Football Daily - Introducing... The Wayne Rooney Show

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

Hello Football Daily listeners, we’d like to introduce you to The Wayne Rooney Show. If you like it then make sure you search for The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds and hit subscribe. In this episode, Wayne Rooney relives football’s fiercest grudge matches with Kelly Somers and Kae Kurd, just in time for Liverpool v Everton and Arsenal v Man City. From feeling sick before Merseyside derbies to locking Coleen out the house for hanging Liverpool flags up. He opens up on Pizzagate, smashing into opponents, and why his friendship with Steven Gerrard stopped at kick-off. Plus, why Jamie Carragher acted like Liverpool’s referee, why Arsenal’s squad is the strongest in the league, and why tiredness is no excuse before big games. Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport YouTube and iPlayer, or listen now on BBC Sounds.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. The Dakar Rally is the ultimate off-road challenge. Perfect for the ultimate defender. The high-performance defender, Octa, 626 horsepower twin turbo V8 engine and intelligent 6D dynamics air suspension. Learn more at landrover.ca. Hi football day, listeners. Wayne Rooney here and you're about to listen to an episode of my new podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show.

If you enjoy it, you search for the Wayne Rooney show on BBC Sound and hit subscribe. I know you're all messaging each other on social media, but for 90 minutes, please, just like... That was me and Steve Gerard. A good mate's off the pitch. And whenever I got a chance, I'm thinking, I am going to absolutely smash her. Yes. We got back in the restroom and the manager come in and it was an old man.

Yeah. Do you know what I mean? And he was shaken as a Evertone and getting ready and preparing for the game. staff around the training down to do levitolians you feel sick talking about scraps in the tunnel I saw Emil Husky in a podcast saying that you got in scruffen

Don't worry when I'm in Manchester you can come then I'm at the I'm close to you it's at the Lowry So what's this guys are you are you arranging the team not out to go and watch Kay is that the plan there Wayne Yeah yeah

Yeah it was Come watch him put them to a bit more pleasure Okay, it's been a big week for you, hasn't it? Well, yeah, just been up and down the country. No, say the thing that I'm really excited about. I did La Verde Apollo last night, yeah, I did La Verde Apollo last night. How was it? Yeah, great.

It's always a fun venue. That's probably my favourite venue to do comedy. It was a, I'm lucky enough to be like one of few people that I've done it three times. So it's, yeah, it's great fun. Okay, let's move it on to the Premier League this weekend. then because there are, as always, some big games, but some particularly big games, two grudge matches. Liverpool versus Everton is 1230 on Saturday. Arsenal versus Manchester City is 4.30 on Sunday. Now Liverpool, Everton has obviously been a grudge match for years. Arsenal Man City is perhaps

a more newer grudge match. That wasn't such a big game, was it, when you were playing way? Not really, no. I think over the last few years, I think especially as well when Artetta's gone to Arsenal leaving City and going back to Arsenal. There's a bit more spice in it. But yeah, I think they've been competing in Aveni for the last few years, so it makes the game bigger. So, yeah, it's become more of a rival match, if you like, than normal. Let's start, though, with the one that you did play in.

Liverpool against Everton, as an Evertonian, as a boy that played for his boyhood club, what does that game mean to you and what did it mean to you when you were playing in it? firstly I hated it hated it and we didn't win many so it was when you do win them you've got to make sure you enjoy it but yeah it was

it was a game the build up to the game the whole week was horrible being around the training ground and as Evertonian and you know getting ready and preparing for the game and all the staff around the training ground

do with Evertonians, you feel sick because you're just thinking if you lose the game again, you know, Liverpool rubble in your face and whatever. And when I actually went back the second time to Everton, it's hard to make sure it turned or got all the TVs turned off and there was nothing on the TV's about the game, the build-ups the game, just to try and forget about it that week really and going to the game, not worrying too much about it. So, but yeah, it's a massive game and a game if you win it's there's no better feeling was there any pressure from friends and family when you were playing at derby oh just for tickets and you know people trying to get tickets and um all my family are evertonians and um yeah it's you know you get a mess too make sure

you beat these you know a bit stronger language than that but yeah it's um it's massive it's a massive it's a massive game and you know and it's I actually never won a derby I think I played seven seven derbyes and I didn't win any

so it's yeah so I've never experienced it before you played in one mightn't you a mascot for one as well yeah I was mascot 10 or 11 I was and you know for that game I've been waiting for ages

I knew I was going to be a mascot and I think it was in me last year in junior school So I'm waiting for ages, excited. It was at Amfield. And the game got called off because of rain. Oh, heartbra. Oh, man, I was devastated.

