Episode Details

Rugby league and Hollywood collide in this special episode of the Rugby League Rat Pack!

Niuy, Bobo, Duck Arse & Captain America welcome Josh Brandon, boss of the L.A. Roosters and a Hollywood screenwriter, who cleverly works rugby league player names into his movie and TV scripts!

Fresh off the USARL National Championship Final, Brandon joins the conversation after a thrilling clash with the Tampa Mayhem. The Pack looks back at the final and projects what’s next for rugby league on the West Coast of the USA before Josh shares his unique journey from rugby league to Hollywood.

Plus, the latest NRL, NRLW and Super League action, Scrum Vegas IV, Bobo’s Breakdown and Captain America’s MVP.!

Follow the Podcast to join the Pack for more rugby league news, highlights, analysis, guests and entertainment: https://www.youtube.com/@RugbyLeagueRatPack?sub_confirmation=1

In This Episode:

• Josh Brandon’s rugby league journey
• Building the L.A. Roosters
• Rugby league player names in Hollywood scripts
• Josh’s work as a Hollywood screenwriter
• Casting NRL players in movies and TV
• The story behind the L.A. Roosters
• Possible rugby league expansion in Los Angeles
• Growing the women’s game on the West Coast of the USA
• L.A. Roosters merchandise and the Roosters vs. Sacramento
• NRL predictions and Sam Walker’s injury status
• NRL Round 26 recap
• NRL ladder analysis and predictions
• NRL rule change experiment
• Super League roundup
• Captain America’s MVP
• Why the women’s game can help grow rugby league in the USA

Chapters:

00:00 Las Vegas Invasion - Break out the Budgies!

02:36 Countdown to Scrum Vegas!

05:53 Championship Final in the USA: L.A. Roosters vs Tampa Mayhem

07:10 Josh Brandon Joins the Pack

08:28 Josh’s L.A. Story: Roosters in Hollywood

12:55 Rooster Player Names in Hollywood

15:41 Casting NRL Players

16:56 How the L.A.Roosters came to be

18:23 2026 USARL Men's Finals Recap: L.A. Roosters vs Tampa Mayhem

22:08 Talent Level of West Coast Players

23:48 Possible expansion in Los Angeles

25:20 Growing the Women’s Game on the West Coast of the USA

26:28 Player Names to Know

27:32 L.A. Roosters Merchandise!

28:43 Video: Roosters Trip to Sacramento

32:44 Help from Sydney Roosters

36:06 Josh’s latest book: William Shatner and You!

36:43 Roosters NRL Predictions

37:17 Sam Walker Injury Status

40:04 Where’s Vassy?

40:30 NRL Recap

43:42 Jai Arrow Tribute

50:50 The Bird

51:22 NRL New Rule Change

55:41 Bobo’s Breakdown

57:26 Why the Women’s Game is best way to grow the sport in the USA

1:02:42 Super League Round Up

1:04:22 Most Valuable Preston Award

1:07:54 NRLW Scores & Highlights

1:14:40 NRL Insights: Are the Rabbitohs for Real?

1:15:51 Analyzing the NRL Ladder/Predictions

FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RugbyLeagueRatpack

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rugbyleagueratpack/

X - https://x.com/RL_RatPack