Hey guys, welcome back to Ebbs and Flows, where we talk about the highs and lows on and off the field.
Today, joined by Titan superstar and one of my favourite players to watch, JC, baby, what's up?
Bro, obviously off-season at the moment, what have you been up to?
So you've got some new ink, what's been happening?
Nah, just chilling, eh? Yeah, bit of new ink, trying to get back into the gym.
Can't really do too much with my knee, but yeah, enjoying it.
How's the recovery going?
Yeah, it's good. Frustrating at times, but yeah, I can only do what I can do.
Yeah, I've seen you boys down in Sydney, had a pretty big night at the Beach Road Hotel
and got to have a beer with you and been mates with Phil for a little while.
So what was your thoughts on Sydney, cruising around with the boys? How was it?
Yeah, it's different, eh? We were down there for UFC and got down there a day early
and we were like, might as well get on it, have a few drinks.
And then I'm pretty sure Simi hit up.
One of my mates and we ended up at the Beach Road Hotel.
But I loved it. Different to up here, but I loved it.
Obviously, single, good looking dude. You try and get them eyes out of it, always wearing outfits.
Nah, nah, not me.
Obviously, we're talking about your season this year.
In my opinion, I thought you had a really great season.
What was your thoughts on your season?
Yeah, it was different. Obviously, coming off the bench most of the year.
But yeah, a little bit different. I really liked this year.
I learnt a lot. And yeah, I'm just keen for next year.
Well, when you sort of, knowing as a starter and you're coming off the bench,
what's the sort of biggest change that you have to make?
And when you come on, knowing that you can do things and knowing you can make things happen,
what's the balance of like, let me do my role for the team?
Or are you just jumping on and go, fuck it, I'm just going to have a crack?
Yeah, so it was a little bit different because I didn't know when I'd be on or where I'd be on.
So at the start, before the game, like warming up,
the coach would come up and say, hey, how's it going?
And he'd come up to me and say, just be ready for wherever, whenever.
So my mindset was a little bit different this year.
So whenever I've gone on, I just have a crack, you know, do what I normally do.
And yeah, do my best.
What do you do when you normally, what are you doing when you're normally doing?
Just play football. Hopefully not get tackled.
Try to score some tries, try to set up some.
But yeah, I just try to do my best.
So like when I watch you on the field, like you look like small bro.
And when we got to meet you in real life, you're a lot bigger than what I thought you'd be.
TV is deceiving, I'd like to say that.
So like what's the sort of physical goals for you rolling into this?
Do you want to put on size or are you happy with where you are?
Because even though you're not the biggest dude, like you don't like put your body on line,
you're not going to run over, you're fucking hard to tackle.
Do you want to stay the same size?
Do you want to get a little bit bigger?
I'd like to get a little bit bigger, just probably a little bit more strength.
You know, weight for me doesn't really bother me too much.
But obviously when you get stronger, you get a little bit more muscle mass
and a bit of weight.
It comes on there.
But, you know, I just want to, you know, keep getting my body as good as it can
to be the best I can.
Do you want to be like stronger up top or through the base?
Probably through the legs, yeah.
I've got no calves.
Hopefully get some calves on me, get some leg strength.
But, yeah, this year we focused on leg strength a little bit more
and I could tell the difference when I was running the ball,
like breaking a few more tackles and whatnot.
So hopefully keep building that up.
Bro, why does the ball bounce your way?
Not too sure, eh?
I think it's just luck.
Can you feel that on the field though?
Well, I remember growing up, like I'd be playing games of one bounce
with my cousin where you, like, kick the ball
and you've got to try to get the ball on one bounce
and put it down before someone touches you.
Is that a game you used to play?
Yeah, that's a game we used to play with my cousin.
So I think that's helped a lot.
But, yeah, most of it's just luck, I think.
Can you, like, I heard Dennis Rodman talk about it.
I know he goes in basketball.
I heard him talking about, he said, pride himself on rebounds.
He used to get his mate to shoot.
And he used to try, yeah, yeah.
