Catching up with Kane Douglas

Reds pre-season training has begun! Several days before they shot off for a Christmas break, I managed to squeeze in my last interview of 2017, and first of the 2018 season!

It was a pleasure catching up with the big man himself, Kane Douglas. We caught up about what the Reds have been focusing on in pre-season training, as well as his own rugby journey, that’s thankfully brought him to Queensland. I also found out that since getting back, he’s landed another “part-time” job, besides rugby!

Thanks again Kane! Before we get into it, I’d like to say Merry Christmas to all my readers and supporters. Looking forward to seeing you at a Reds game in the new year!

Hi Kane, thanks for making the time to catch up. It’s definitely overdue.

No worries.

How’s pre-season training going, and also, what has the team been focusing on?

Yeah, pre-seasons been really good. There’s a lot of young guys, there’s a few guys that have moved on, but it’s a really good vibe. Everyones training hard. We’ve been working on skills, the small skills, heaps of scrums, line-outs, catch-passes. They want us to attack this year with some venom. We’ve been going good.

What makes you most excited about the 2018 season with the Reds?

I suppose what makes me excited… I haven’t been as happy as I wanna be with the last couple of seasons, so I’m really excited about having this full pre-season, and then getting stuck in next year and showing the Reds fans what I’ve got. I don’t think I’ve shown that. So yeah, it’s another season, and another opportunity and I want to do something good here at the Reds. I’d love to play well for Queensland.

You’ve got my support. I’ll be at every home game, as usual.

Perfect. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history? You’re not originally from Queensland…

Yeah that’s right. I grew up in a little town down the coast, not actually too far from Queensland, on the other side of the border, in a little town called Yamba, about three hours from Brissy. Middle child, three boys, grew up in a little coastal town, hitting the beach. I didn’t actually grow up playing Union, I grew up playing Rugby League until I was 15.

My older brother played NRL for about ten years, and now he’s over playing in the Super-League over in England. So I’ve always sort of looked up to him. I decided Rugby was for me in my last year of school.

I think I played five seasons for the Waratahs, I was there for a few seasons leading into that. I started in the academy in 07, and spent time getting bigger. I was a scrawny little runt when I finished school — I had to put a bit of weight on, then made my Super-Rugby debut in 2010, finished with a Super-Rugby title in 2014, then went over and had a season in Ireland. I was supposed to be there for a couple of years, but I just missed home too much, and decided I’d come to the Reds. I got an opportunity at the World Cup in 2015. I got a bad injury in that World Cup final, but I’m loving being back in Australia and with the Reds. It’s great to be in Queensland, Queensland’s home now.

What was the highlight of playing for Leinster, in Ireland?

Probably just the chance to travel around Europe, play somewhere different, and get outside my comfort zone. I’d had it pretty easy. I’d lived at home until I was 17, then I loved in with my brother when I loved down to Sydney and I had a lot of relo’s hanging about. It was pretty easy. It was my first venture off, along the girl who was my girlfriend at the time, now is my wife. Playing for Leinster, we’d shoot around to different cities throughout Europe to play games. Leinster’s such a great club. There’s a lot of history and tradition there. All the Irish supporters are fanatics.

Trying something new, getting into a different environment is what I liked.

You’ve been with the Reds since 2016. What do you love most about playing for Queensland?

I don’t know what I love “most”! I love turning up to Ballymore for training, I love all the boys in my team, I love living in Queensland, I do think Queensland supporters in general, in any sport, are very passionate. You go watch Origin and any Queensland team, the supporters are very passionate about what they do. As I said before, I probably haven’t played what I thought was my best since I’ve been here, I’m hoping that I can do that and I’ll probably enjoy being here even more.

I love the environment. We have a pretty good job, turning up and training with your mates all day, so it’s pretty easy to love what you do.

What do you love most about living in Brisbane City?

I suppose, compared to everywhere else that I’ve lived… Sydney’s all hustle and bustle, and there was a bit too much traffic. Dublin wasn’t too bad for that, but I love that I live close, I’m only in Newmarket. I’ve actually been riding my scooter fair bit - a little scooter that the boys give me a bit of grief for, but it get’s me from A to B, it’s pretty nippy.

Living in Brisbane city, I like all of the little coffee shops. There’s always somewhere cool you can go for a coffee or a feed. I like eating, so that’s a plus.