So I had to wait another couple of months, I think it was, something like that, for them to play it. But we drew the game 1-1, so it was okay, it was all right. Yeah, I've just seen a photo of it, and you look, one of your boys looks exactly like you. I agree with Louis Van Gar's comments. Your boys look. look very much like you.

I'm not sure which one it is. Is it true that night that you wound up Neville Southall during the warm-up? Yeah, he weren't happy. Well, there's been a few times Neville Sautil hasn't been happy with me to be honest.

There was, in the game, I think it was on Skyad, it was on Sochre-M, a while back he added on footage. It was when the mascot used to run out with the goalkeeper and run out with the captain and then he goes with the goalkeeper

and you chipped a ball into his hands and then he rolled it out to me and I chipped him and scored and then he weren't happy and then he rolled out again and done it again so yeah he weren't happy with me and then I was actually bored

I was bored by four years and everything oh you must have some stories for that from that we played Newcastle and we were losing 1-0 and we scored in like the it must be like the 88 minutes something to get 1-1

so the ball went out for a goal kick for everything so I'm thinking 1-1's a good result to I'm starting to walk really slow to get the ball and the Southall absolutely tore the life out of me to hurry up and get the ball back so I'll take one one's a good result here I'll take your time and then yeah

he's hammered me yeah so yeah he's had a few goes at me big now I can imagine from all your stories before you like to be the wind up much and I can imagine as a ball boy probably wasn't really any different back then no it was

well you used to sit you in before you obviously spread around the pitch you'd say under no circumstances can you kick the ball back you've got to pick her up and roll it back go throw it back and every time it comes to me I'd always kick it back

and chip it back and stuff so I used to get told off every game how would you say the Derby rivalry has changed over the years way and perhaps since even when you were playing in it I think it's got a bit more heated a bit more bite

but I always remember years ago where you know the fans are sat together and there's event fans in the COP and Liverpool fans in the Gladys Street and whatever but I think that's changed a bit now do you miss that? No I don't think there should be any Liverpool fans in the Gladys Street

so I agree with it I think they should be separated for match day but in Liverpool in Liverpool there's family there's brothers one Everton one Liverpool fan and it's very mixed in terms of you might have a dad who's a Liverpool fan and the son's Evanton fan so yeah it's very mixed

and actually after the game you know going out together and stuff so there's no it's not bad temper there's anything but it's just I just think during the 90 minutes they should be separated because Liverpool fans do try and wind the Evan fans up a lot and and we don't really have much ammunition

what we haven't of lay to go back at them and I know you said you didn't win a derby I can't actually believe that does that annoy you actually yeah I went back when I went back we went to Anfield and I think it was about 12 minutes left and we get a penalty so I scored that was my only goal in the Derby as well

I scored the penalty to put us 1-0 up at Amfield it was like 12 minutes to go and de equal I was late on to we do that game but I was really nervous for that because it was Minnie Lane go and he saved one of my penalties

before and it was snowing so I was just thinking please don't slip so I went down the middle I never really do that I went down in the middle and scored

but yeah I was really nervous before that Okay, so you haven't won a Derby. What I was going to ask you before is, what is the feeling like of winning at Amfield, though? Because I guess if you went there with Manchester United and you won, being an Everton boy, it must have been incredibly special,

especially given how nervous you said you used to get going on. Yeah, it was, so we first game for Man United at Armfield. We won 1-0 and I scored. So now it was such a good feeling. There was a guy I scored, and I went to the cop and put my hands to me ears. And there was a phone whistle past me head. I nearly took my head off. But I think the guy who was through the phone,

it was his own phone, so the police got in got his details off of it and he got banned. So he got banned from the stadium. So I get off the, so we won the game 1-0. So I get back on the bus with the team. And then I drive a little bit down here,

