The Sports Playbook - Weekly Sports News Podcast

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The Sports Playbook is your go-to weekly sports news podcast delivering fast, factual and non-sensationalised sports coverage across Australia and beyond. Hosted by Daniel, every episode cuts through the noise to keep you informed and in the know — without the hype, scandals or filler. Every Monday, Daniel wraps up the biggest stories from the weekend across the NRL, NRLW, AFL, Super Netball, Formula 1, Cricket and more in the Weekend Sports Wrap. Every Thursday, the Weekly Sports Preview breaks down the major storylines from the week, dives deep into one athlete story worth your attention and previews the biggest games and events coming up that weekend. The Sports Playbook covers men's and women's sport equally — because sport is sport. Whether it's a record-breaking performance, a shock coaching resignation, a feel-good comeback story or a major signing, if it matters in the sports world this week, Daniel covers it. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Subscribe now and never miss your weekly sports wrap.

  1. Your Weekend Sports Wrap: Hamilton's Ferrari Fairytale, Socceroos Stun Türkiye & The Knicks End 53 Years of Hurt

    2d ago

    Your Weekend Sports Wrap: Hamilton's Ferrari Fairytale, Socceroos Stun Türkiye & The Knicks End 53 Years of Hurt

    One of the greatest weekends in recent sporting memory — and The Sports Playbook has every story covered. Lewis Hamilton won for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix. Starting from the front row, Hamilton capitalised on a Virtual Safety Car to get ahead of teammate George Russell and hold on for a historic victory — the first British podium at that race since 1968. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli failed to finish, with Hamilton now closing the gap to 41 points in the title race. A moment 39 years in the making for one of sport's greatest ever competitors. The Socceroos pulled off one of the biggest upsets at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — stunning Turkey 2-0 in Vancouver despite sending out 10 debutants in their starting lineup. Goals from Nestory Irakunda and Connor Metcalfe against the run of play shocked the tournament and gave Australia their first World Cup opening match win since 2006. The USA now awaits on Saturday morning at 5am — the biggest test of the Socceroos' World Cup campaign. The New York Knicks ended 53 years of heartbreak — winning the NBA Championship for the first time since 1973, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 in San Antonio. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in the clinching game as the streets of New York erupted in scenes not seen in over half a century. In the NRL, the West Tigers farewelled Leichhardt Oval — the 8th wonder of the world — with Jarome Luai putting the team on his back with three tries in a 36-28 win over the Titans. The Rabbitohs paid a touching tribute to Jai Arrow in a powerful moment before defeating the Broncos 48-6. The Dolphins dismantled a depleted Roosters side 48-10 with Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa emerging as the most underrated halves pairing in the competition. Kane Williamson has announced his international retirement after 16 years — New Zealand's greatest ever batter walking away with a 54.06 test average. Luke Tuckwell has taken the cycling world by storm, claiming the yellow jersey in his first year as a professional. The Adelaide Crows sent a statement to the AFL finals race. And the Super Netball finals are locked in — Thunderbirds host Vixens in the Major Semi Final on Saturday 20th June. Episode 13 of The Sports Playbook Monday Wrap. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Follow The Sports Playbook on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

    13 min
  2. Your Sports Week & Weekend Preview: Serena Wins on Return, The Rabbitohs Honour Jai Arrow & Origin Game 2 Teams Named

    6d ago

    Your Sports Week & Weekend Preview: Serena Wins on Return, The Rabbitohs Honour Jai Arrow & Origin Game 2 Teams Named

    Serena Williams stepped back onto a WTA tour court for the first time in almost four years at Queen's Club — and she won. Partnering Victoria Mboko in the doubles, Williams and her partner won in straight sets. At 44 years old, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is back and the sporting world is paying attention. In one of the most emotional moments of the sporting year, the South Sydney Rabbitohs have named Jai Arrow as the 23rd man for Thursday night's game against the Brisbane Broncos — who will wear a special warm-up jersey in his honour. Arrow was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease earlier this year and was forced to medically retire from the NRL. His inclusion in the squad is a powerful tribute from the Rabbitohs to one of their own. The NSW Blues have named their team for State of Origin Game 2 — Stephen Crichton, Mitch Moses and Payne Haas return to the squad with Dylan Lucas set to make his debut. Daniel breaks down the selection calls, what changed from Game 1 and what the Blues need to do differently to level the series. Caitlin Foord marked her 150th Matildas appearance with a goal in Australia's 3-1 win over Mexico in front of a Sydney crowd. Gary Ablett Jr has been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame — 357 games, nearly 450 goals, dual Brownlow medallist and two premierships — 21 years after his father received the same honour. Seventeen-year-old Sienna Toohey has qualified for the Commonwealth Games in the 100m breaststroke, making the move from Albury to Canberra to chase her dream. This weekend Daniel previews the Rabbitohs vs Broncos Thursday night blockbuster, the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona where McLaren will be strong but Mercedes will be hard to beat, and the crucial Super Netball clash between the Vixens and Fever with both sides needing the points heading into finals. Episode 12 of The Sports Playbook Thursday Preview. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Follow The Sports Playbook on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