Brissy’s pretty cool. I love my house, I love where I live. It’s just gotten better actually, there’s a new cinema at Newmarket and a few new restaurants. They’ve doubled the Sushi-Train size. All the boys have been going down there, it’s pretty good.

Can you tell us something about yourself that not many people may know?

You might know, I do a bit of male modelling. There’s a clothing line called Johnny Bigg which specialises in big mens clothing. I’ve posted a couple of posts on Instagram, and if you’ve been into a couple of Westfields, you might have seen me in the window. But not too many people know that a big footballer in the tight-five does a bit of male modelling in his spare time. I suppose that’s all I’ve got for you in the minute. Part-time, plus-size male model.

Thanks heaps for your time Kane. Merry Christmas and happy pre-season.

Thank you. Thanks for having me. It’s been a pleasure. It’s always good to see you down here. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon, see you in the stands.

Follow Your Dreams! An inspiring interview with Eto Nabuli

This week, I was fortunate to catch up with Queensland Reds winger, Eto Nabuli. The 6 foot 5 giant can be intimidating, right up until you start talking with the soft-spoken gentleman himself. His story, about getting discovered by two Rugby League players in Fiji, and eventually making the jump back to Rugby Union, is one about following your dreams and grabbing opportunities when they arrive. I'm really glad he's signed with the Reds again for 2018. I was inspired. I hope you will be too!

Hey Eto, thanks for making the time to catch up, especially this week.

Congrats to you and your team for making the NRC final. What have you loved most about playing for Country this year?

I love that the boys have a bond when we get together; they like each other. I love playing with the younger boys, and representing the country, you know. I come from a country place too, that's why I like hanging around with the boys and doing the best for my team.

You've got my full support this weekend. I hope lots of Reds fans tune in this Saturday night.

I know your focus is on this Saturdays game. I hope you don't mind talking about your rugby journey, and the Reds...

Did you start playing rugby as a young boy in Fiji?

Yeah of course. When I was a young boy, I played rugby and soccer, but I always preferred rugby. That's why, growing up, I wanted to be a professional rugby player in the future. Mostly I played sevens for the village team, and then I played sevens and fifteens. Coming out here, it's been a great pleasure to have an opportunity here.

Who were some of your favourite players growing up?

When I was in Fiji as a young boy, the Queensland Reds were my best team in the comp. I didn't know that I would represent the Reds at the time. At the time I grew up, Quade Cooper was my best player. I was watching the game in 2011 when they won the Super Rugby final... but yeah, Quade Cooper was my favourite player. Because he'd flick-pass and do dancing around.

So as the story goes, you bumped into two well known League players in Fiji, and they recruited you to join the Penrith Panthers. How did that actually happen?

Actually, I was working in the hotel. At that time, I was at the Intercontinental. I worked there, and played sevens. Worked and played, worked and played. Come to the day that I saw these guys - I didn't know them. I started work at 6:30am, and I met them at around 11:30am. They were doing a clinic at one of the schools in our village, named Malomalo Primary School. They said 'are you a rugby player?' I said 'yeah, I'm a rugby player.' They said 'do you ever play League?' I said 'no I never play League, just rugby'. 

From there, the journey started with Brett Fittler and Andrew Johns. They spotted me there, and they told me to go to a clinic at the school. I did some kicks and bombs in the air, and grubbers. I heard that they were the legends from Australia.

From there, they started to call Phil Gough at Penrith, and sent him the video, because they’d made some videos. Phil Gough saw the video and said ‘ok, let’s give him an opportunity to come over.’ So yeah, it was a great opportunity. They paid my fare, and I came over to Australia, to Sydney and I stayed with my manager for three years.

I played Penrith Panthers in the 2nd grade for 2 years, and from there I moved to the Dragons [first grade] for one year. From there I wanted to change back to Union. There were a few club offers, one was from Perth, the Western Force, and one was from the Queensland Reds. I chose the Queensland Reds because it’s way closer to Fiji, and it’s easier for me to travel back and see the family.

That’s when the  journey started… I was working in the hotel as a porter, and now I’m in Queensland, playing for the Reds.

What was it like moving from a Fiji to Australia?

Yeah, going from Fiji to Australia was like, kind of different for me. For the first year, I got a little bit homesick. There was a guy Joe, he was calling and texting me and said, mate, there is an opportunity, grab it, and you'll be fine. 

It was the first time for me to leave the family, back at home. So coming to Australia, I was so excited. I was lucky to have that opportunity. Now I feel like I’m at home, it’s been four years now.

