Mark Graham is a New Zealand rugby league legend. 

In his prime he was the best league player in the world, known for his size, speed, skill, and toughness, he was “a predator in a sea of sharks”.

He’s been named New Zealand Rugby League Player of the Century, and is the only player to have made it into both the New Zealand and Australian League halls of fame.

Luke Graham, his son, is a filmmaker, and his latest documentary is about his father.

SHARKO tells the story of the man who changed rugby league, carrying his teams and country to the doorstep of greatness.

Luke’s decision to tell his father’s story was motivated by several reasons, he revealed to Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.

“He’s someone that, you know, I’ve always proudly looked up to and I’ve been so proud of his success, his career.”

The creation of this documentary was a way to show that pride, as well as his love for that era of rugby league.

“It was selfishly, selfish reason to get to know my family even more, and to show this family to the world,” he told Tame.

The subject of the documentary himself, Mark, was not sure that anyone would want to watch the documentary when his son pitched it to him.

“My football career is dead and buried, and while I used to love the game, I just didn’t know if anyone would be that interested, to tell you the truth.”

Mark said that initially the story that was pitched was the ‘77 Auckland side where they showed up on a Wednesday night after working all day and played international sides for 33 weeks straight, beating all of them, before going back to work the next morning.

“So I thought that was the story, but he thought it was, this one was better.”

“It was lovely for people who perhaps don’t appreciate how much has changed.”

LISTEN ABOVE

Mark Graham is a New Zealand rugby league legend.  
In his prime he was the best league player in the world, known for his size, speed, skill, and toughness, he was “a predator in a sea of sharks”. 
He’s been named New Zealand Rugby League Player of the Century, and is the only player to have made it into both the New Zealand and Australian League halls of fame. 
Luke Graham, his son, is a filmmaker, and his latest documentary is about his father. 
SHARKO tells the story of the man who changed rugby league, carrying his teams and country to the doorstep of greatness. 
Luke’s decision to tell his father’s story was motivated by several reasons, he revealed to Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame. 
“He’s someone that, you know, I’ve always proudly looked up to and I’ve been so proud of his success, his career.” 
The creation of this documentary was a way to show that pride, as well as his love for that era of rugby league. 
“It was selfishly, selfish reason to get to know my family even more, and to show this family to the world,” he told Tame. 
The subject of the documentary himself, Mark, was not sure that anyone would want to watch the documentary when his son pitched it to him. 
“My football career is dead and buried, and while I used to love the game, I just didn’t know if anyone would be that interested, to tell you the truth.” 
Mark said that initially the story that was pitched was the ‘77 Auckland side where they showed up on a Wednesday night after working all day and played international sides for 33 weeks straight, beating all of them, before going back to work the next morning. 
“So I thought that was the story, but he thought it was, this one was better.” 
“It was lovely for people who perhaps don’t appreciate how much has changed.” 
LISTEN ABOVE

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.

News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB. News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Mark and Luke Graham: Former Rugby League player and his filmmaker son on the documentary 'SHARKO'

Another popular comedian is back on New Zealand’s shores.

Irish comic Ed Byrne is known for his intellectual comedy, making appearances on TV shows like QI, and even winning the celebrity version of The Chase.

He’s back before Kiwi audiences with his ‘Tragedy Plus Time’ tour, kicking it off with a performance tonight in Hastings, before taking his act through the country over the coming month.

Byrne joined Jack Tame for a chat about his act, and touching of course on his reality TV win.

For more information and tickets for 'Tragedy Plus Time', click here.

LISTEN ABOVE

Another popular comedian is back on New Zealand’s shores. 
Irish comic Ed Byrne is known for his intellectual comedy, making appearances on TV shows like QI, and even winning the celebrity version of The Chase. 
He’s back before Kiwi audiences with his ‘Tragedy Plus Time’ tour, kicking it off with a performance tonight in Hastings, before taking his act through the country over the coming month. 
Byrne joined Jack Tame for a chat about his act, and touching of course on his reality TV win. 
For more information and tickets for 'Tragedy Plus Time', click <a href="https://edbyrne.com/">here</a>.
LISTEN ABOVE

Ed Byrne: Irish Comedian talks his 'Tragedy Plus Time' tour, winning The Chase

Aussie pop-rock group Lime Cordiale has dropped another album.

Their third studio album, the 17-track work features many of the singles they’ve released over the last two years.

Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to review the brand new release.

LISTEN ABOVE

Aussie pop-rock group Lime Cordiale has dropped another album. 
Their third studio album, the 17-track work features many of the singles they’ve released over the last two years. 
Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to review the brand new release. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Estelle Clifford: Lime Cordiale - Enough Of The Sweet Talk

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva

Art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon has slipped quietly into London to attend a reception at the Courtauld Gallery celebrating the return of a stolen self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. But when an old friend from the Devon and Cornwall Police seeks his help with a baffling murder investigation, he finds himself pursuing a powerful and dangerous new adversary.

The victim is Charlotte Blake, a celebrated professor of art history from Oxford who spends her weekends in the same seaside village where Gabriel once lived under an assumed identity. Her murder appears to be the work of a diabolical serial killer who has been terrorizing the Cornish countryside. But there are a number of telltale inconsistencies, including a missing mobile phone. And then there is the mysterious three-letter cypher she left behind on a notepad in her study.

Gabriel soon discovers that Professor Blake was searching for a looted Picasso worth more than a $100 million, and he takes up the chase for the painting as only he can—with six Impressionist canvases forged by his own hand and an unlikely team of operatives that includes a world-famous violinist, a beautiful master thief, and a lethal contract killer turned British spy. The result is a stylish and wildly entertaining mystery that moves at lightning speed from the cliffs of Cornwall to the enchanted island of Corsica and, finally, to a breathtaking climax on the very doorstep of 10 Downing Street.



After Annie by Anna Quindlen

When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centered their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie’s support. It is Annie’s daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.
Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.



LISTEN ABOVE 

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva 
Art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon has slipped quietly into London to attend a reception at the Courtauld Gallery celebrating the return of a stolen self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. But when an old friend from the Devon and Cornwall Police seeks his help with a baffling murder investigation, he finds himself pursuing a powerful and dangerous new adversary. 
The victim is Charlotte Blake, a celebrated professor of art history from Oxford who spends her weekends in the same seaside village where Gabriel once lived under an assumed identity. Her murder appears to be the work of a diabolical serial killer who has been terrorizing the Cornish countryside. But there are a number of telltale inconsistencies, including a missing mobile phone. And then there is the mysterious three-letter cypher she left behind on a notepad in her study. 
Gabriel soon discovers that Professor Blake was searching for a looted Picasso worth more than a $100 million, and he takes up the chase for the painting as only he can—with six Impressionist canvases forged by his own hand and an unlikely team of operatives that includes a world-famous violinist, a beautiful master thief, and a lethal contract killer turned British spy. The result is a stylish and wildly entertaining mystery that moves at lightning speed from the cliffs of Cornwall to the enchanted island of Corsica and, finally, to a breathtaking climax on the very doorstep of 10 Downing Street. 
 
After Annie by Anna Quindlen 
When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centered their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie’s support. It is Annie’s daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.   Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her. 
 
LISTEN ABOVE

Mark and Luke Graham: Former Rugby League player and his filmmaker son on the documentary 'SHARKO'

In 1 playlist(s)

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips