#41 Steve 'Blocker' Roach | The Bye Round Podcast with James Graham

Today on the Bye Round James Graham is joined by one of the greatest forwards to play the great game of rugby league, Steve 'Blocker' Roach. Blocker opens up on his career with the Balmain Tigers, his incredible representative career with NSW & Australia plus he shares some war stories from the past!
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0:00 Growing Up Playing Footy
7:13 Touring England Part 1
14:52 The Nickname Blocker
15:43 Joining Balmain Tigers
23:46 Does Origin mean more to QLD?
28:18 Working & Playing
32:32 What Made The Tigers Great In The 80’s
43:16 THE BIFF!
48:52 Old School Footy v Modern Footy
58:31 1989 Grand Final
1:05:10 Blocker v Referees
1:10:00 Jack Gibson & Bob Fulton
1:13:57 Touring England Part 2
1:26:39 The Hall Of Fame
1:29:02 Media Career
1:42:50 Next 10 Years
1:46:03 Current Wests Tigers
1:59:03 Tooheys Questions With Jimmy

[@joshloreto2676]

This is my favourite bye round so far! Steve roach is an absolute ripper of a bloke and true legend of the game !!

[@paulheathwood7193]

Brilliant James I luv Blocker one of my all time faves!!!😊😊

[@Davo7365]

Blocker is much more intelligent with great insight to our game than he gets credit for

[@Davo7365]

Best interview so far blocker is the man grandstand abc should of given him more to say

[@jontydenton1201]

I’ll Never forget Andy Platt bumping into Blocker in his studs in corridor to sheds at Old central park Wigan ….he came up to his middle! Then slowly looked upward (like scooby do on old titles sequence ….for you other oldies) to a beaming Steve offering a huge hand to shake….definition of the gentle giant…hard but not sly tough…..LEGEND!

[@forddriver8827]

Just finished listening to this. Steve Roach is an articulate gentlemen and a success story off his own work and commitment. Thanks both Steve and James, one of a select handful of podcasts that hit the target every week without any entitlement or pretence. Great effort James, stay well.

[@mareelonghurst1934]

I could listen to Blocker for hours on end. Thanks For a great video.😊

[@briankennedy1192]

Being 58 and still a mad fan great to hear block talk about the old days late 70s the import system was a controversial one.

[@johnkelly2382]

Blocker ! part of the best pack the Tiges have ever had.

[@TheJuanvegas]

Loved this. Really great episode as it was pretty unstructured, just two lads having the chat. Blocker has some great stories

[@cameronjohns8639]

Love Blocker

[@philliplivingstone5336]

Great episode - what a legend!

[@boganbob2708]

Barry Gomersall was the most influential origin player in history.

[@gcdragon2558]

I could listen to Blocker all day

[@JoshLuck]

Why is James so reserved in this interview?? Two Rugby League hard men of different eras.. this should be the most epic of all Bye Round episodes.. but the chat feels tempered by James' hesitancy. It's almost like James is worried he will get in trouble for endorsing aggression/violence.. It's a shame. I love this podcast BTW, and love listening to Blocker, just a little surprised this time.

[@stevenwebb3634]

There's a signed framed photograph of Blocker patting Eddie Ward on the head at the Criterion Hotel in Rockhampton

[@bigrobbo75]

Best interview yet James !! Blocker is quite entertaining indeed . a Blocker and Sirro together would be a great future interview ?. The Tig-Pies dont have the tradition and romance that was the old Balmain Tigers

[@simonjames772]

friggin legend

[@markpiripi4240]

Priviledge to meet gr8 blocker roach on aussie WC supporters tour 2022 ENGLAND gr8 memories

[@hellagood67]

Oh James, you gotta watch some of the old footage from Blockers time. State of Origin, NSWRL, Kangaroo tour games. Anything prior to 2000. It will blow your mind.

[@be9529]

Awesome interview

[@emma00b]

top effort and such a great listen

[@GodlyCarnage]

Love you Block

[@GS-kh5se]

Should keep 1 or 2 matches a year at Leichhardt. Heritage match vs a sydney club like South's or Easts But Campbelltown has to be our future

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

My humble opinion is when Western Suburbs & Balmain merged it should’ve been called Western Suburbs & Balmain United. Both Logo’s of both clubs have equal recognition on Jersey with 1908 logo. Both clubs play independently in NSW Cup level.

[@nolabrindell7174]

Best "yarn" ever.

[@shiresmokersbbq8704]

Watched a lot of Cliffy. Modern day comparison would be Cody Walker.

[@nofomaiava_]

everyone calling this guy the worst commentator, bruh he’s a better one than half of the nrl9 crew 😂

[@hellagood67]

He’s a better commentator than anyone….and I’m a Queenslander. I’ve always liked him, blue jersey or not.

[@bdd606]

I must be honest. We all know Baz is a tough guy and was a nutter on the field if needed, but I always thought the same as Blocker. Why the hell didn't the Kangaroo lads not run in and give it the Barry Mac

[@Bigscreentv23]

Must have been recorded before their first win.

[@ethanwillis6970]

That's pretty obvious, they don't record and release these in the one day lol

[@Bigscreentv23]

@@ethanwillis6970 - what do they need to edit?

[@ethanwillis6970]

@@Bigscreentv23 probably more edits than you'd realise. Besides, if you've watched any others of these you'd notice that they're always filmed way before the day they're shown as there are often outdated points talked about.

[@Kodiak1234]

@@Bigscreentv23 they edit shorts for other social media platforms - I’m watching this cause I saw a 1 minute snippet on TikTok

[@forddriver8827]

@@ethanwillis6970 Well Ethan, if you don't like it, please don't bother the rest of us with your ego and sarcasm again, try another sport.

[@JoshLuck]

James has never seen Cliff Lyons play!?!?! Next thing he'll say he doesn't know who Beever Menzies is!! Is this a Rugby League podcast!?!

[@kylebyrne8076]

Nrl dont want anymore tours whether its in England, Britain or New Zealand

[@reverseclouds1663]

RLPA are more responsible for it tbh

[@JoshLuck]

Blocker sounded like he wanted to talk more about his wife, sounds like she's the biggest part of his life, but every time he tries to work her into the chat, seems like the conversation topic gets directed away somewhere else..

[@nzpiro]

Hates the warriors this bloke

[@SuperRiddlers]

That was a cracker of an interview. Blocker comes across as a true gent and an all round good egg. Great stuff.

[@stevebell395]

Really enjoy that top from uk