And he said, like, over time, he sort of could see the ball, like, move
and he could get a good gauge on where that ball was going to be.
A little bit harder with a rugby league ball.
It's like egg-shaped.
It sort of wobbles around.
Do you feel like you've got, are you, like, when it's in the air,
do you feel like you're looking at it that way?
Or, like, are you just trying to put yourself in the best position?
What I've learnt with torpedo bombs is if the point's coming down,
that's where it's going.
So you just look at where the point is.
It's just when it comes down on the belly,
that's when it's the toughest because that's when it floats.
But, you know, wherever the point of the ball goes,
that's where the ball's going.
And you're just trying to get yourself in the best position.
Yeah, try to get under it.
Keep the feet moving.
Let's talk about that.
Obviously, I'm not going to say you're scared of anyone,
but who are you mindful of when they're kicking the ball?
Is it, like, Nathan Cleary?
Is it, like, Wren?
Who hits them the sweetest, in your opinion?
Oh, I forgot about him.
So I was playing 5-8 when I was playing.
So I've only versed Penrith once, and I was playing 5-8, luckily.
Didn't have to be under the bombs.
Or he may have just run into you.
But, yeah, Matt Burton, we played him this year,
and he put up about three torpies, and I didn't catch one of them.
Like, they'd be coming straight to me,
and then with, like, 10 metres before it hit the ground,
it'd swing right away.
So that was scary to catch.
But, yeah, probably Matt Burton's bombs.
Like, you hear people talk about them,
but you don't really understand how tough it is
until you actually play them.
How do you – and it's hard to prepare for it
because it's not like anyone can kick the ball the same way you can.
Have you got underneath those sort of machines, you know,
when they sort of spit them out?
Have you got under one of those?
I'm not too sure if they can actually, like, recreate the same
where the ball comes down on the belly, but, yeah,
it'd be good to get something like that.
So you can get a fair bit of practice in.
Or you start spraying the ball.
Go put some kick pressure on.
Start spraying your wingers.
Ah, that's yours.
I thought it was yours.
So I interviewed –
Brimmo a little bit earlier this year,
and I asked him what he thought his best position was for the team,
and he said fullback, and obviously you're a fullback,
and he brought you up straight away.
He goes, me and JC are boys,
and I think we've just got to find a way that we can both be on the field.
I had Jarrod on here before.
I asked the same question.
I was like, if you had JC and Brimmo, who would you pick?
How do you feel about that question,
and where do you feel like you lie within the Titans organisation?
Is it that fullback?
Yeah, it's a tough one.
Because you don't want to shit on the boys.
Yeah, AJ's one of my good mates, but he's a freak at fullback.
Every time he plays fullback, he's always creating something.
Like for myself, growing up, I played a few different positions,
but fullback was always my best.
But, yeah, I'm not too sure where it lies.
You know, I'd like to play fullback, but at the same time, you've got AJ there,
and even Keanu Kinney coming through.
He can run the ball so well.
So, yeah, I'm not too sure.
I don't know where it lies.
Like, I'd like to play fullback,
but as long as me and him are on the field at the same time, I'm happy.
Do you want to hear what Jared thought?
What Jay will think?
Who do you think is Brimmo 14?
Nah, he's got to play.
He's got to start.
But, yeah, who knows?
Obviously, a lot of changes within the Titans.
It must be frustrating.
And young guy, sometimes you're just sort of happy to be on the field
and playing games, and you're almost hitting up that 50.
What's it going to be like with Dez Hasler coming in?
Have you had conversations with him?
Yeah, I've had, like, a few conversations with him.
I shouldn't say a few.
I've had one with him.
Yeah, I'm scared.
Excited but scared.
But, you know, I'm excited for next year and the few years after that,
but really excited because, you know, to learn off Dez,
he's obviously been with Brett Stewart and Tommy Turbo,
really good fullback.
So, hopefully, I can pick up a few tips and all that off him
and, you know, make my game better.
So, where do you see the growth in your game?
Always room for improvement everywhere.
But for me, it's probably just details of where I'm going to be on the field.
