Carlaw Park Die Hards
Where Legends Were Born and Warriors Are Made.
Carlaw Park Die Hards is then ultimate rugby league podcast dedicated to preserving the history, passion and culture of New Zelanad's most iconic ground - Carlaw Park.
Hosted by Troy Hardy and Gordy Gibbons, the show dives into the legends, rivalries, and unforgettable moments that shaped Kiwi rugby league. From exclusive interviews with former greats to deep dives into the modern game, we celebrate the past, present, and future of league in Aotearoa.
Expect die hard conversations, behind-the-scenes stories, and the spirit of Carlaw Park brought back to life.
Whether you’re a long-time league diehard or a new fan, this is your home for authentic Kiwi rugby league storytelling.
New Zeland's spiritual home of rugby league. Carlaw Park Legends.
Episodes

Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast Episode 5 Christmas Special
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
🎙️Carlaw Park Die Hards: Christmas Special
Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast Episode 5 Christmas Special:
KIWIS REUNION EXCLUSIVE: Sir Peter Leitch, Sir Graham Lowe & Hugh McGahan | Die Hards Christmas Special
🚨 KIWIS LEGENDS UNLEASHED! Your hosts Gordy Gibbons and Troy Hardy crash the New Zealand Kiwis Reunion 2025 for an unforgettable Christmas Special! This is the ultimate, unfiltered, behind-the-scenes access to the legends of NZ Rugby League. We sit down with TWO SIRS and a Kiwi Captain to hear their greatest stories, share a few laughs, and down some cold ones. HIT PLAY for an absolute goldmine of league history!
Welcome to the spiritual home of Kiwi league! The Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast is live from the monumental New Zealand Kiwis Reunion 2025 to deliver a Christmas Special packed with pure gold.
This is the only place you'll hear raw, authentic interviews with these legendary figures:
Sir Peter Leitch (The Mad Butcher): Hear his famous, unfiltered take on the game, the Kiwis, and the moments that defined his career as one of the game's greatest ambassadors.
Sir Graham Lowe: The legendary coach and administrator opens up about the pressure, the pride, and the emotional impact Carlaw Park had on his life.
Hugh McGahan (Kiwi Captain): Get the true captain's perspective on what it means to lead the Kiwis and the stories from the dressing room you've never heard before.
Important Die Hards Update:
We caught up with Bears Legend and Kiwi International Fred Ah Koui, but sadly, the recording was lost. We are committed to the Die Hards faithful and will be bringing you a FULL, dedicated interview with Fred Ah Koui in the New Year!
🔗 CONNECT & SUPPORT THE DIE HARDS! 🔗
This podcast runs on the passion of our listeners! If you want more epic league stories, we need your help:
SUBSCRIBE: Follow the Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast on your app right now so you never miss a legend!
REVIEW: Leave a 5-star rating and a review—it’s the single best way to help us grow and reach more Kiwi league fans.
WATCH: Find the full video episode on our YouTube channel ([Your YouTube Channel Name/Link])!
CONNECT: Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes content and throwbacks!
#NZRugbyLeague #KiwisReunion #CarlawParkDieHards #SirPeterLeitch #SirGrahamLowe #HughMcGahan #RugbyLeagueLegends #PodcastNZ #ChristmasSpecial

Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast Episode 4 Clayton Friend
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
CLAYTON FRIEND — THE MAGNIFICENT #7**Kia ora whānau — welcome back to the Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast!I’m Troy Hardy, joined by my co-host, the walking rugby-league almanac himself… Gordon “Gordy” Gibbons.And today… mate… we have cooked up an absolute beauty.This is Episode Four, and we’re sitting down with one of the great entertainers of New Zealand rugby league —Clayton “The Magician” Friend.A Kiwi icon.A North Sydney Bear.A UK journeyman who carved up at Carlisle Rugby League and tore it up at Whitehaven.A man who lit up tests, tour matches, and club footy with the kind of natural flair you just cannot coach.Clayton didn’t just wear the seven —he made it sparkle.Today, me and Gordy dive deep with him into:• His unforgettable days in the New Zealand Kiwis jersey• The old-school Carlaw Park battles where the terraces shook• His time with the North Sydney Bears and why that era was so special• Life and league in the UK with Carlisle and Whitehaven• The test matches where Clayton was on fire, carving up edges with those dummies, steps and pure instinct• The players he rated, the moments he lived, and the magic only he could produceThis is pure rugby league gold —the stories that shaped the game on both sides of the world.So buckle up, settle in, and let Troy & Gordy take you back to the places and moments that made Clayton Friend a name etched forever in league history.Episode 4 — Clayton FriendWhere legends were born…and warriors were made.Let’s go.