When you first arrived in Australia, did you think you'd end up playing Rugby Union again?

Yes, of course. I was thinking I'd be back in Union, because back at home it was my favourite.

What do you love most about playing for the Reds?

What I love most is playing with the Reds… back at home it was my best team. Some of the boys I’m playing with at the moment, I’ve been seeing when I was young, back at home. Like I said, back in 2011, Quadey was playing. So over here, what I love the most is that he’s still playing, I like playing with him here. And also, the boys, they are friendly, and we are like a family. They are like brothers to me now. We have fun, that’s what I like most about the Reds.

Thanks Eto for your time, again, it's appreciated!

Ah thank you so much Tom for asking questions. I love you, and I love you being at all the games. I see you as like my brother. Thanks so much Tom for your questions, I appreciate it too.

* * * 

NRC Final is this Saturday Night - 6:30pm (QLD time)

This Saturday at 6:30pm, the Queensland Country boys will be playing against the Vikings, in Canberra for the NRC Final. If you're a Reds fan, make sure you tune in. (It's only on Fox, so if you don't have Fox at home, make sure you get down to your local pub and ask them to play it.) The NRC has been great this year. Bring it home boys!

Catching Up with Up-and-Comer Hamish Stewart

Hamish Stewart is a talented up and comer in the Reds camp. Having come through the Queensland and Australian under-20s team, he is set to make his mark with the Queensland Reds.

He's a true (navy-blue) country boy, with his roots in the Darling Downs. He is studying at Bond University, so is a perfect fit for the NRC Queensland Country team!

As well as the NRC, we got to talk about his rugby journey, what it's like being coached by Brad Thorne, and how much he's looking forward to the Reds 2018 season.

Hi Hamish, thanks for taking the time to catch up.

Well done with your teams win over the weekend. How are you finding this years NRC season?

It's been a very good start for country I think, having the four wins under our belt. Over the last couple of years, ever since it started, I think we've only managed to win about four or five (before this season). I think the country boys are really starting to mould well, and it all comes from the influence of Brad Thorne and Paul Carozza. I think they're doing an excellent job with the culture, and it's really showing on the field.

Both Brisbane City, and your team Queensland country are doing well. What message would you give to Reds supporters that haven't followed the NRC closely?

I think this is a building block for the Reds, definitely for 2018. You can see with all the teams they've played, the New South Wales team basically have all of their Super players, and the Canberra team they basically have their Super players in the NRC, and we've been able to knock both of them off. So we're in good stead for 2018. 

Both teams have my support. When the NRC teams do well, it's good for the Reds.

Definitely.

You've had to opportunity to be coached by Brad Thorne this year. What do you imagine he will bring to the Reds that is unique in 2018, and what are you looking forward to next about next season?

I think Brad brings a lot of experience as you can see from his career. He brings a lot of leadership and camaraderie into the team, and most coaches lack camaraderie. He's definitely implemented on mate-ship and every aspect like that. He's a very dedicated coach, and respects the boys, and the boys respect him and that's a big thing as a coach. Hopefully, we can go above and beyond and get into the finals, that's definitely one objective for next year. We can only aim for that next year.

Can you tell us about your rugby story. What first drew you to the game?

What first drew me to the game would probably be the impact that my two brothers had on me. When I was a young boy, they started playing Rugby Union at school, and I sort of followed in their footsteps.  I've never looked back, ever since the day I first stepped on the footy field. I love every moment of it. Hopefully I can have a long career, it just depends on how I go.

What was your journey into the Reds squad?

My journey was through the under-20s Reds squad when we ended up winning the final. I was able to sit on the bench on a Saturday night against the Hurricanes, and I wasn't able to get on, but it was experience just in itself. And then was able to play Sunday for the under-20s, and ended up winning that, so that's probably a memorable weekend for me. But definitely through that under-20s programme with Thorny and Carozza, they really set a platform for the boys to go above and beyond this year - as you can see with all the boys in the under-20s Australian team, we had a pretty good contingent in that.

And finally... can you tell us something about yourself that not many people may know?

Most of the Reds boys would know, but my families real big into horses (thoroughbreds), and that's a real passion of mine. So hopefully, at the end of my rugby career, I can somehow push into horses, like my father did - and with my brother as well. That's one thing that most people probably don't know about me.

Thanks again for taking time to chat Hamish.

Thank you Tom.

Keep training hard, and all the best against Sydney this weekend!

Thank you Tom, I appreciate it.