You know, defence and attack-wise,
trying to get around the ball as much as I can.
So, yeah, probably just the little details and defence.
Yeah, I'm not the best tackler, but, you know, just.
You don't shy away from it, though, bro.
I try to get in front, but, you know, just details, you know,
getting my splits right and stuff like that.
You seem to say pretty chill.
Does that, when you jump on the field,
and one of the hardest parts about playing fullback is, like you said,
is the defence and organising splits and knowing when to jump in at half-way
and not – does the voice sort of pick up when you're on the field
or is that coming with a bit more confidence?
I remember when I first started to play, I wasn't too loud.
Yeah, like I wouldn't – I'd just be pointing.
I wouldn't be saying names.
But last year it sort of started to pick up.
I started to spray blokes, started to swear at them if they weren't there.
So, being young, I was nervous, but I'm a bit better now.
When I watch you play, it feels like you've just kind of got this, like,
cool essence about you, sort of flow, like ball bounce.
Do you still get nervous within games, do you?
Just the way you play just looks cool.
Like, when I go back and watch the games, like, you can hear the commentator say,
oh, he just seems so relaxed when he plays, just like he's playing backyard footy.
But, really, I'm nervous, guys.
Like, before games, like, when I first started to play, like,
I'd be throwing up before games because I'd get so nervous.
Like, that stopped.
But, yeah, I still get nervous before I play.
It's a full-backs league right now.
Like, you look at how many guys are doing what they're doing.
Who's some of the full-backs that you admire and what they do?
Just his ball-playing ability as well and just, like, where he knows where to be.
That's what I really admire.
KP, he's a freak.
Obviously, he won the Dallium medal.
Pretty much just top of the top.
Dylan Edwards, he's another good one I like to watch.
He's all very different, too, eh?
Which is, like, kind of cool, which I like.
See, like, Reece Walsh, he's probably one of the best ball-playing full-backs.
And then you've got Dylan Edwards.
He's a really good runner.
And he's got a really good work rate, so different, but the same at the same time.
I heard Alan Luke Carey talking about it on the podcast where he said, like,
for the past, like, say, four or five years, like, a lot of the full-back players
have gone through the middle third.
So, like, Tommy Turbo.
And they're, like, physically gifted, bro.
Like, you're physically gifted through, like, speed and balance.
But theirs is, like, more so through size and height and literally also
everything through the middle.
But now all the younger full-backs that are coming back in,
Reece Walsh, yourself, KP, it's starting to be out wide again.
On the edges, yeah.
And it's a better place to be, isn't it?
Not bigger bodies there either.
I've got a few big centres, but not like the front rowers, so it's better
to be out on the edges and not getting smashed.
Bro, obviously, we can't have a podcast without talking to your old boy,
about your old boy.
Bro, when did you know that he was who he was?
Like, obviously, you just grow up and he's your dad.
See, I didn't really know too much about it, you know?
Like, when he retired, like, I still thought he was just a footy player.
Like, I didn't really –
You thought he was just playing park footy from the rang and that.
I didn't realise he had, like, a bigger – what would you call it?
Not an icon, but a bigger person he was.
So, when I got older –
and, like, seeing the stuff he did in community and stuff like that,
that's when I realised he must be pretty important.
So, yeah, I always thought he was just a – just my dad with a really cool job.
So, yeah, I wasn't really – I shouldn't say phased,
but I didn't really, like, know too much about it.
Yeah, it's just your dad, isn't it?
Yeah, just my dad.
You just see him at home every once in a while.
In terms of sort of playing style,
have you ever looked back on his old footage and stuff like that?
I used to watch his Sharky's tape all the time.
I used to love when he played at the show.
Sharky's and at Penrith as well.
But, yeah, that was some of my favourite highlights to watch.
Does he sort of obviously coach you around football
or does he just let you be you?
He does my head in.
I ask him so many questions.
Like, I'll ask him so many questions.
Oh, what should I do here?
Oh, what should I do there?
He's quiet as, eh?
Oh, do you think I had a good game, Dad?
Yeah, you all right.
Like, he doesn't give me much.
