What would Brian Bevan say – Details, episodes & analysis

The podcast goes back on tour with Dennis pissed-up in Spain. Sam’s anxiety hits a new high with an unstructured recording, and Rob admits to a recurring wet dream about his favourite Warrington coach. Enjoy.

With Mr Sankey in France the podcast returns to micro-podding, although Sam has other ideas with one too many French anecdotes. Dennis chairs the De-Bateman and Rob confirms just how long it takes Alan London's new stairlift to move from top to bottom. Plus, there’s the occasional bit of Magic. Enjoy. 

In a micro-pod fittingly live from Tokyo, Dennis, Sam and Rob discuss the win over Catalans, the loss to Wigan, a bit of news, and their cup final predictions. Enjoy.

Lee Briers personifies Rugby League and in this week’s episode Lee joins the podcast to discuss his incredible career, coaching, and multicoloured beard. We learn how he’d gatecrash Knowsley Road, which St Helens players are best to throw house bricks at, and just where and when to break into the Halliwell Jones. We chat about how Lee’s caring for NHS frontline workers, those vulnerable in the community, and Steve Price in the gantry. Lee offers insights into his debut Wilderspool neurophysiological disorientation training session, and how it’s impossible to park a bus when faced with a mob of Kangaroos, before offering to take an elevated golf iron to the face of the inventor of the “It’s Our Year” slogan. Enjoy.

What would Brian Bevan say podcast is honoured to be in the presence of Warrington Wolves legend and now head of strength & conditioning for England Rugby Union - Jon Clarke.  In an hour-long special, Jon reflects on his amazing Rugby League journey from signing as a teenager for Wigan, to his move to the capital following a life-changing experience, his arrival at his beloved Wire, and how his fondness for the Widnes pitch lead to a resowing of his lawn. We discuss his Warrington coaches - Darryl van der Velde and Steve Anderson, his adulation of Paul Cullen and how 'Psycho' saved the club, the art of Tony Smith's shit sandwiches, and just why Warrington missed out on a Super League title. He tells the podcast how the tragic loss of Paul Darbyshire affected him, and how Paul's son is now following in his wonderful father's footsteps. We also hear which Wire player defies all logic in his preparation for a game by eating a morning fry-up, and the secret for us all to staying fit and healthy during these difficult times. And chat about the brilliant players Jon has played with, from Andrew Johns and Alfie Langer, to Brett Hodgson and even Lee Briers! An episode not to be missed by any true Wire fan. 

With no Rugby League, the action comes in the way of the fabulous Sun sports journalist Gary Carter. The podcast questions Gary on the Wolves but the little devil seems more up for promoting his beloved Salford. We celebrate 25 years of Super League with more of Gary‘s Salford anecdotes, and will Dennis’ new board game be plagiarised by Gary to boost Salford revenue? Sam and Gary collectively knock one out over Salford prodigy Stefan Ratchford, before discussing the exact proximity of Daryl Clark’s house in relation to Castleford’s scoreboard. The blockbuster movie The King’s Reach premieres, and just how good is Steve Price‘s memory? And Rob endeavours to bring back the classic ITV game show Mr and Mrs, as a young couple from Salford prove to be a winning partnership.

With the Super League season suspended, Simon and Karl are trapped together in an underground Cheshire bunker, as the podcast is left to reflect in isolation on what was, and will be. Due to a booking error, rather than Tina Turner joining the show, the brilliant Matthew Turner, sports journalist from the Warrington Guardian, steps in. We find out from Matt just when Tony Smith will look you in the eye, although a carfeul edit of the recording is necessary after he constantly knocks Ben Murdoch Masila. Sam is reluctantly left to draw his stats from online gaming, Dennis's solitary confinement brings his mental state into question following his keep fit tackle bags, and Rob calls on all referees to be retrained mid-season. Plus, not all Price's community calls go to plan, and we Imagine a world without Rugby League - as we go out on a song.

As the apocalypse approaches, Warrington win in the city of Hull, which ironically is pretty much the end of the earth. Ben Murdoch Masila’s new hairstyle goes viral in a listener vote off, as Dennis - wearing his new, innovative, bright red chevron Wire jersey - offers to meet the big man at the barbers. Sam’s obsession with Ben Currie reaches pandemic proportions, and due to his self-isolation he’s left ordering a heat-o-meter takeaway. And with little time left for us all and Wire having travelled east, Rob decides to read a dubious email from the west about the construction of the Wilderspool stand that leads to infectious laughter.

It’s a somewhat mixed listener reaction following the Castleford win. Was it only hard slog and commitment that edged Wire to victory, or was there quality also in their performance? Currie adds chilli to the mix, leading to a spike in his heat’o’meter reading, but the absent Burrell is left dining elsewhere following a delivery of opulant John Lewis cutlery. Dennis decides to write to Karl Fitzpatrick as he's convinced his new Resili-tent-test will revolutionise marquee signings, Sam finally comes up with a good idea following 75 hours of podcast recordings, and Rob not only talks bollocks but sits on one too, before predicting a postponement.

The podcasters are almost lost for words after Warrington’s Headingley clusterfuck performance, and Sam’s stats only back up the team’s shambolic away form. Steve Price continues to be confused by past & present tense, as well as creating a new word for the English language. Chris Hill enters Mastermind with a specialist subject of answering RL questions the question before last. Rob’s Hadron Decider robot has developed an infatuation for the actor John Nettles, but still has time to cast his quantum chip over the goings-on at Widnes with Patton and Latu. Dennis explains the benefits of the players’ group adopting the cognitive dissonance theory, before Daniel pulls down our very own marquee.