The Bench with Jenna and Jon
Episodes
Dan Sarginson | Being known as 'the rugby player', the benefits of meditation and annoying phrases!
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week Jenna and Jon are joined by Dan Sarginson who makes his second appearance on the podcast! The trio catch up with Dan on how retirement is go...
Rob Hicks | How hard is the role of a referee, should they be mic'd up and creative crowd chants
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week Jenna and Jon are joined by Director of Operations and Legal for the Rugby Football League, Rob Hicks. The trio look over the role of a refe...
Andrew Voss | Vossy's music career, scented candles and alternative names for rugby league!
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week Jenna and Jon are joined by the legendary Australian commentator Andrew Voss. They discuss his brief stint in a band, his second career in t...
Derek Beaumont | Leopard print branding, pre-match entertainment and Wembley dreams
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Bench, Jon and Jenna are joined by Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont. The trio discuss a variety of topics including Derek's forwar...
Sam Tomkins I Leaving a legacy, lie detectors in post-match interviews & that famous beard!
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin are joined by Catalans Dragons' Sam Tomkins. They discuss his imminent retirement, the legacy he'll leave behind...
Ben Westwood | Picking fights, awkward texts and photo opportunities
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Westwood joins Jon and the returning Barrie McDermott on The Bench this week to discuss life after retirement, picking fights with the opposition,...
Adrian Morley | Red card regrets, players faking injuries and half-time queues
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin are joined by Adrian Morley - the only British player to win both NRL and Super League Grand Finals. They discus...
Scott Taylor | The art of a good tackle, life after the game and respecting referees
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With no Jon this week, Jenna is joined by Barrie McDermott and Hull FC's Scott Taylor. The trio discuss the art of making a good tackle and name the p...
Paul Sculthorpe | Richard Branson's house, salary caps and that Terry Newton fight
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jenna and Jon were joined this week by the only player to win consecutive Man of Steel awards (and Jon's aunt's heart) Paul Sculthorpe...We discuss th...
Barrie McDermott | Social media, and is it time for a UK Origin series?
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin are joined by Barrie McDermott at Magic Weekend in Newcastle for the latest episode of The Bench. We discuss dealing with ...
Courtney Winfield-Hill | Being an Aussie playing for England, adjusting to Yorkshire life and growing the women's game
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Wilkin is joined by Courtney Winfield-Hill this week to find out what it's like being an Australian who ends up representing England and to discov...
Stevie Ward | Pain thresholds, ice baths and animals on the pitch
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With Jenna still away, Barrie McDermott joins Jon to chat with special guest Stevie Ward about the mentality of a top level rugby league player and ho...
Dan Sarginson | The importance of mental health, retirement and epiphanies
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On Mental Health Awareness Week, Dan Sarginson joins Jenna and Jon to discuss his career and decision to retire. The trio take a closer look into the ...
Gareth Ellis | 4G pitches, shoulder pads and 'head noise'
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gareth Ellis joins Jon and Jamie Jones-Buchanan (while Jenna's away) to discuss 4G pitches, shoulder pads, tight kits, longevity in sport and what it ...
Mitchell Pearce | Dealing with pressure, grumpy groundsmen and Vegas dreams
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin are joined by Mitchell Pearce on the latest episode of The Bench. The Catalans Dragons stand-off talks about the differenc...
Jodie Cunningham | Cats vs dogs, the art of leadership & rugby league superheroes
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week Jon Wilkin is joined by England captain Jodie Cunningham and Sky Sports' Barrie McDermott. They debate whether cats or dogs make better pets...
Luke Gale | Hair transplants, the salary cap and a message for Eddie Jones
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Wells steps in for Jon Wilkin on The Bench this week. Jenna Brooks is also joined by Keighley Cougars' Luke Gale as they talk hair transplants, re...
Shaun Kenny-Dowall | Life and future at Hull KR, Tim Tams vs Penguins, and the chip and chase
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shaun Kenny-Dowall joins Jenna and Jon on The Bench this week to discuss his life and future at Hull KR, why a Tim Tam beats a Penguin, and how much h...
Kevin Brown | Stadium names, warmups and pranks
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Brown joins Jenna and Jon this week to run through his career highlights, whether stadiums should have names, what it's like to play for your co...
James Simpson | Mustaches, wheelchair rugby growth and meeting royalty
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jenna and Jon are joined this week by Leeds Rhinos wheelchair rugby league coach, James Simpson to discuss all things mustaches, the growth of the spo...
Kelsey Gentles | Pregnancy, protein shakes and tattoos
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
York Valkyrie and England winger Kelsey Gentles joins Jenna and Jon at Sky Sports HQ this week to talk about pregnancy, name changes and whether prote...
Kyle Amor | Ostrich rides, 'Marras', and falling back in love with rugby league
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, former St Helens prop and proud Cumbrian Kyle Amor joins Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin to discuss how representing his county helped him redi...
Danny McGuire | 'Legends', Leeds vs Saints, haircuts and influential coaches
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Danny McGuire joins Jenna and Jon on The Bench to discuss what it's like to be a 'legend', the rivalry that existed between Leeds and Saints and which...
Brodie Croft | Life on the ostrich farm
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode of The Bench, Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin are joined by Betfred Super League star and reigning Man of Steel Brodie Croft. The A...
Frank Slevin and Mark Applegarth | 'The frog in the well' and how much has Jon learned?
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Bench with Jenna and Jon!In this first episode, Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin are joined by Frank Slevin, the Chair of Rugby League Comme...
Welcome to The Bench with Jenna and Jon!
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Bench with Jenna and Jon!Each week, Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin will be chatting all things rugby league and speaking to the big names ...