But this year he's been a little bit better.
Like, talking about, like, tactical sort of things,
like planting the seed and stuff like that.
What do you mean by planting the seed?
Oh, just like a little grabber in behind, you know,
just to get the defence thinking what you're going to do
and stuff like that.
Throw the winger off early so he can zip it over and wait.
Yeah, stuff like that.
So this year he's been a little bit better,
but my first two years he was doing my head in.
I just wanted a device and he wouldn't give me much.
I kind of like that.
Maybe he just wanted to just be your dad, eh?
Well, that's why.
That was his reason behind it.
He just wanted me to, you know, be me, do my thing.
But at the same time, I just wanted help.
But, yeah, he's gotten better this year.
So I looked at, like, I look at you playing now
and I thought you were just, like,
I thought you were going to be, like, 16s, 18s, rep sides,
all that sort of stuff.
You didn't pick up a training child to?
So I was 19 years old.
Were you, what happened as a kid?
Did you start playing as a kid?
Yeah, I played since I was, like, four years old,
I never really grew until I was, like, 16.
So I was pretty low on confidence growing up as a kid.
And I didn't really, I wouldn't say I didn't take footy seriously,
but I never really put in the work that I did
until I started playing Malmeninga.
Yeah, I never made any rep sides or anything like that.
And then 2018 come around where, you know,
junior club footy sort of goes out the window
and played Malmeninga.
So, like, 18s up here.
And, yeah, that's when I sort of got picked up
through the junior system for the Titans.
And then 2019 had a really good year playing Colts.
And then, yeah, got a training child deal.
Bro, like I said before, like, I was like, oh,
I've done a little deep dive and I was like,
I thought you'd just been, like, 16s, 18s sort of superstar,
but you come good a little bit later.
Yeah, I was a late bloomer.
I remember with that highlights package that come through
a couple of years ago and it was like, oh,
this is like Preston Campbellson.
And we shared it on the YKTR sports page as well.
But I remember that.
I was like, oh, that's the same thing.
I was like, oh, he's been doing this his whole life.
Well, see, that was buzzy because, you know,
I made that just so my family down south could see me play
because I normally can't travel up to watch.
And then not even two days later, Blake on a bar shared it
and you guys shared it.
I was like, oh, yeah, this is hectic.
But, yeah, everything sort of took off pretty quickly for me
Did it feel, did you feel like a lot of pressure?
I mean, the only person,
the only person that I felt pressure from was myself.
You know, like I expect a lot of things from me.
So, yeah, it was pretty much myself just putting pressure on me.
Obviously, rolling into the Titans and your dad is who he is at the Titans.
What was that like?
Like, I remember rucking up for my training trial and you had like
J-Wall there, Nathan Peets, like all the big dogs.
So I got really nervous, like people I seen on TV.
But then, like, the boys were pretty welcoming.
And I really enjoyed it.
My first touch, I dropped the ball.
It's all right, bro.
No, I loved it, eh?
Was it scary getting away?
Obviously, when you hear Melbourne and, like, when I grew up,
when I was playing football, bro, when you play Melbourne,
like, fuck, we're just going to lose.
Like, that's almost what we thought of.
You go up against one of the best teams over the course of history on your debut.
Yeah, well, see, I was pretty lucky when we were stormed
because they were missing a few players due to origin and all that.
You know, that sort of gave me a little bit of confidence.
But, yeah, I loved it.
It's a night I won't forget.
And, yeah, probably one of my best memories.
That scene when it sort of swings to your dad and stuff as well,
that must be something that's going to live with you for a long time.
He tried to hide up on the back of the hill so they wouldn't see him.
But they ended up finding him somehow.
Someone must have pointed him out to the cameraman.
But, yeah, seeing all my family up on the hill was really good.
Seen a few signs, all my mates were drunk as.
But, yeah, I loved it.
Well, so you've seen mates that are down at the beachy too?
Is that your little crew?
Yeah, it's one of my mates and a few of his friends.
But, yeah, they're a good crowd to be around.