I'm 62 to the service station and get off the bus and drive back to Liverpool, go back to Liverpool, and see family and friends and whatever. so yeah it was winning at Amfield was special is that a thing that you can't you have to leave the stadium on the team bus

no no you can't later on after that once because at that time when we first came back at Anfield we first season at my United so I think both having and Liverpool fans who weren't happy with me but later on

I'd leave stay from Anfield at times and go and see your family and stuff So yeah, it was It was always nice If you beat Liverpool And then you go out to have some dinner in Liverpool It's always a nice feeling Yeah, you used to walk with your head very high

Was there ever any You know you told us after the Manchester Derby You had the birthday party planned And you wished you kind of Not wished you cancelled it But you had second thoughts about going Did you ever have any plans after Merseyside Derby That you had to rethink?

No There was one time I'm from out of the stadium actually and the police pulled me over literally right outside the stadium a big police van pulled me over I think I was in my little CA

and then so I'm thinking and I can see everyone looking fans, everyone in the Lufeldpool fans there so they get me out of the car and to the back of the van so I'm thinking what's what's going on here so we're in the back of the van

they pull all shirts out to ask me to sign the shirts I was raging, I was fuming I didn't sign them Were you scared? Were you nervous? No, I was thinking why if they pulled me over yet Like, I was literally crawling in the traffic

Why did they pull me over And yeah, they'd pull me over and pulled all shirts out Asked me to sign them Did you sign them? No No No, no No chance

I was fuming Yeah, you're hardly going to be accommodating to people that have Incomvenously Two shoes. If a police officer stops me, I'll do whatever they say. Yeah, there's no chance. Were they, Ebertonian fan? Were they Elton fans?

I'm assuming, so I don't know. They might have been Liverpool fans who, for the kids or grandkids or whatever, but yeah, they weren't happy as all, yeah. No, I'm not surprised. Scary. Bringing it on to this weekend then. Kay, how do you see this one? Liverpool, obviously, I've had a brilliant start, even if they've left it late in quite

a few games now, maybe not fully kind of firing, but Everton have had a reasonable start as well. I think it will be a good game. I think although Liverpool have, you know, won all their game, well, most of their games and stuff, I think they haven't been playing as well as they were last season. I feel like they've had a few last minute goals that have, you know, that's sort of papered over the cracks

that makes them look better than they are. But I think it's going to be a good one. Everton looked pretty strong. I've liked the way they're playing. Jack Grilish has looked so much better with a bit of freedom. And I think it's going to be a good game. I think obviously as well, when it's a Derby, anything can happen usually. You see records go out of the window most of the time when it's a Derby and with the emotions involved and stuff. I think it could be, I think Everton could

pull out a really surprising performance and I hope they do, to be honest with you. Evertonians feeling more confident this year, Wayne? Yeah, I think more optimistic. I think obviously the new stadium has helped with Darren and I think the big thing is David Moyes' come back. I think he's come back. He knows the club. He knows the culture of the football club. And then I think the sign-ins have been really good. They look dangerous now, Everton going forward.

With Greilish, he said, Al-Crez. They look really dangerous going forward and solid as well at the back. So, yeah, I think Everton can go there and get to be at the best and defensively defenders of a union and be hard to beat. but Moises teams normally I do do that so you have to be the best but yeah

it'd be the perfect start to your Saturday 12 to head to kick off I'm sure all the pubs will be full and ready for the game and hopefully we can get the three points

take a draw take a draw now I've been confident then take a draw yeah still take a draw yeah have you got any family and friends going to that one

because I know you've already been moaning off camera that you've got a long old day at match of the day on Saturday. Not moaning, but just pointing out. No, as you said, there's like seven games on Saturday, so yeah. So I'll be watching the time, I'll be there at the BBC studios, but yeah, there'll be family and friends going.