Saturday Nov 01, 2025
Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast Episode 3 Dean Bell
Saturday Nov 01, 2025
Saturday Nov 01, 2025
He personifies our tagline —Carlaw Park: Where Legends Were Born and Warriors Are Made. 🏟️This week, we sit down with the one and only Dean “Deano” Bell — a true Kiwi Rugby League legend.From Manukau to Wigan, from the roar of Carlaw Park to wearing the New Zealand Kiwis jersey, and then helping build the NZ Warriors legacy — Deano has done it all. ⚫️⚪️In this powerful, emotional, and unfiltered episode, Dean opens up about the pride, the passion, and the pain behind his journey through some of the game’s most defining eras. 💪🔥🎧 On Air Now!📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.💥 Do us a solid — hit LIKE, drop a COMMENT, SHARE it with your mates, and smash that 🔔 BELL ICON so you never miss another classic yarn from the legends of league!Let’s remind everyone…🏉 Carlaw Park — Where Legends Were Born & Warriors Were Made.⸻🎯 Tags:New Zealand Rugby League Museum • Wigan Warriors • Wigan Warriors Fan Group • One NZ Warriors • Aotearoa NZ Māori Rugby League • New Zealand Kiwis • Manukau Rugby League Football & Sports Club Inc • Auckland Māori Rugby League Inc • Auckland Rugby League • Sydney Roosters • Carlaw Park Die Hards • Access Railway & Concrete Stand Carlaw Park Die Hards • New Zealand Rugby League Kiwis Assoc • Sky Sport NZ • The Crowd Goes Wild • Rugby League Week#carlawparkdiehards #deanbell #RugbyLeagueLegends #nzkiwis #wiganrl #nzwarriors #aucklandrugbyleague #manukaurugbyleague #easternsuburbsroosters #CarlawPark #wherelegendswereborn #leaguepodcast #nzrugbyleague #TroyHardy #GordyGibbons #leagueheritage #PodcastNZ #RugbyLeagueFans
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast – Episode 2: Dane O’Hara
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
In this episode, we sit down with one of New Zealand rugby league’s true greats — Dane O’Hara.
Originally from the Bay Roskill Vikings before joining the Glenora Bears, Dane carved out a remarkable career that took him from the heart of Auckland club footy to the grand stage of English Super League.
In 1981, Dane joined Hull FC, where he went on to play 271 games, scoring 116 tries and becoming a fan favourite across Yorkshire. He later played for Doncaster RLFC, rounding out an incredible professional journey.
Between 1976 and 1980, he represented Auckland six times and proudly wore the black and white of the New Zealand Kiwis in 36 tests, crossing the line 15 times as one of the game’s most electrifying wingers.
Join us as Dane shares stories from his Carlaw Park days, memories of his club footy roots, and the incredible moments that shaped his career — from teaming up with Gary Kemble, James Leuluai, and Fred Ah Kuoi at Hull FC to the legendary Wembley Challenge Cup Final, and his 1989/1990 testimonial year — the first ever awarded to an overseas player by Hull FC.
It’s a nostalgic, emotional, and inspiring trip through time with one of league’s finest ambassadors.
Welcome to the Carlaw Park Die Hards — where legends were born and warriors are made.

Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Carlaw Park Die Hards Troy Hardy and Gordy Gibbons
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Where Legends Were Born and Warriors Are MadeStep into the beating heart of New Zealand rugby league with hosting legends Troy Hardy and Gordy Gibbons. Broadcasting from the spiritual home of the game, the Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast celebrates the history, passion, and people who shaped Aotearoa’s league culture.Each episode brings you raw stories, untold memories, and powerful conversations with the players, coaches, and fans who lived it — and the new voices carrying the game forward today.Whether you stood on the terraces at Carlaw Park, bled for your local club, or just want to understand why league runs so deep in Kiwi communities, this is your home.👉 Expect heritage, pride, banter, and a few battle scars along the way.Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast — where legends live forever, and the next warriors are made.

Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Gordy Gibbons Joins Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Where Legends Were Born and Warriors Are MadeStep into the beating heart of New Zealand rugby league with hosting legends Troy Hardy and Gordy Gibbons. Broadcasting from the spiritual home of the game, the Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast celebrates the history, passion, and people who shaped Aotearoa’s league culture.Each episode brings you raw stories, untold memories, and powerful conversations with the players, coaches, and fans who lived it — and the new voices carrying the game forward today.Whether you stood on the terraces at Carlaw Park, bled for your local club, or just want to understand why league runs so deep in Kiwi communities, this is your home.👉 Expect heritage, pride, banter, and a few battle scars along the way.Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast — where legends live forever, and the next warriors are made.