Ready to Go! (An Interview with... Andrew Ready)

It was great today to catch up last week with Reds Hooker Andrew Ready. We caught up about the NRC season, his club season, and of course - the Reds. It was great to hear his optimism and excitement for the 2018 season (feelings that I share) and excitement about his team-mates potential. Off the field, Andrew is always a gentleman, and great for a laugh. On the field, he’s a force to be reckoned with and has plenty of good rugby in him. Full of potential I say!

Enjoy this weeks Reds Rugby Rules interview….

Hi Ready,

Good to finally catch up for our first proper interview. Thanks so much for making the time!

No worries Tom. I’m glad we got to do the interview as well!

What's been happening today?

Well Tom, we’ve actually had separate gym sessions, the backs go in first and then the forwards come and lift the heavier weights. But it’s been pretty warm weather lately. We’re in the old shed, so there’s no air-con or anything, so the boys are all sweating out. But we all lifted pretty well today - to get us ready for Sunday, the big [NRC] game. 

That's good. By the way, congratulations on being chosen as Brisbane City captain this year in the NRC! Have you enjoyed the season so far?

Thank you very much. I didn’t expect it at all, after the year I had personally. But it’s been a great experience learning the new role and I guess the responsibilities of being a captain. Being across all the information from players, to coaches, to management, being across all the platforms I suppose, and trying to keep everyone on the loop and on the same page - trying to get everyone to understand what we’ve got to do each week - whether that be at training, on the field, or away from the field in our spare time. It’s been tough, but I’ve really enjoyed it. It's been something different. I think the last time I was captain of something was back at Terrace in 2010 [St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace], when I was the vice-captain of the First XV. It’s been a while since I’ve had that responsibility, but in general I’ve enjoyed it. And there’s still plenty of games left. I’m looking forward to it.

Your local club is Easts - can you tell us about your club, and how this year has gone for you?

Yeah, Easts is my Senior Club. Can’t forget my juniors, where I came from, which was Norths. I live at Albion, so down the road from Norths. But I made that hard decision to go to Easts as a Colt, and I haven’t looked back since. They’ve really helped me get to where I am today. This year, we missed the finals, we came sixth I think. We were up in the top four for a lot of the season, but didn’t do too well towards the end. This year, I played a lot of club footy, as you’re probably aware, but I really enjoyed that time. I guess I was able to play consistent time in an environment that I loved. I love playing club footy. Everyone's there, everyone's got your back, and it’s an awesome environment to be a part of.

It’s still serious, but not as serious as Super Rugby, where you get 10-15,000 people screaming at you. You get to concentrate on yourself, more so that everything else around you, just like a stadium. It’s been fantastic, I really enjoyed it.

What do you love most about rugby?

Other than getting to tackle people (laughs)… I guess, just being with a group of guys that you call your mates, and meeting new guys throughout the week, it’s not like your typical “job” I think. I suppose making those friendships is what I enjoy most. And also, there’s an added benefit of travelling the world, that’s pretty cool. Just like Samoa when you came and visited us. That’s pretty cool!

How long have you been playing rugby, and what drew you to the game?

Well believe it or not, I played soccer up until grade eight. I was a little bit skinnier back then, I wasn’t as wide.

That’s probably what helped me transition into rugby, growing wider, rather than taller. I started in grade seven at the end of the year. My mate from primary school invited me - soccer was on Saturday, rugby was on Sundays - and he asked if I could come down and throw a ball around, he said they needed some numbers.

I guess I was really lucky to have a fantastic coach, that I still have a connection with to this day. He sort of drew me to rugby, and I found my passion, I suppose, and love for the game. Fortunately I went to St Joseph’s School, on Gregory Terrace, they’re a rugby school. So I ditched soccer, probably for the best, and started playing rugby. Even though I would have liked to get paid like soccer players (laughs).

What do you enjoy most about playing for the Reds?

When I was growing up, I always dreamed about playing for the Reds, and putting that Red jersey on. I honestly didn’t ever think that it would come true. And I didn’t take the normal path, getting spotted straight from school. I did the hard yards at club, then got asked to play [under] 20s, and then finally got the opportunity. It’s funny, I had my first year in 2014, didn’t play a game, I was called onto the bench for three times at the end of the season, didn’t get on. So I had to wait a whole ‘nother year, kept going to the bench, I think five or six times, before I ever got on. And then I got the opportunity and I never looked back. The best bit about that was running onto Suncorp Stadium. I can’t put into words, that feeling you get, when you run out the tunnel in front of your home crowd, especially a Queensland crowd. Every time, I get shivers down my spine running out - I don’t know how to put it into words. And having your family, your friends, and all the other fans that drive hours and hours just to see us play, that’s something that’s really special to me. That would be the best thing about playing for the Reds.

