Damian Hughes and The Champion Mindset

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:39:10 +0000

Extended interview/conversation with fascinating psychology professor Damian Hughes who has worked across the elite sporting landscape - but also within Rugby League at the very highest levels. Find out what makes elite players, coaches and teams tick.

Episode 11 - Brand Haskell.

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 10:43:32 +0000

England and Wasps Rugby Union international James Haskell is this week's special guest. A childhood friend of Will Perry, he gives us his thoughts on everything from house music and marriage plans to next season's playing options. He also provides a current Union perspective on League and, crucially, reveals what Will was like as a kid.

Episode 10 - Resilience and Reinvention. And Will comes out fighting.

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 10:38:24 +0000

With more than 400 top flight Rugby League appearances to his name, Jon Wilkin explains the secrets to his longevity. This is elite, engaging sporting discussion between two elite, engaing sportsmen. Ably held together by an almost elite and engaging presenter.

Episode 9 - Cheating Aussies and most hated teammates.

Tue, 27 Mar 2018 10:40:18 +0000

Will is back and the boys discuss the different levels of gamesmanship in Rugby League in the wake of the Australian Cricket ball tampering scandal. They answer lots of listeners' questions, including their most hated teammates, and find out why playing in the Wigan/Saints Good Friday game is so special.

Episode 8 - Sam Burgess. Enough said.

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:03:01 +0000

With Will away skiing, Jon and Flash speak to Sam Burgess whose NRL season has just got under way. They discuss Josh Charnley's time at Sale Sharks and analyse what he offers Warrington now that he's back playing in League. Also on the pod, the Brain Drain - why do so many ex-players end up crossing codes to coach, and how big an issue is this for the sport?

Episode 7 - Kelvin Fletcher (aka Andy Sugden), Jamie Carragher, Tasers and why ex-rugby union player Andy Goode needs to come on the pod.

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 08:47:40 +0000

Episode 7 - Special guest Kelvin Fletcher, a big Rugby League fan, joins Will, Jon and Flash to dissect the best of the weekend's Super League action. Rugby League scrums and pathetic man-of-the-match cheques end up in the sin bin.

Episode 6 - The Knockout Blow: When two friends collide.

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 22:36:28 +0000

The one we've been waiting for - Jon and Flash openly discuss the tackle that concusssed Jon in the Saints v Salford game. And Jon's mum gets an unwanted phone call.

Episode 5 - Will Perry is back from South Korea; Tip sheets and what next for Zak Hardaker?

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 09:58:09 +0000

The self-styled podcast saviour Will Perry is back from the winter Olympics, Jon Wilkin and Mark 'Flash' Flanagan gear up to face each other in St Helens v Salford at the weekend, and sponsored cars end up in the sin bin. Loads more, too.

Episode 4 - The Real Wayne Bennett and special guests James Graham and the journalist Steve Mascord.

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 12:43:06 +0000

Jon and Flash discuss Wayne Bennett's contract extension with England and speak to James Graham about life Down Under and his desire to return to Saints before he retires.

Episode 3 - The truth about concussion, the World Club Challenge and special guest Leeds Rhinos' fan Jonny Bairstow

Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:53:22 +0000

England cricketer Jonny Bairstow joins Jon and Flash to chat about Leeds' hopes in the World Club Challenge. They review round two of Super League and there's an open and honest discussion about concussion.

Episode 2: Buckingham Palace, Jamie Peacock and a fast start for Saints.

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 11:58:34 +0000

With Will Perry at the Winter Olympics, Jon Wilkin and Mark Flanagan reflect on the opening round of Super League fixtures and speak to Hull KR and England's Jamie Peacock.

Whippets and Flat Caps: THE Rugby League Podcast

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 09:31:37 +0000

St Helens' Jon Wilkin and Salford Red Devils' Mark 'Flash' Flanagan look ahead to the new Super League season. They are joined by presenter Will Perry and speak to the boxing promoter Eddie Hearn who gives us his thoughts on why Rugby League should leave a bigger imprint on the sporting landscape. A leftfield, entertaining and insightful look at all things Rugby League.