Former NRL player Luke Bateman joins Two Good Sports for one of those conversations that starts with rugby league and ends somewhere very different. 

From growing up in western Queensland and chasing the footy dream, Luke opens up about life inside professional rugby league, the culture that comes with it, and the very real impact of gambling harm that's embedded in Australian sport. 

Luke talks about his battles with addiction, therapy and embracing his inner child (Little Luke), before we turn the page and get to the second act: books, BookTok fame and writing his first novel. Plus a few reality TV stories, some fantasy hot takes, and a chat about the one book you'd take on a desert island. 

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we find ourselves right in the middle of the matchup between sport and pop culture.

From Kim Kardashian’s grid-side appearance in Monaco to the ongoing debate around celebrities, influencers and who “deserves” to be at major sporting events, it's all creating a lot of debate around who should get to be pitch, track, or court side. 

There’s also a look at the economics of fandom (and why not everyone’s thrilled about courtside seats going to famous plus-ones), plus a very rogue but excellent Timothée Chalamet origin story. And then, a moment that cuts through all of it - a Big Freeze story that reminds you what sport can look like at its best, featuring a jaw-dropping act of generosity that has to be heard to be believed.

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The consensus in America is that the Socceroos are an easy draw. We could get offended, or we could just see it as USA doing USA things. What is offensive though is the worst sledge a footballer can ever receive - and Matildas icon SBS FIFA World Cup Commentator Lydia Williams has received it. She shares it with us to general shock in the studio.

We also preview the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign and our chances of progressing from the group of “death-ish.”

We talk through Australia’s chances of going all the way (imagine), the tactical impact of extreme heat and mandated drinks breaks, the players to watch, and why a defensive game plan could actually work in the Socceroos’ favour. 

Also in this episode:

• Norway took one of the all-time team photos - what should ours have looked like?
• Are the Socceroos built to make it out of the group?
• Why four quarters of football changes everything
• Motherhood, media and life after football
• Why workplaces should embrace “Watchers Rights” - check out the SBS campaign!

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He won a bronze medal in Tokyo in 2020, and a gold two years before at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. He's a fiercely competitive boxer, but there's a lot more to Harry Garside than what you see in the ring. He's known for challenging stereotypes around masculinity and was a finalist on I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here. He challenges stereotypes in our chat today in more ways than one.

We had him on a year ago but a lot has changed since then. We find out what he's been up to, what's next, and how he approaches boxing's “trashy” culture and fake tough-guy act. We chat insanely long triathlons, identity, and what happens when your whole life has been built on winning. There’s camping detours, existential spirals, and deep explorations into masculinity (particularly among young men in Australia), purpose and why life might not actually be that serious, as one of Australia’s most fascinating athletes tries to figure out what comes next as he approaches 30. 

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgie Tunny is a published author - cue the celebrations! We talk launch week chaos, the emotional rollercoaster of releasing a debut novel, and the very weird reality of building a career in sports media that served as inspiration for the story.

'Over To You' is a work of fiction, let us be clear on that.

From her first newsroom disasters to national TV, Georgie opens up about ambition, burnout, female friendship (thanks Gelmi) and the stories behind the book everyone’s talking about. It's a behind the scenes looks at Aussie sports newsrooms. Is there any other workplace where the c-word is so normalised? Somehow we made it through the trials and tribulations of being women in sports journalism, but only just.

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He built and commandeered an army. An army who donned blue beanies and plunged into the ice and took action, knowing the leader would one day lose his life to the enemy.

This is a bit of a different episode for us. Following the passing of Neale Daniher after a 13-year fight with motor neurone disease, we take a moment to reflect on a life that changed far more than footy.

We hear Neale's own words from 2019, a message for his grandson about courage, responsibility, and facing life when it isn’t fair. 

Then Tim Watson, former teammate and close friend of Neale's, who joins us to share what he was really like: the competitor, the conductor, the mate… and the force of nature who built a movement that united a nation. The Daniher family mobilised an army to take the fight to MND. And now, as Neale told us, we play on. 

A conversation about legacy, resilience, and what we can do to make the biggest difference.

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We put State of Origin Game I on trial, breaking down the Kalyn Ponga send‑off, Nathan Cleary’s match‑turning moments, and whether New South Wales truly deserved the win.

At Roland‑Garros, Aryna Sabalenka was wearing diamonds while calling for increased prize money - it sparked a conversation about double standards and the economics of tennis, but why can't women just support women? Novak or Janik never got asked those questions.

In Formula One, we explain why tension, rivalries and team politics are central to the sport’s appeal. And in the AFL, we examine Essendon’s coaching crossroads, the resurgence of the James Hird debate, and what it says about identity, nostalgia and unfinished business in football.

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of Game III of the 2026 Women’s State of Origin, Georgie is joined by Jess Elliston, Lauren Brown and Jada Ferguson for a very Queensland conversation about heartbreak, pride, and why this game still matters even when the series is quote/unquote 'gone'. The girls talk about what camp feels like after a tough loss, the unspoken no‑dickheads policy, and why you’d still run through a wall for the jersey.

Plus, there’s chat about debuting for Queensland, copping nonsense online (why are the trolls always called Kevin?), and why starting a season with an Origin series makes absolutely no sense. There are Broncos premiership flashbacks, security being outrun, meeting fans behind a pair of sunnies at 7am, and a late‑episode pivot into smutty BookTok that nobody was prepared for.

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State of Origin is almost here, and the biggest talking point is Georgie's husband* being left out the Queensland squad. We break down the Origin selections, what the notable player absences means for the Blues and Maroons, and how Billy Slater might be thinking about form, fitness and the long game. 

Sam Kerr got the perfect farewell at Chelsea with a goal, as she looks ahead to the next stage of her career, there were flowers for Matildas legend Melissa Barbieri - an A-League champion at 46 years old, and Ross Lyon surprised everyone when he revealed a Labubu obsession.

And we are sending so much love to Jai Arrow, his family and teammates, as he revealed a devastating MND diagnosis. It highlights the power of sport and the importance of the Big Freeze - we're talking with Bec Daniher next week to hear all about the event and the incredible work the organisation does.

*Reece Walsh

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abbey is proudly in the top 1% of listeners. Georgie has a favourite and it's the only Broncos fan in the band. Together we are so excited to welcome Simon and Big Strong John Wiggle to Two Good Sports, to hear how they stay fit on tour, staying loyal to the Eels and the Tigers in tough times, and how they keep their love of sport alive with the demands of fatherhood. 

Plus, they rank their top 5 Wiggles songs, talk about new single Sparkle and incredible WiggleVision video that goes with it, and tell us what's next for the undisputed champions of Australian entertainment. 

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Pendlebury’s milestone weekend is coming up; his record-breaking game approaches and it's ignited a debate on the proceeds from the sale of match‑worn guernseys, some expected to fetch eye‑watering prices. We chime in with our thoughts on player branding, and where the league draws the line on personal profit. 

It was also a brutal week for coaches. Michael Voss’ exit at Carlton, Ivan Cleary’s surprise decision to step away from Penrith, and ongoing pressure across both codes shows how unforgiving the job can be. Add serious injury concerns, fan backlash and endless speculation, and it was a hectic week if you're in charge of a footy team. 

Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.