All my family are Evertonians and Orcleans family of Liverpoolian, so it's, yeah, it's always How was that when you were playing in it if all of her family are Lippodlians? Yeah, fine, we're in issue really we actually when we got the

Champions League final in Moscow um one of Cleans' brothers wouldn't go he refused to go so clean her dad one of her brothers went and another brother I wouldn't go

and he said he said to me I want you to do well but I couldn't I couldn't bear being at the stadium watching Man United to lift the Champions League of his winner so

he didn't go I kind of respect that actually yeah so but yeah when Liverpool won when you won the Premier League a few years ago I actually come home I was at Derby I think it was at the time and I come home and clean

to go to Liverpool flags up on the outside of the house so how few men were you so it was at all though so outside the front door there was like a little balcony thing and the flag was outside the window there so I told her to go

and get it down so she went up and you had to actually climb out the window to get her down so she went up so I locked her out how long for? No not too long

but yeah she was still on the balcony but yeah and like now even I think now still clean's mum and dads they've got he's got champion flags up

at the house so yeah there's Liverpool around but yeah it's um old man at Avetonians Final important question

Who are you going to be Captaining in your fantasy team Well you see it worked in him Putting Harland in Is it going to be Mo Salon this week? No, I'm going to have to take him out Really?

You will take him out? Yeah, I need to take him out Does it feel wrong? Yeah, I can't have men against Everton So I'll have to take him out yet I actually haven't looked at the I haven't looked at it properly

so I'll have a look at look today. I don't know how you do it. That takes up way too much time. Do you know what? In previous years, I've been in leagues and I'm actually not even in the league. I'm just doing it by myself. So I don't even know. What's the point?

Who are you playing against? No, I'm just, I don't know, I'm just doing it for... Just for the thrill. Yeah, I was in leagues and I'd get halfway to the season and stop doing it. So I'd end up finished bottom and level four fits to do. What's your team name? I actually don't know he's checking his phone

I actually don't he's all what he's doing I actually don't he's all of his 10 we need to improve on that if anyone's listening to this and wants to send team name suggestions in for Wayne we need to sort out if I saw if I saw Waza 10 on any league

I think that was a fake profile see it's a double bluff I don't think they can find you They need your actual team ID. Don't worry. You can go incognito. You can captain salad this weekend and no-one or no. No, but I wouldn't do that anyway.

Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space, and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. Okay, well maybe you want to Captain Erling Harland this weekend or maybe not because, of course, he's got a big game away at the Emirates. Arsenal taking on Manchester City.

We touched upon it before, but this is often came, recent seasons, been kind of what was one of the games that could potentially decide the title at times. Or it feels like a few times for Arsenal, this has been where their season has maybe changed a little bit. It's a bit early this season for that, maybe, though. But I do think it's very important. And I think often when they go into these games, Arsenal are happy with a draw,

whereas I think with a team like Manchester City, if you're trying to do better than them in the league, you sort of want to set a standard. If you beat them, I think psychologically it does a lot for your team and it does a lot for the opposition as well because they sort of look at you and go, oh, wow, like these are actually really good.

I don't know what it was like when you were playing Wayne, but I'm sure if you got one over Arsenal or one over Chelsea, in your heads you were like we're winning the league yeah no I don't think you get carried away this early in the season

but it's always nice to go and win there and make a statement I think in this game I think if Manchester City win this game I think Arsenal Liverpool will be looking thinking you know this is not good this

because obviously with Guardiaola's reputation of the titles he's won obviously the way Manchester City beat Manchester United and then if they go on and beat Arsenal, I think that's a real statement from them because they have looked a bit indifferent this season and a little bit sloppy at times,

but I think if they go and beat Arsenal at the weekend, I think that's a huge statement to everyone in the league. They're still right in this title race. So I think it's a more important game for Manchester than Arsenal. Do you think the amount of rest time they had is going to be crucial to this as well? Was it three days? Well, Arsenal played Tuesday night, didn't they?

City played Thursday. I think players and managers as well, they mourn't too much over here. Listen to you, three days is more than enough. What are we? It's still in September. And so you can't be talking about, you don't have enough rest

when you're going off, going. I'm playing in the Club World Cup, for instance. And that's the choice you make. And so I hope that there's only, any managers especially played in the club work or, you know, moan about the amount of games and because you've chose to go and do that and give your players less rest. So, yeah, I don't think that'll be an issue. I think it's, well, it shouldn't be.