Bro, I talked with J-Well just before about, obviously,
Gold Coast, beautiful place to grow up.
But, like, when I come up here, to me it sort of feels like a holiday.
And trying to find that balance of being a professional footballer
and not getting caught up in the lifestyle,
is that something that gets talked about at training
or is that something your boys talk to you about?
Like, it's been one of those things.
Like, we haven't really talked about it much at training
because, you know, we live here and all that.
But I can understand what people think that is, you know,
my first few years.
And even now, like, I'm still learning the balance between it.
But, you know, coming with age as well, me getting older,
I think I'll start growing up a little bit more
and, you know, finding that balance between being a professional
and, you know, having a good time up here.
Yeah, that was a good night.
I'll end up finding that balance soon.
You know, footy comes first.
So, I've got to start being good.
You look at your tight end side.
You've got enough there to do something.
What do the guys like Tino and that sort of mean towards the team?
And what's he sort of like as a leader?
Nah, Tino's good.
Frustrates me sometimes, though, because if we lose a game,
he puts it all on himself.
And I'm like, brother, it's a team sport.
So, that's the only thing that frustrates me about him.
But, besides that, he's a great leader, you know.
He knows when to, like, switch on.
Like, he knows when to have a good time with the boys.
Like, have a laugh and all that.
And then he knows when to switch on during training.
So, I love having Tino as a leader.
And, you know, he's really important to our club.
And boys like Davey and Moe as well.
Really important.
Moe's a guy, bro.
He's got an engine.
I don't know how he does it.
He takes so many carries and many tackles.
That many tackles.
He probably doesn't get spoken about enough.
Because, obviously.
Like, he'd be up there with some of the best props in the game, bro.
What's he like, sort of, off the field?
Or is he just quiet on and done?
I thought so, bro.
I thought that was going to be him.
Like, he's funny.
He's just quiet off the field.
Like, if you say a little joke to him, he'll laugh and all that.
He'll say something back.
But, besides that, he's pretty quiet.
Dave, obviously, pretty big boost.
Guys sort of re-signing.
Tino's on for 10.
He locks in for another three.
Does that sort of give all you sort of young guys a lot of confidence?
If you look at the Bronco side a couple of years ago,
they probably weren't performing at the level they're at now.
But they all sort of had that little pack that they all could sort of grow together.
We've got, like, that core group now.
There's a few of us there.
Signed until, like, 2026.
Tino signed all, like, the rest of his life.
It's good to have that core little group, you know,
start gelling and all that through the next few years.
And hopefully we can do the same as the Bronx, you know.
Get to the finals and, who knows, grand final.
I always think about it, eh?
Like, if the Gold Coast can get that done, wow.
Bro, obviously, proud Indigenous man.
What was it like sort of growing up Indigenous?
Your dad sort of paved the way for, like, a lot of the teams that have come through now.
Is that something about culture that was installed in your house from day dot?
It was a little bit different.
Like, it was just probably the way that, you know,
you treat your family and all that, being around family.
I never really...
Sort of seen it that way, if you know what I mean.
Like, being around my family and all that a lot.
I didn't really think too much of it, but...
You just thought it is what it is?
Yeah, it is what it is.
But, you know, it's...
It was explained to me by my nan and pop and all that,
that, you know, that's what Indigenous families are.
You're always together, always around each other.
So, yeah, growing up, yeah, it was good.
Did you struggle with any, like, racist issues when you were a little bit younger?
Like, you'd always get the weird,
like, when I'm walking around with my dad,
saying he's my dad, you know, he's a pretty dark fella,
and then there's myself.
He's not as dark, so you get a little bit of a weird eye,
but besides that, I've been pretty good, like, not having to face that,
which I've been really lucky.
But I know other people aren't as fortunate as that.
One big thing I found when I came over here from New Zealand
is because, like, because the Maori culture is quite strong back home,
and I'm not saying it's perfect, but, like, a lot of us,
who aren't Maori, understood, like, sort of,
Maori concepts and what they sort of believe in,
and when I sort of come to Australia, and this was, like, 10 years ago,
I didn't really learn too much about the Indigenous culture,
and it wasn't until, like, even recently,
I feel like I can make a bit more of an effort,
but I think with the Indigenous, especially within rugby league, bro,
because I find myself trying to learn about the culture a lot more,
and, bro, it's a beautiful culture, isn't it?