    8 min
  3. Your Weekend Sports Wrap: Antonelli's Monaco Masterclass, Jess Fox's Double Gold & Super Netball Finals Locked In

    Jun 8

    Your Weekend Sports Wrap: Antonelli's Monaco Masterclass, Jess Fox's Double Gold & Super Netball Finals Locked In

    What a weekend across the sporting world. Kimi Antonelli delivered a dominant performance at the Monaco Grand Prix — winning from pole position for his fifth consecutive victory of the season. Every driver who has won five races in a row in a single season has gone on to win the championship, and Antonelli is firmly on that trajectory. Lewis Hamilton equalled the great Ayrton Senna with eight podium finishes at Monaco for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc crashed out at his home race while sitting third, triggering a red flag as the track surface broke up at the final corner. Oscar Piastri climbed from seventh to fourth with important championship points. Daniel breaks down the full race and what the next five races in seven weeks means for the title fight. Jess Fox is back and she is absolutely flying. Nine months after kidney tumour surgery, Fox claimed two gold medals at the Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague — winning the K1 final on Friday and backing it up with gold in the C1 discipline on Sunday. The Standout Performer of the week without question. The Super Netball finals picture is locked in. The Adelaide Thunderbirds will host the Melbourne Vixens in the Major Semi Final after the Mavericks produced a stunning Melbourne Derby upset defeating the Vixens by 9 goals. The Lightning and Swifts have been officially eliminated. The Firebirds pulled off the upset of the round defeating the Lightning. And the Mavericks are one big win away from hosting the Minor Semi Final against the Fever. In the AFL, Fremantle extended their dominance with a 124-point demolition of North Melbourne, Carlton notched their fourth consecutive win and the Western Bulldogs are shaking up the top end of the ladder after defeating Hawthorn. The Penrith Panthers put 68 points on the West Tigers. The Broncos have now lost back-to-back games to the Dragons and Titans. The New York Knicks lead the NBA Finals 2-0 heading into Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4. And Queensland have named Reece Walsh and Murray Taulagi in their State of Origin Game 2 squad with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki set to make his debut. Episode 11 of The Sports Playbook Monday Wrap. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Follow The Sports Playbook on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

    12 min
  4. FIFA World Cup 2026 Preview: Socceroos Group Breakdown & Everything You Need to Know | Feat. NXT Football

    Jun 8

    FIFA World Cup 2026 Preview: Socceroos Group Breakdown & Everything You Need to Know | Feat. NXT Football

    The FIFA World Cup 2026 is here — 48 teams, 3 countries, 4 time zones and the biggest tournament in football history. Daniel is joined by football expert Coach Dan from NXT Football for a 57-minute deep dive into everything you need to know before the first ball is kicked on June 11th. The Socceroos have landed in one of the most fascinating groups of the tournament — drawn alongside the USA (ranked 15th), Turkey (ranked 22nd) and Paraguay (ranked 40th). Daniel and Coach Dan break down every match, every opponent and Australia's realistic chances of progressing from the group stage. Australia's opening game against Turkey on June 14th at 2pm — available free on SBS — sets the tone for what could be a historic tournament campaign. This is also the last World Cup for some of the greatest players to ever play the game. Cristiano Ronaldo at 41, Lionel Messi at 38 and Luka Modrić at 40 — Daniel and Coach Dan reflect on what it means to watch these legends take the stage one final time. The episode covers the tournament structure — 12 groups of 4 with 32 teams qualifying including the top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams. The logistics of playing across Mexico, USA and Canada. The new VAR and red card rules that will change how the game is played. The SuperBowl-style halftime show at the Final featuring Madonna, Shakira and BTS. The groups and games you absolutely cannot miss. And the big question — who wins it all? Hot takes, bold calls and genuine football analysis from two people who care deeply about the Socceroos and the game. A must-listen for every Australian football fan heading into the biggest sporting event on the planet. Follow The Sports Playbook on Instagram and TikTok and follow NXT Football for more.