If you can't have three days rest and be up for a big game, then you shouldn't be playing in it. Just a quick word on Arsenal, Wayne, because they got that big win in the Champions League earlier in the week. I just wondered what you've made of the start that Noni Madweke has made in particular there, because he got a bit of, well, a lot of unfair heat from the Arsenal fans when he joined. But he's had a brilliant start, hasn't he, for both club and country? Yeah, I think he's been fantastic. And I was still, I still had me doubts on him, I'll be honest, when he was at Chelsea.

And then when I still signed him, I was thinking, I'm not really too sure. Obviously, they have soccer there as well. But I think he's been fantastic. I think the start of the season is how direct he's been and for England, I thought he played really well as well so it looks like a really good business for Arsenal. We've got strength in depth now that maybe they didn't have in the past. You saw it with Martinelli coming off the bench on Tuesday.

It just feels like they've added that to their squad. Yeah, they are and I think it's now or never for Artetta, and being honest. I think it's, he has to win sort of major this season in my opinion because he has spent a lot of money, brought a lot of players in. and he's probably got the best squad in the league I think they've got the best squad in the league I think I think yeah

the most balanced squad and players for each position so I think it's a big pressure for him now to win the league and I think Arsenal have given everything he can to go and do it so I think it's on him to and the players to go and try and win them yeah there's not a lot of excuses left now is there so they've got to go in

they've got to go into this match with a lot of pride and go out and make a statement. Confidence as well, given the fact that they're at home, given the fact they won in midweek. Yeah, well, they've started the season really well. I think obviously Liverpool winning all the games, but Arsenal's only blip as being at Amfield, which you could win either way, really.

The game, both teams weren't great in that. So I think they've had the really good start. And I'm sure, you know, Artata will be pleased. he'd be disappointed with the one loss, but I think other than that, they've had a really good start to the league. I was going to ask, Wayne, do you like it when games have a bit of needle in it,

especially when you were playing? Of course he does. Yeah, I'd love it, yeah. You know, when we used to play against Chelsea, with Rino's teams, and obviously I still for a period of time with Vanga's teams. Liverpool, Benitez,

you know, you're seeing how heated it got in press conferences with the managers and stuff like that. So yeah, them games are always the best to play it and you know, your concentration levels in them games has to be very high because you get punished for switching off. What was your favourite grudge match? He loved them all.

No, I'd probably say the first couple of years at Man United against Arsenal because it was, I arrived here after the ball attack Van Nistleroi and so for a couple of years there that was, and there was, you know, the, um, Peter getting done of Alex Ferguson and, um, there was a couple of scraps in the tunnel and stuff like that. So, um, yeah, that was, that couple of years was, was probably the best one.

Talking about scraps in a tunnel, I saw, I saw Emil Hesky in a podcast saying that you got into scrap, in it. No comment. The police actually come, you know, the police come to Bellfield. Really? Yeah, the police come to the battlefield and, um,

ask me questions on that. I was hard on my knuckle at the time, but yeah. Did they just come and ask for you to sign their shirt? No, they come and ask me what happened in the tunnel, obviously in Turkey. Tell us what happened then? There was a bit of a fight and yeah, and that was this. So you didn't see, no. No.

Okay, so like, so okay, yes. When things were kicking off in a tunnel with like, when you're playing Arsenal or Chelsea, What was going through your mind at that point were you like, oh, I need to go out and smash one of these as soon as I get on the pitch? But no, it was obviously after the game

when it went off in the tunnel. I was actually out there in my underpants because I'd gone in and took me my shorts and that off and yeah, so I was out there in my underpants, yeah. And then the next game, obviously, we found out it was Fabregas,

obviously with one of Peter, Alex Ferguson so yeah the next game there was a few players targeting them the thing was with that was

we got back in the restroom and the man just come in and he's he was an old man yeah do what I mean

and it's he was shaking he was shaken by it and so and I think sometimes you forget because of football you forget but you know

he's obviously getting on in age and he come in he was shaken by it. So I think it's then you realize, you know, it's football and it's not easy and it's not nice for him to experience that. So we obviously tried to protect him then.

Yeah, what was the, how did the player, was there like a feeling amongst the players? You said you felt that then. Did the other players? Yeah, everyone, you know, you wouldn't like that done to your granddad or, you know, someone of that age, especially you wouldn't like that to happen to them.