Yeah, I can see, because one of my best mates, he's Maori,
and I can just see a lot of similarities in our cultures.
It's not the same, but, yeah, I'm really proud to be Indigenous,
and, you know, hopefully with, what would you call it,
with my profile, I can sort of, you know, teach little kids as well
to be proud of themselves and their culture, and, yeah.
What do you, like, obviously, football's your number one,
but what do you get up to outside?
I just relax, eh?
You look like a chiller, bro.
Yeah, I love to fish.
I love to have a good time with mates,
and, yeah, I just...
I just go wherever the wind takes me, really.
Yeah, and nothing too serious, bit of golf here and there, but, yeah.
Had him all right?
Better than Phil.
Phil Sammy, obviously, he'd have been gutted to miss out on this, I'd say.
If he didn't hurt his foot, surely he'd be getting picked,
but, yeah, I'm pretty sure he's gutted.
Yeah, I saw a promo sort of post-up straight away, didn't he?
I've seen that, and I was like, bro, he's injured.
The guy I really looked up to, and he's a little bit younger than me,
but the way he sort of played football was Fozzy,
and you get to play with him on a week-to-week basis.
Different character.
He's mad, Fozzy, eh?
Yeah, bro, but what are you learning from guys like him?
Because he's pretty intense.
He cares about football a lot.
It's probably a prerequisite of what Desi Hazard's going to be like,
because he's the one who brought him through.
Like, what's guys like Fozzy teaching you?
He's just helped us all out.
Like, even fellas like Tommy Waver and all that,
coming through, he's helped Tanner out a lot, heaps.
But just having someone like Fozzy, like his experience out around the club
has been good for everyone.
You know, like he's helped Dave out a lot this year.
What's he saying to Dave?
He's the first person to tell Dave what to do.
But, nah, I love having him around the club, and he's really good for us.
Bro, what's the sort of plans for the rest of the off-season
before you get back in?
Probably just try to train as much as I can.
Oh, so you're going all the way through, eh?
Try to train as much as I can.
You know, enjoy my time off still, though.
You know, I might go down to Melbourne for a trip, see what happens.
You're on the races?
That would be good.
I've got to stay away from it, though.
Trying to save up for a house.
But, nah, probably just enjoy my time off, you know.
You don't really get too much time to yourself when you're in pre-season or training.
So, yeah, just enjoy it.
Bro, what's it sort of like coming into, like, a bit more money?
As, like, you're still young.
Bro, what's it like when you get, like, a bit more cash in your pocket?
Is anyone sort of teaching you what to do with your money,
or are you just trying to figure it out on your own?
I tried to figure it out on my own, and then I was on sports bet too much.
But, yeah, I've started to look after my money a little bit better now.
I had to get a bit of help at the start, and, you know, like I was just saying,
saving up for a house now.
And then after that, hopefully just start looking after mum and dad,
my brother and sister, and, yeah, myself.
Are you the oldest?
No, I'm the middle child.
I've got an older sister, younger brother.
How does your younger brother go?
Does he play footy as well?
Nah, he's completely different than me.
He loves playing the game and all that.
But I wish he would play footy.
He got my mum's genes.
He's a little bit thicker and a little bit taller than me.
He's got a good build on him.
I wish he picked up footy, but, yeah, he's a funny character.
Bro, obviously you're still young,
and, like, I can see you sort of think a little bit more into the future.
What do you want your legacy to be?
See, that's buzzy.
I haven't really thought about that.
You know, I'd like to be known as one of the greatest players of my generation,
but at the same time, I've still got a long way to go.
Like, you can always have those aspirations,
but at the same time, I know I've got a lot of work to do.
And, yeah, I'd like to be known as probably one of the greatest players
of my generation and even one of the greatest Indigenous players to play.