It's been a tough season for the Queensland Reds in some ways. Us Reds fans always have your back though. Always remember that. What are some take aways from this season your taking forward into the next - either personally, or as a team?

It’s good to hear you always have our back, it's fantastic. I think some of the players do forget that, this is our team, the fans love the Reds, they love us. I think, it has been a disappointing year. But we’ve got a lot of young players coming through proving their worth. Just take a look at Lukhan Tui, that big boy. Every time he runs at me at training, I want to run the opposite way. And we’ve got Izack Rodda, we’ve got Izzy Peresi, I reckon we’re still yet to see the potential of Samu Kerevi, he’s got a long way to go, and I can’t wait for him to just smash it week in, week out. And we’ve also got the older fellas here, like George, Squeak and Karmichael, who lead by example, on the field. We just need to give it time for these young guys to come through and just prove their worth.

And I think next years going to be a great year to witness that. And I’m just looking forward to being a part of it, and hopefully get some more game time next year and help prove my worth as well. So yeah, looking forward to it.

Thanks once again for your time today. It's always a pleasure and a privilege.

No worries Tommy. Thank you very much for taking the time to come see me. Thank you.

All the best for this weekends game against Sydney!

Thanks mate. Well we’ll need it after last weekend aye, we didn’t do to well against Perth. We’ve had some honest reviews on Tuesday, and I think we’ll be putting our best foot forward, come Sunday. And we’ve proved that we can bounce back. We lost against Queensland Country, and we came back and scraped through against the Vikings. So I’m looking forward to Sunday, it’s our first game in Sydney. I always love playing in Sydney because I hate them so much.

[Update: The game took place yesterday, and sure enough Brisbane City bounced back with a 41-29 win over the Sydney Rays. Congrats to Andrew and the boy!]

Locker Room Chat with Lachie

I had a great time chatting with another player who’s taken on the challenge of changing his football code. After 70 games for the Brisbane Broncos, Lachie Maranta has just finished his first season with the Reds! Thanks for joining the cause Lachie, and thanks for your time today!

Hi Lachie, How's it going?

Good mate. Yourself? Bit hot? Trying to get out of this heat?

Doing good, bit hot for me too. But I’m glad to be here. Thanks for taking the time to catch up.

No worries, it’s always good to see you down at training.

Has your time with the Reds been enjoyable so far?

Yeah, I’ve really enjoyed it mate. It was a bit new at the start, getting to know everyone and learning the new game, but I’m loving it now, almost a year in. I’m just trying to get better every day.

How's the NRC season been going for you personally?

A little bit up and down. I played the first game against Fiji, had a pretty good game, then had a tight groin for the last three weeks, so I haven’t played since then. All good now, so I guess I’ll get a run this weekend over in Perth.

How have you found the transition back to Rugby Union, after playing League at a high level? And is it easier or harder than you thought it would be?

Yeah, some of the things have been a lot harder - things that I didn’t think would be, the flow of the game, things like that. Obviously in League you get six tackles, and you get the ball back after that. Whereas in Union, you can go without the ball for fifteen or sixteen phases. So I guess learning how to inject myself into the game was the tough thing, but I’m starting to get it now. I’m enjoying my footy and starting to find my feet.

Other than the obvious rule changes, what differences have you noticed between playing for an NRL club, and a Super Rugby team?

Well, I guess, probably what I just said, the flow of the game is a little bit different. I had to get used to not standing up and playing the ball between my legs, that was probably something I was a little bit scared I’d do out of habit. But I’ve managed to not do that yet, that would have been embarrassing.

Has this season for you been affected by any of your previous injuries?

No I’ve been pretty blessed with my injuries, I had one major one last year with the Broncs where I had a bolt put through my wrist, but other than that I’ve been pretty lucky. Touch wood!

What do you love most about living in Brisbane City?

Well I guess, it’s a bit weird to say, but the weathers probably the best thing about Brissy, it’s always sunny. We have the occasional shower and rain, but you can get out of your house nearly every day. But I don’t like the heat when it rolls around to pre-season time. It’s a little bit too hot for the boys, I wouldn’t mind it cooling down. It’s already 35 degrees in Spring at the moment, so I’m sure we’re in for a tough hot pre-season.