    57 min
  5. Your Sports Week & Weekend Preview: Serena Williams Makes Her Comeback, FozBall Locked In & BBL's Melbourne Shake-Up

    Jun 3

    Your Sports Week & Weekend Preview: Serena Williams Makes Her Comeback, FozBall Locked In & BBL's Melbourne Shake-Up

    One of the biggest stories in tennis in years — Serena Williams is back. The 23-time Grand Slam champion has accepted a wildcard for the doubles competition at Queen's Club in London at 44 years of age. The tournament is a Wimbledon precursor and Serena's return is the story the entire sporting world is talking about. Kieran Foran — dubbed FozBall by rugby league fans this season — has signed with the Manly Sea Eagles until the end of 2029. Nine weeks ago he was the assistant coach with Manly sitting at 0 wins from 3. He has since led them to 7 wins from 9 games and is already one of the most exciting coaching stories of 2026. Daniel explains why this signing changes everything for Manly's future. The BBL franchise landscape in Melbourne is shifting significantly — Daniel breaks down what the proposed merger means for the competition and what it could mean for cricket fans in Victoria. Freddie Flintoff has been confirmed as Sydney Thunder Head Coach in one of the most surprising appointments of the Australian cricket off-season. Australia's Rugby Sevens teams produced a historic double — both the men's and women's sides winning the tournament in Spain for the first time since 2018. The women's side now lead the World Championship series heading into the final weekend in Bordeaux. Connor Watson signs with the Dragons and PNG Chiefs. Katie McCabe makes a shock move from Arsenal to Chelsea. And Helen Housby has been ruled out of the Commonwealth Games with a stress fracture — heartbreaking timing as all Super Netball contracts expire at season's end. This weekend — Manly host the Rabbitohs Thursday night, the Melbourne Derby in Super Netball on Sunday, Collingwood vs Melbourne on Monday and the Bulldogs face the Eels in what shapes as a crucial NRL clash. Episode 10 of The Sports Playbook Thursday Preview. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Follow The Sports Playbook on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

    13 min
  6. Your Weekend Sports Wrap: Dragons End the Drought, Carlton's Upset of the Year & Jess Fox's Miraculous Return

    May 31

    Your Weekend Sports Wrap: Dragons End the Drought, Carlton's Upset of the Year & Jess Fox's Miraculous Return

    What a weekend of sport. The St George Illawarra Dragons ended one of the longest losing streaks in recent NRL history, stunning the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium after racing out to a 30-8 lead — their first win since Round 23 of 2025. Carlton produced the upset of the AFL season, defeating third-placed Geelong by four points in three wins in a row under interim coach Dean Solomon, with captain Patrick Cripps delivering when it mattered most. Fremantle extended their winning streak to 11 consecutive games. In Super Netball, the Adelaide Thunderbirds have firmly planted their flag as premiership favourites, defeating the Melbourne Vixens by 19 goals to open up a clear gap at the top of the ladder heading into finals. The Melbourne Mavericks caused a massive upset in Perth defeating West Coast Fever to cement their Top 4 spot. The Australian Diamonds squad has been named for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and 2027 World Cup — with Donnell Wallam earning her full squad spot and Jessie Grenvold making her debut selection off the back of her impressive Mavericks form. Paige Hadley is among the notable omissions. The San Antonio Spurs have upset the defending NBA champions to reach their first Finals since 2014, where they will face the New York Knicks in a series starting Thursday 4th June. PSG claimed back-to-back Champions League titles on penalties against Arsenal. Liverpool have sensationally sacked Arne Slot just one season after winning the Premier League. And at the French Open, both Alex De Minaur and Novak Djokovic have been eliminated — meaning the men's title is wide open for the first time in years. This week's standout performer is Jess Fox — who claimed silver in kayak at the World Cup just nine months after having a kidney tumour removed. As she said herself, that silver felt like gold. Episode 9 of The Sports Playbook Monday Wrap. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Follow The Sports Playbook on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. podscan_q6fH6n3ekza7RJCgnDIm2uhpl3dtmipA