Who do you think is the greatest Indigenous player ever?
That's a tough one.
So many to think about.
That's cool, because I watch Lachelle sort of talk about it,
and he would say he's Matty Bowen.
See, I love watching Matty Bowen growing up.
Because that's you, bro.
Yeah, I used to love watching Matty Bowen.
But, like, for Indigenous players, I'd have to say my old boy.
But greatest to play, I'd have to say G.I.
Are you related to him?
Yeah, so my great-grandmother and his pop are brother and sister.
That's a flex as a kid, eh?
Preston Kim was my dad.
Greg Ingers was my cousin.
And then try and get the palm up.
Oh, I get snapped.
Obviously, sort of knockout just finished.
I look at that football, and I think it's mad,
because everyone sort of respects the culture.
And when you get someone like a Josh Addo car
willing to have a fight to compromise fame for Australia,
it must mean fucking a lot to the boys, eh?
You know, I've missed out the last few years with injury and being away.
But, you know, boys get to go down there,
represent their community, where they're from.
So there's a lot of meaning and feeling in it.
And I can understand why boys sort of get fired up.
But, yeah, I love watching the knockout.
I haven't played in a few years, but, you know, hopefully next year,
injury-free, and I'm still here, so I can have a run.
You'd have a run?
You know how big the target on your head would be?
Yeah, I'm not too sure.
Stay out of my wing or something.
But, yeah, I'd love to play.
I'm just thinking, I remember watching this...
I remember when Latrell first started playing.
He was like 70 or 18.
And, like, guys were just trying to take his head off
from sort of day dog, bro.
And not, like, grabbing him and just, like,
punching him and stuff as well.
Can you throw him all right?
I've got two left hands.
What did you think of J-Wall's fight on the weekend?
Yeah, he did well.
Bro, respect that.
Like, I'd be too scared to jump in the ring.
I've got to give my respect to all the boys that jump in there.
If they get knocked out, they get knocked out.
But if they don't, yeah, hat off to them.
But, yeah, I'd be too scared to jump in the ring, hey?
I can't fight to save my life.
Me and you both, bro.
Yeah, it was funny because, like,
Rob was sort of saying just off air,
like, he actually thought he tripped up.
He goes, like, I went to my corner.
He goes, bro, I tripped up.
Yeah, I was watching...
Sorry, J-Wall, you didn't sleep, brother.
He was saying that he deserves a lot of credit.
For your first year in football and scoring tries through his offloads.
Yeah, he likes to say that.
He likes to say he puts grubbers in and offloads.
J-Wall's probably one of the most skilful front rowers I've ever played with.
He's skilful, bro.
Yeah, he's skilful with everything.
Good for an offload.
Good for a penalty, too.
Fuck, that's great.
Do you enjoy the sort of crossover before the boxing boys going...
Oh, league boys going into boxing?
Gives them something else to do besides football.
Um, but, yeah, like, got to give my respect to all the boys that do it, eh?
Like, like I said, I'm too scared to jump in the ring.
So, um, yeah, I love watching, like, the footy boys going in and box.
Um, fuck, I remember when Simi was fighting Hodges.
Bro, he went into a press conference, bro, and he was trying to, like, spray Hodges.
So, they asked him the question first, and he was spraying Hodge.
And then Hodge just, like, replied, like, humble as.
And he said he felt like the biggest grong.
They said it's, like, the biggest rush, bro.
It's the biggest rush.
Obviously, born Cronulla.
Where's your allegiance?
I've been up here since I was, uh, six, so.
Oh, yeah, so you sort of count?
Yeah, it sort of counts.
It was weird, though, because old boy went for New South Wales, but all my favourite
players played for Queensland.
So, like, JT, Matty Bowen, and all that.
So, I'm happy either way.
Queensland's just so much cooler that way.
Yeah, I love Queensland, bro.
Such a nice place, too.
So, be able to represent the people up here one day would be good.
Fuck, random thought.
Do you ever watch an old boy?
Like, a conversion?
Um, I remember watching his 2003 one.
That's probably the only.
He just walked back, eh?
