Big fan of the James Graham podcast the Bye Round.

Really interesting interview posted with his guest Eddie Jones in the last week.

Jones is clearly a big fan of league and really values league as a sport and the benefits of using league coaches to improve the union code.

I remember there were links with him and rumours as a possible Wigan coach in years gone by. When asked if he had ever been approached to be involved in league in a professional capacity he confirmed Wigan did make an approach for initial discussions about a role as Director of Rugby in 2007 with the plan being to appoint Andy Farrell as coach.

It didn’t really go beyond initial discussions however as his wife point blank refused to even consider moving to the North of England.

Looking at the date I’m guessing he got it wrong and it was possubly 2006, post the Milward disaster or possibly 2009 after Faz finished with England Union and when we needed to replace Noble.

Never really a big fan of Jones however opinion changed after listening to the podcast. Came across as a very intelligent and innovative coach.

He did Up Front with Simon Jordan as well and he came across really well on that

Probably my favourite RL podcast- The Bye Round. He's had some great guests on and the midweek matters part too means that its a twice weekly listen.

I have about 40 mins left of the Eddie Jones one but I've enjoyed it so far, he certainly comes across well.

Very good isn’t it? I’m not a fan of Jam & Cheese as I think Smith isn’t really up to the task and is lacking a few brain cells to be honest.

Midweek Matters is good listening and his interviews are superb. The Tod Carney one that was uploaded in last month is an outstanding listen.

It’s surprised me just how good an interviewer Graham is and he really is a likeable character. Looks to have a very successful media career ahead of him.

I forgot about the Jam and Cheese one but yeah I agree its not as good as the midweek matters. Yeah he's done well Graham and is clearly well thought of in Aus.

They read one of my questions out the other week on the fans feelings questions too (was the one about Welsby and the NRL)

James Graham is a t**ser. I speak from personal experience.

I quite enjoyed seeing James Graham pretending that Luke Thompson coming to Wigan was a big blow to him. The guy who spent half his career away from St Helens.

Come on, Jammer. Aussie ears tasted better. Or, more likely, they paid better.

Stop making out like there's a different set of rules for Luke.

You’ll all be pleased to know that Welsby is next weeks guest

Noticed Graham saying he was coming to the UK. If I were a Saints fan, I’d be extremely nervous about Welsby going on there tbh. It’s not that they won’t know who he is already but it raises his profile in Oz, Graham will blow smoke up him for an hour and the NRL topic will obviously come up.

I thought the same to be honest. I know he was saying in jest about enticing him with Tooheys beer but he seems keen on seeing him in the NRL.

I’m intrigued to see if the topic comes up. It’s already been recorded.

With the best will in the world I don’t think Welsby has the profile to be a guest on there when it is aimed at the Australian audience.

He often has to explain who James Roby is.

He’s just done one with Wally Lewis, Welsby is a very good player but I don’t see him adding to the content on that podcast.

I get what you are saying but for every Wally Lewis as a guest there’s a Jeremy Latimore. There’s been a stark contrast in profile/quality at times.

I think of all the current English players in the SL, Welsby is probably the one they do know about especially given he was the MOM against Penrith last year.

NB not sure if you have listened to the Lewis one yet but it’s outstanding as you’d expect.

Only reason Latimore got on is because of the amount of times he is referenced in the podcast as an absolute “Larkin” by Graham and a lot of his guests.

Not listened to the Lewis one yet saving it for when I’ve a couple of hours uninterrupted in the car.

Was lucky enough to spend half hour in his company in a pub when he was over a few years ago before he did one of his “audience with” type events in Keighley. The bloke is different class, never met a more engaging individual. Spoke to us like we were his mates then went on stage and did the same to probably 500 people.

Ok point taken with Latimore but you know what I mean. Trent Merrin and Cam McCinnes aren’t big names either really.

That sounds amazing with Lewis, a definite experience! I won’t give you too many spoilers for the podcast but one thing he does touch on is his love of the English people and how much he enjoyed playing on tours over here.

Sounds like you saw that first hand

His memories of his time in Wakefield, where he stayed and what he got up to that was a bit too risky for the presentation was brilliant.

Bags of charisma supported by media training.

During the actual event Gary Schofield got on stage during the half time intermission to fill the time, drunk, talking utter nonsense and looking like he had been dragged through a hedge backwards.

Was quite sad to see the comparison of 2 champions who once went head to head.

Great basketball player

A classic.

Just released, look forward to listening to it…although still shocked he is deemed worthy!

I’m away for the weekend but just read the synopsis and it says he talks about his aspirations to join the NRL

Curiosity got the better of me and I’ve listened to it all. Apart from him being incredibly laid back and mature, what struck me after listening in full was that he genuinely seems 50/50 about going. He’s different than Graham who always had a yearn to go to the NRL from being a young lad.

He certainly played a straight bat with the questions.

What was good to hear though was the England situation. It’s 100% clear that it’s a harmonious camp and that there are no club rivalries anymore. It augurs really well for the future.

If you listen to midweek matters Wellens had a word with Graham about what he was going to ask him when he found out he was going on the show particularly around his future ambitions.

No doubt he will have had a word with Welsby too once he knew he was going on, particularly around his NRL ambitions.

Yeah very true. He’s hardly likely to have said he’s desperate to go to be fair.

It doesn’t seem that money is a huge factor in his life though. Consistently references throughout that he’d play for free.

He's no Radlinski

It was telling that Graham was nervous about mentioning it to Wellens and what he’d think about it. Clearly we all know the NRL is going to come up as a subject and Graham said on that podcast that he wants to see him in the NRL and I’m sure he knows doing the interview will only intensify any speculation. If that were a Wigan player doing this interview the cynic in me would think it’s a means to an end.

That is indeed good to hear, Stu.