The Stack Report

Chris McQueen  is one of Rugby League's contradictions - hard and tough on the field, thoughtful and softly spoken off the park. In this episode of The Stack Report he speaks of his journey from rural Queensland to NRL glory. Along the way there was a comical run in with Russell Crowe, serious clashes with big name coaches and Origin glory for Queensland. He had to relinquish Maroons eligibility in order to represent England and now he's on the comeback trail from a career threatening neck injury... oh and did we mention his pet snake?! A great conversation with a deep thinker. 

An interview about the intersection of faith, family and sport. Kevin Naiqama might have the biggest heart in rugby league. The Fijian winger speaks to The Stack Report about the sacrifices his Mum made to put food on the table, how rugby league gave him a pathway and why representing Fiji makes him cry.  Honest, raw and heartwarming.

His nickname is 'The Grub', but you'd be hard pressed to find a better person in the NRL. Josh Reynolds spoke to The Stack Report about his rise to NRL stardom at the Bulldogs, helping NSW break Queensland's Origin series streak and his move to the Wests Tigers. Reynolds explains how he knew he was no longer wanted at Canterbury and what he has loved about the Tigers. Open and honest, self-deprecating and thoughtful, Reynolds is a great interviewee.

Benji Marshall has enjoyed a wild rugby league ride - an NRL premiership with the Tigers, winning a rugby league world cup with New Zealand, a  dalliance with rugby union, stints with the Dragons and the Broncos. As he enters the final chapter of his career Benji speaks with The Stack Report about returning to the Tigers, fatherhood and whether 2018 will be his final year in the NRL. 

Three time Winter Olympian Chumpy Pullin joins The Stack Report after returning from the Pyeongchang Games. He takes us behind the scenes in Korea to tell us what happened after the final of the snowboard cross and addresses rumours of a rift with his Australian teammate. Chumpy is a rare athlete; warm and generous while simultaneously focused and driven and he opens up in manner rarely seen. An insightful conversation with one of the country's most decorated winter athletes.

GWS Giants Captain Phil Davis might be a defender, but he's quite forward thinking. He joins The Stack Report to talk about how you build strong culture and protect it (cough, cricket, cough), the possible return of COLA, the idea of playing AFL Grand Finals outside Victoria, the pain of losing prelim finals, why he loves playing against the best and how the Giants might be underrated in 2018. You won't find many AFL Captains who are willing to be this candid. 

Josh Mansour is one of the best wingers in rugby league and arguably an even better person. Part Portuguese, part Cuban, part Lebanese and entirely Australian, Mansour doesn't take himself too seriously, but is also fiercely dedicated and hard working. He spoke to us about his journey to becoming an elite NRL talent, the genius of Gus Gould (could he coach again?), fatherhood, the joy of representing Australia, the pain of Origin failure, the knee injury that threatened his career and what went wrong for Penrith in 2017. 

Alex Rance is not your stereotypical footballer; he's deeply spiritual, passionate about education and a deep thinker. The 2017 All Australian Captain joins The Stack Report to talk about the euphoria of winning an AFL Premiership with Richmond, his unique relationships with coaches and teammates, how he nearly walked away from the AFL in his prime, his strong religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness and how building strong culture is about exposing your vulnerabilities. 

An introvert on the field, an extrovert off it, Chris Rogers was a late bloomer in international cricket. It didn't stop him chalking up plenty of test cricket runs. In this interview he speaks about growing as a player and person through a decorated career. Test cricket glory,  state cricket sledges, the death of Phillip Hughes, T20 with Chris Gayle and much more. This might not be what you expect.

Former Fremantle Dockers Captain opens up on a career spanning 353 games. He speaks about his relationship with Ross Lyon, approaches from rival clubs, his reasons for remaining a Docker, the pain of Grand Final defeat and the fulfilment of a decorated career. 

In the week of the final WACA Ashes Test we speak to one of the roosters of West Australian cricket - Brendon Julian. The enigmatic all-rounder played alongside and against some of the biggest names in cricket and the Kiwi born left armer was front and centre for some historic series. BJ was part of the 1993 Ashes tour, the 1995 tour of the West Indies and the 1999 World Cup campaign. He spoke about all of that and his notorious commentary gaffe.  BJ is a good bloke and a good sport. 

Tim Horan is one of the finest Wallabies Australia has ever produced. The humble Queenslander twice won the World Cup and was named player of the tournament in the victorious 1999 campaign. He spoke to The Stack Report about an incredible career and reveals how he came within a whisker of defecting to rugby league, before (ironically) a career threatening knee injury ensured he stayed a Wallaby.  

NRL star Bryan Fletcher had a big game, his personality is even bigger. Fletch spoke to The Stack Report about injuring his club's mascot, hijacking a public bus, his time as a plumber, puncturing a lung in the name of TV laughs and a football career that saw him represent the Roosters, Souths, Wigan, NSW and Australia. This is not one to miss. 

As a player he was quick to score runs, but slow to talk about it. In retirement Damien Martyn has opened up in a way he was reluctant to during his cricket career. The West Australian spoke to The Stack Report about the joy of conquering the cricketing world and pain of being blamed for a loss.  He covered it all; the infamous South Africa Test defeat of 1994, Ashes pain and glory, the final frontier of a test series win in India and much more (including Donald Trump - random, but yes, Trump). 

Shane 'The Hammer' Heal is arguably the most colourful figure in Australian basketball history. He's brash, he's in your face, he's honest and he's hilarious. Shane spoke to The Stack Report about clashing with Charles Barkley, trash talking Gary Payton, what it's like in the NBA and how excited he is for Australian basketballs renaissance.