So, yeah, we felt we had a duty to, to protect him. What's the build-up like going into that? What was the build-up like, I suppose, then going into the next game against them, given all that had happened? You had to keep your composure and keep your calmness because it could quite easily boil over.

We've seen it obviously with Roy and Patrick in the tunnel for that game, but you really do need to keep your composure because if you let that slip in, you know, you're going to get a silly red card, then it's more likely you lose the game. So you really just had to keep your focus. And I think we did that a little bit better than Arsenal. We managed to do that.

We still rattled them. I remember, you know, God rest of soul, Reyes coming to Old Trafford. And a big thing was we didn't feel he could handle getting tackled. And Guy Neville, you know, went through him the whole game and he couldn't handle it. So we still done it in the right way. clean way and I'm made it very difficult for Arsenal so I think we handled that a little bit better than does that get um highlighted in the team took beforehand or in in a week beforehand when you're like does it not of course yeah um no if you feel there's a weakness in in the opposition

and especially early on you make sure you leave one on them and you might have to take a yellow card But, you know, we felt if we got a few players at Arsenal that they'd shy away from the game, and we were normally right. You speak there about you know you need to keep your composure. It's quite an easy thing to say, and I imagine it gets easier with experience. How did you personally prepare and keep your composure?

Was there anything you did to make sure you didn't let it spill over? No, especially when I was young. It did spill over a few times, and I was normally okay after I got a yellow card I was not I was normally okay then because I knew I didn't actually get that many red cards and the ones that they were

there was one for throwing the ball of the referee so there was silly ones but normally after I got a yellow I wasn't too bad I was okay the worst thing for me was again God rest of his soul Ray Clements for England

it used to come up to me before every England and say keep your head and that used to wind me up so much um yeah it would do it just used to because I knew

what he was saying and I knew he was time to help but it never helped at all and then in the end I'd say right please don't say that to me again before a game um whatever

so yeah it was um you you knew you knew the boundaries you could go to with the referees in terms of

you knew what was over the top which will get your red card and if you just stay below that then you're okay and then after a yellow card you have to obviously

make sure you come down a little bit more do you think that's missing from the game now a little bit I used to love it when games used to get a bit feisty

like there was times on purpose I used to go and smash the fullback in the first five minutes and there's times during the game where you know if it gets a bit flat

you go and take he'll a card and and as I say it's only the poor fullbacks who get it you'd then go and take a yellow card and go and smash a full back which then gets the crowd up and it gets the players up so yeah there's there's different moments in games

where you know one of us would go and do that purposely to to get the crowd up or get your teammates up as well. When you hit somebody first like that like when you smash somebody first the first thing did you sort of see psychologically that they'd had enough already and like you knew you'd got the better

of them that day. Yeah, and you wind them up and then you'd end up making them do something silly as well and I remember there was a tackle on Sagna which I think you went over me out it was a fair tackle, clean tackle

and I think he's like done a somersault over me head and I could see in his eyes I could see he was thinking what is going on so there's there is times yet you see that

and you rattle them and then they do something stupid and then you walk away with that little grin on your face knowing that you've got okay do you miss those games do you miss obviously given what we've said about man united recently i'm guessing you do even more a hundred percent a hundred percent that's what's really annoying me about the game on a weekend where it was like you know there was no yellow

cards there's no nothing there's like you just you used to love to even if you lose a game if you saw your your players going out there and you can see that they'd care it was brilliant It was amazing. And those sorts of atmospheres really made you feel invested in the game and you felt like the players were invested in it like you as a fan, like they were trying to die for the badge. Whereas I think a lot of the time, when I see players hugging in the tunnel and I'll see players like, yeah, half time.

No, but I just don't like it. I just don't like it. I'm like, yeah, whatever. I know you're all messaging each other on social media. But for 90 minutes, please, just like. That was me and Steve, Jelads. I mean, Stijard, a good mate off the pitch and whenever I got a chance

I'm thinking I am going to absolutely smash her. Was it mutual? Did he feel? Yeah, and I did and he did the same to me and then you wouldn't talk to him before the game right and then after the game you'd shake you to the land. So, but if there was ever a chance, yeah, he knew and I knew if he got a chance he was going to do me.

