St. Patrick's Day brings out the best stories. In Episode 2 the Rat Pack dives into the history of USA v Ireland — the games at RFK Stadium live on ESPN, the referee with a microphone calling commercial breaks mid-tackle, and a fight that Preston swears he's not proud of. The boys break down NRL Round 2, talk Super League Challenge Cup, reveal that York Knights are looking to return to America, and pay tribute to John Morgan — the man who started it all.

Episode 1. No studio. No producer. Just a few rugby league lifers with stories the game never got to hear.

The Rugby League Rat Pack — former AMNRL players who toured internationally and helped build the sport in America from scratch — sit down for the first time to talk about what they built, where the game is now, and where it needs to go.

In this episode: the crew comes straight off Scrum Vegas 3, reflects on what it felt like to watch NRL teams pack out Allegiant Stadium knowing they helped lay the foundation, and has a frank conversation about the NRL's US strategy — the right city, the wrong kickoff times, and why American fans couldn't find the game on TV.

Real talk from the men who washed dishes, lined fields, and spread the gospel of rugby league in America decades before Las Vegas was even a conversation.

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The Rugby League Rat Pack welcomes special guest Eugene Tukumoeatu from the Utah Junior Rugby League for an in-depth conversation about growing rugby league in the United States. Eugene shares how Utah is developing youth and girls programs, engaging the Polynesian community, using American football as a pathway to rugby league, and building the Heritage Cup into a successful grassroots competition.

Of course the boys bring their weekly look around the rugby league world with an NRL Recap, Super League Round Up, Bobo's Breakdown, and Captain America's Most Valuable Preston Award, along with State of Origin III predictions, Magic Round discussion, NRLW coverage, and exclusive on location videos from Duck Arse.

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In This Episode:

Eugene Tukumoeatu joins the Rugby League Rat Pack

Growing rugby league in Utah and across the United States

Building youth and girls rugby league programs

The Polynesian community's impact on rugby league

Using American football to introduce new players

Utah Junior Rugby League Heritage Cup

NRL Recap

NRLW opening week

Super League Round Up featuring Magic Round

Bobo's Breakdown

Most Valuable Preston Award

MND Awareness

State of Origin III preview and predictions

Chapters:

00:00 State of Origin, Super League Magic Round, NRLW kickoff

00:59 233 Days until Scrum Vegas 4

04:33 Duck Arse Looking Good & Feeling Good

08:03 Eugene Tukumoeatu joins the Rat Pack

10:28 How to develop Rugby League in the U.S.A.

12:16 Polynesian community in Utah

13:15 The biggest challenge growing Rugby League

15:19 Using American Football to teach Rugby League

17:45 What model and format is Eugene using in Utah?

18:49 How Flag Rugby helps people learn the sport

19:39 Utah Junior Rugby League Heritage Cup 2026

23:09 Spirit of Community

26:12 Rugby League growth strategy

29:01 NRL Recap: Duck Arse on location

35:16 NRL Women's Recap

40:50 MND Awareness

42:11 Super League Round Up: Magic Round

50:04 Bobo's Breakdown: Is a referee's decision ever final?

1:00:46 Most Valuable Preston Award: Dayne Jennings

1:05:49 Will Sam Walker dethrone Nathan Cleary as Australia's World Cup halfback?

1:06:24 State of Origin III predictions

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