I don't mind Blocker. He is what he is and I can accept that. He does have some good stories and while he does curtail a story here and there, in the overall scheme of things it doesn't bother me.
I love this as it's like sitting with 3 blokes at the pub telling war stories - but ones about a sport I love (not random dribble that's only funny amongst a few insiders). You can always find reasons to be annoyed with things but for me that ruins the experience. So I let it go - Blocker is Blocker - and I can enjoy the podcast. Agree about Finch but the dude can't manage those demons sadly... And I can't think of anyone else in the Fox team who'd be a good addition. Couldn't do Fletcher/Hindmarsh etc as it would just be MJ Show Mk2. And def not another journo... I think a guy who's played in a different era to Johns and at the highest levels is the best way to go. The only other one I could think of in Fox that fits that profile would be Big Mal. But while I'd love them to get him on for a show to tell his stories - especially his take on Super League - I don't think he's the right mould to be a regular.
Watching last night's episode was great. These episodes around the games history - rather than commentary on the current game (which there's a thousand others doing) are the ones that really capture my attention. A few things..
Jack Gibson dropping Roach for his discipline. Getting Roach's view of course, and all the chat about the biff of the past in Origin can be romanticised - but I absolutely agree with Gibson. I watched a match on Kayo recently - from 1988 at Lang Park. Benefit of hindsight but it wasn't all "Me and you, let's get it on" type of biff...... It was also an era of cheap shots. And Roach did one of the worst I've ever seen on Bob Lindner... Getting up after making a tackle on Roach, Lindner turns away to follow the ball and Roach cleans him up with a spiteful quick hook.... an absolute king hit of king hits. To me it was equivalent of Danny Williams on Mark O'neill, but Williams had some kind of defence after being whacked himself. Lindner appeared to do absolutely nothing, it was just pure spite. Lindner was absolutely knocked out cold, almost needed a hearse rather than an ambulance. Different era I know - but for all the talk of the biff and how we all loved it (I did too), when you look back, a lot of it was indeed the thuggery that critics of the sport used to howl about. There's a bunch of Origin classics on Kayo that are definitely worth a look and great to watch when you've got a spare hour here and there (I put a thread up about them in the SOO forums a while ago... still running at Zero replies last I was in there - that went well!). That 1988 game at Lang park was one of them.
The Origin Bonding session story. It's a classic one Kent mentioned, him leaving then the Gaz show kicked off on the phone.. I inadvertently was involved in a similar session many years ago at the Coogee Bay hotel. Out with mates on a random weeknight, thought it'd be quiet at the Bay then all the Blues wander in. Gotta say that while half of em were completely mullered they were all great value and no trouble at all. Playing Pool with John Simon after god knows how many we'd had was hilarious. We might as well been using rope rather than pool cues - was the worst game in the history of history. I'd forgotten all about that night until Kent told his story..
The 2nd Test 1990 at Old Trafford. Without doubt my favourite game of all time and MJ also said its the best he's ever seen. Those games in England back then just have an aura about them. Like Ashes test match cricket these days, League test in the 80's and 90's in England were just as revered from both countries. Such a shame it's very much a thing of the past. On the subject of the RLD podcast - they did a show on the 1985 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, Wigan v Hull, which was the game where Kenny & Sterling were on opposite teams. It's on Youtube - full version - and I cant recommend it enough for a watch. I agreed with RLD in their assessment (amongst many) that it was just the most fun game to watch. I highly recommend it for a look, the quality of league was brilliant, the atmosphere at Wembley matched it, and the commentary was absolutely quality (none of the common bickering at decisions that's now sadly a part of tv commentators). The commentary was a standout in why league was so enjoyable to watch back then.
Oh to be 20 again 