So that's what football is. You're playing for your club. Robin, you know, there's moments and big players as well, especially someone like Gerard or, you know, Vera or something like that. If you get an opportunity, you can't let that slip, you've got to take her. In those kind of games, like when you're playing against Stephen Gerard, for example, do you talk to him on the pitch? Do you say anything? Obviously, I know. No, not really. Carragher, there was a couple of times with Carragher, where Carragers beat in your ear.

So, Cara used to try and referee the game, and the referees normally used to let him with Carragher. because he's non-stop and he had that squeaky voice screaming down your ear and stuff so um yeah so there was times where um you'd speak so and then there's some times as well where like if we win the game like might have been tune up or something towards the end and at that's carrow what's what's you doing tonight are you going out where you're going or he would even look at me at times and then he'd be the same he'd try and wind you up as well so um But yeah, normally you don't, I wouldn't speak to them. Were you a big talker on the pitch, Wayne?

Would you try and ref the game like Carragher? No, I think Cada had done it in a clever way. I was a bit too emotional at times to do that. Cada used to do it in a quite clever way. There's times when I'd talk to centrebacks. If the centrebacks are trying to do it and trying to get into it, I'd always wait until we'll win by a goal or two.

just tell them they were crap. Just that, nothing else. So, yeah, and that was it really. I do remember some of the players sort of looking at a referee at times going, come on, ref. The referee's right, and you could have banter with the referee.

Michael Oliver was all right, actually. And I think with all players and with our players, with the opposition, you'd air him, and he would try and talk to her and explain decisions. And, you know, and he'd admit if he felt he'd, made a mistake as well

and where some referees like Rob Stiled oh my God I remember him he was horrendous he was very arrogant you couldn't even speak to them he was the worst by a mile for me

the players like refs that you can actually speak to so you can understand that the refs would make a mistake but it's when he like Rob Stiles thinks to make a mistake and you go and talk to him and he's just like

just arrogant he wouldn't even look at you and then you end up getting wound up and calling them whatever you call them and then end up getting the yellow cards so you actually mentioned it way and I think it was when we were talking about Big Sam on a previous podcast you said he used to analyze everything

and I think you said he even used to analyze referees yeah did you as players do that do you look at who the ref is before a game and kind of know how well the only thing you look at is some referees would let let things go in the first five minutes so you knew you'd had that five minute window to try and do someone

and then some referees would get the card out straight away so you have to be careful and you'd normally know which ones let it go and especially in the big games if a referee gives a booking in the first five minutes

then he knows he's going to have to give a lot of bookings so normally in the big games they try and let it go a little bit okay well that's where we'll wrap it once again probably just started a discussion that we could do a whole other show on to put this because I've got so many referee questions okay where's tour taking you this week

is taking you blooming everywhere Nottingham and Leicester So yeah I'll be in Nottingham and Leicester Friday's like You're going to get a message from Wayne If he gets rid of the kids You're going to get a message

That he's going to be coming to see you I reckon I'm in Scotland So after as much as they sat in And then I'm in Scotland Sunday What on earth are you doing Scotland? Playing golf I knew it No it's for the charity event

It is for charity That's how you do all this really cool stuff You just add that it's for charity and you can get away with doing it. No, it is. It's for charity, so we'll raise the money. Okay, good to hear it. And it's going to be fun scheduling

our podcasting on Sunday as well, I think. But we'll get there, we'll do it. 3 a.m. in Korea, you've set the bar very high. We're all very impressed. That's where we'll leave it on this week's show, guys. A reminder you can watch the Wayne Rooney Show on the BBC Sport YouTube and I play it or you can listen on BBC Sounds.

new podcast series Rugby League top 10 with me Mark Chapman. It's where John Wilkin, Brian Noble and Jamie Peacock will discuss, debate and argue over lists of the best players, games, finals, iconic moments and plenty of other categories that will no doubt leave you

screaming at your device. The most entertaining parts of our sport are these, the jeopardy the moments. He made rugby league look cool. Yeah, I mean that's the difficult thing to do, I think. It is really, is. Yeah, no. I think we've all managed to carry that back on. Rugby League top 10.

Listen on BBC Sounds.