He wouldn't, like.
Wouldn't take his time or anything.
He'd go three back, two across, and he'd go straight in.
He's like, bro, take your time.
Give your teammates some time.
Yeah, he's sweet, because he's nice and fresh.
Um, bro, obviously, like, there's a lot of, um, players around.
Like, say, say when I was playing, bro, ten years ago.
Like, you basically had to be a football player.
And I was into, like, weird, like, not weird, but, like, I was into reading books and taking
photos and making videos.
And, obviously, YKTR come from that, which is cool.
Who do you look around in the league, um, beyond, like, just football and how they sort
of move outside of it?
Is it guys rolling into podcasts?
Is it guys, like, Kalen starting their own brands?
Is it any, or is it guys like Joey, Joseph Manu, who are into, like, gaming?
Um, there's so many options for you guys to do things like that.
What sort of type of stuff do they interest you outside?
I love shoes, eh?
So, I love, um, I love shoes, so I wouldn't mind starting something up to do with that.
But, um, you know, you see, um, like, Nico doing his own podcast now.
A few of the boys doing their own brand stuff.
Like, it's really cool that we can do something else like that.
Um, so, I wouldn't mind trying getting into shoes or something like that.
What's your best shoes you got?
Best shoes I got?
Probably Jordan 4 Torpeis.
Or they're my favourite anyway.
I reckon Jordan 4s are my favourite shoes.
So, I like the 4s and the 3s.
They're probably my favourite, the Torpeis ones.
I've got a few pairs of 4s as well.
I was like you, bro, when I, like, was a footballer.
I used to be massive into shoes.
Uh, Sporting News Australia, who put this podcast together, they done, what's your,
the young fullbacks now?
They done a, um, segment with him.
He's got some, he's got some heat, K.
He's Skak's little guy.
You got him, you got him covered?
He's got some fire kicks.
Bro, that's addictive, eh?
I remember I bought my first pair, and I was like, straight away, nah, I gotta get
And then it just kept going and going and going.
But I had to, had to slow down, cause no room in my room.
But I think in my pick, bro, I had like 80 pairs of shoes.
I reckon I'm close to the 40 at the moment, so, um, slow down a little bit until, until
I get a walk-in wardrobe, then I can put them all there.
Won't be long, bro.
Uh, what's your thoughts on Sambas?
How do you like Sambas?
Yeah, nah, they're alright.
See, I'm with Adidas.
I like Sambas, like for my boots and all that, but, um, haven't really got many shoes
You're a Nike, you're a Nike guy?
Yeah, I love Nike.
Um, I used to have a pair of, uh, Superstars, Adidas Superstars.
Um, had a few pairs of them, but I grew out of them.
Might have to cop a, cop another pair soon.
On the, on the Essex train here?
Nah, I know, I know a few of the boys are on the New Balance train.
Getting all that stuff, but, um, yeah, I'm mostly Nike.
Bro, I, I like a lot of football.
Um, would you ever jump ship?
I wouldn't, I won't say no, cause you never know what happens, but, um, like, growing
up, I was just footy, so, um, I won't say no, but at the same time, I won't say yes.
The hard part is, like, you look at the Wallabies and they haven't had much success, you know.
They've, bro, they haven't beat the All Blacks and the Blazers late in 21 years.
It's almost like your whole life, so it's kind of hard to look over, bro, but they've
got some pretty exciting opportunities coming up with, like, the Lions.
And the World Cups here in 2027.
I just, I just love to see if, cause I grew up in New Zealand, so rugby's huge.
And, um, obviously, tight for a few of the Union boys, and obviously you guys, um, hanging
out with Quade the other day, so I just would like to always ask that question, eh?
Nah, see, it'd be, it'd be good to try something different, but at the same time, I love footy
too much, so, um, you never know what happens, eh?
So, I won't say no.
Alright, my guy brats, I want to say, keep this short and sharp, and say thanks for jumping
Appreciate your time.
I know you're a little bit chill, and like to do your own thing, so, uh, wish you nothing
but success for next season, and I'll be riding you home, my guy.