    11 min
  7. Your Sports Week & Weekend Preview: Blues Win Great Escape in State of Origin, Neale Daniher's Legacy & NRL CEO Exits

    May 27

    Your Sports Week & Weekend Preview: Blues Win Great Escape in State of Origin, Neale Daniher's Legacy & NRL CEO Exits

    We break down Game 1 of 2026 State of Origin. QLD Maroons rushed out to a 20-0 lead before halftime. Before the NSW Blues mounted a come back after Kalyn Ponga got sent off with 23 minutes to go. Qld lead by 20-6 at this point, but NSW won the game 22-20 in the final minute through a James Tedesco special try off the back of a Nathan Cleary clutch kick. A week of significant news across Australian sport. Neale Daniher — one of the great figures of Australian rules football — passed away on Monday 25th May at the age of 65. The Essendon legend played 82 games, coached the club for more than 220 games and spent over a decade fighting MND with extraordinary courage and grace. His charity Fight MND raised over $141 million. A giant of the game — remembered forever. Essendon have also parted ways with coach Brad Scott after just one win from their last 24 games, with Dean Solomon stepping in as interim head coach. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has announced his resignation after more than six years in the role — staying until at least July 15th as the NRL's broadcast deal negotiations continue. The New York Knicks are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 after ending a 27-year drought. And the NSW Swifts have opened recruitment for their 2027 head coaching position. This weekend Daniel previews the NRLW State of Origin Game 3 as NSW aim for a historic clean sweep, the AFL top of the table clash between Fremantle and Brisbane, Super Netball's biggest game of the season as the Thunderbirds and Vixens meet at the top of the ladder, and the NRL's number one vs number two clash between the Panthers and Warriors — with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's career ending through ACL injury adding heartbreak to the occasion. Episode 8 of The Sports Playbook Thursday Preview. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Follow The Sports Playbook on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

    14 min
  8. Your Weekend Sports Wrap: AFL Records Tumble, Thunderbirds Make History & Mercedes F1 Teammates Collide

    May 24

    Your Weekend Sports Wrap: AFL Records Tumble, Thunderbirds Make History & Mercedes F1 Teammates Collide

    What a weekend in sport — the AFL was handing out records like confetti. North Melbourne completed the second biggest comeback in AFL history, overturning a 43-point deficit to win after the siren. Scott Pendlebury broke the all-time AFL/VFL games record in Collingwood's win over West Coast. The GWS GIANTS scored 86 points in a single quarter — the highest third quarter score in AFL history. And Fremantle's 10th consecutive win puts them alone at the top of the ladder. In Super Netball, the Adelaide Thunderbirds beat the GIANTS by 33 goals — the biggest winning margin in Super Netball history. The Melbourne Mavericks cemented their Top 4 spot with a crucial win over the Lightning, moving one step closer to making their first ever finals series in just their third season of existence. Auckland FC made history becoming the first New Zealand club to win the A-League title. Abbey Caldwell claimed her first Diamond League title overnight in China. And in Formula 1, Mercedes teammates George Russell and Kimi Antonelli came to blows in the Canadian Grand Prix Sprint — the most dramatic moment between teammates since 2016. Daniel's main story deep dive this week goes into the Melbourne Mavericks and what their remarkable rise under new coach Gerard Murphy means for the future of Super Netball's newest club. Episode 7 of The Sports Playbook Monday Wrap. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Follow The Sports Playbook on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

    10 min
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The Sports Playbook is your go-to weekly sports news podcast delivering fast, factual and non-sensationalised sports coverage across Australia and beyond. Hosted by Daniel, every episode cuts through the noise to keep you informed and in the know — without the hype, scandals or filler. Every Monday, Daniel wraps up the biggest stories from the weekend across the NRL, NRLW, AFL, Super Netball, Formula 1, Cricket and more in the Weekend Sports Wrap. Every Thursday, the Weekly Sports Preview breaks down the major storylines from the week, dives deep into one athlete story worth your attention and previews the biggest games and events coming up that weekend. The Sports Playbook covers men's and women's sport equally — because sport is sport. Whether it's a record-breaking performance, a shock coaching resignation, a feel-good comeback story or a major signing, if it matters in the sports world this week, Daniel covers it. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Subscribe now and never miss your weekly sports wrap.

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