What do you love most about Rugby Union?

I think, from this early part, I like how open the game can be. Obviously, in counter-attack, in League, getting the ball back can be a little bit tougher. Looking up at a line of twelve blokes, that was a bit hard, whereas in Union you can have a bit more space. It’s something I’m starting to find, and get through some of those gaps.

Tell us something about yourself that not many people know...

Probably that I wear glasses. I lost them about 6 months ago, and just found them at home. I’ve gotta start wearing them, I’m starting to get headaches from squinting at everything. A few of the boys thought they were fake, but I had to show them and get them to put them on, and they couldn't see properly. I’m starting to get used to my glasses again.

Thanks Lachie for your time.

No worries Tommy, it’s always good to see you mate, like I said at the start.

All the best with the remainder of the NRC season.

Thanks mate. You too, hopefully see you down at training a bit more. Always love having you down here.

Chatting with Brissy's Country Boy James Tuttle

This week, I caught up with James Tuttle, former Australian Under-20s captain, and now Reds scrum-half. We chatted about his Reds journey so far, as well as the current NRC season and why a Brissy boy like him is now playing for "Queensland Country".

(For those that aren't in the know, the National Rugby Competition, or NRC, is now in full swing! Both the "Brisbane City" and "Queensland Country" teams are playing locally, and around Australia. Both teams feature members of our Queensland Reds. Check out the schedule here and get to a game if you can...)

Hope you enjoy my latest interview!

Hi James, thanks for making time to catch up.

No worries Tommy, more than a pleasure.

How’s the off-season for the Reds going?

Off-seasons going good. We’ve got a bit of time off after the Super Rugby season, and now we’re along the way with all our NRC training, and the competition for Queensland Country.

It’s been good - we’ve played three games so far. We lost to Canberra, but we were lucky enough to beat [Brisbane] City up in Noosa which was a great achievement for us, we haven’t beaten them in four years.. it’s been really good.

How have you found your first season with the Reds?

Yeah it’s been really enjoyable. Coming into this year was exciting. I played a few games last year, but this year I’ve gotten a lot more time playing number 9, and a lot more opportunity as well.

I’m really happy with how I’ve progressed this year, and really looking forward to what we can do at Suncorp Stadium next year. We’ve got a good group of players, with some new coaching staff, so I think a lot of the boys are ready to rip into pre-season and we’ll back playing in no time in February. It’s going to be really exciting.

You were born in Brisbane, so how is it that you came to be playing for Queensland Country in the NRC?

(Laughs.) It’s a bit funny isn’t it. I think a lot of the boys in the team are from Brissy.. but at the start of the competition they had to split the Reds players evenly across the two sides. But in our squad at the moment, we do have a lot of players with country backgrounds, so they get to represent where they’ve come from, and play for those people back home that have gotten them to where they are now, so I’m glad that I’m playing for country. I’ve loved every minute that I’ve played this year and I can’t wait to get stuck into it on Sunday.

Can you tell us about your journey through the Reds development program?

Yep. I left school in 2013, and came to the Reds under 20s at the start of 2014. I played a year with them and then played with my club side as well, Jeeps… then at the end of 2014, did my first pre-season with the Reds, and in 2015, just played a bit of Jeeps, bit of Reds under-20s, and mainly the Australian under-20s, as well as the NRC at the end of the year.

Moving into 2016, it was pretty much the same, played the Aussie under-20s and then got into the last few games with the Reds. I made my debut over in Loftus, in South Africa against the Bulls.

I signed my first contract in 2015, for the 2016 season. It’s been a good journey, it’s a great development program the Reds have here. You see a lot of the players coming through now, a lot of the blokes my age, or similar ages to me that have progressed through the under-20s ranks and now they’re playing for the Reds, or for their NRC sides as well. 

We’re gonna breed some great talent in the next couple of years, and I just can’t wait to see the progress in all of the players.

Who was your favourite player growing up?

I think… I do love my rugby league, and I used to watch it more than I did my union, but one of my favourite union players growing up was probably George Gregan. Playing half-back, I loved how quick he was around the ruck and how quick he was around the field, and how he stabbed the attack for all the Australian and Brumbies backlines that he played in, he was probably my idol in a Rugby Union sense.

For rugby league, I really loved watching Darran Lockyer as well, he was probably my favourite player growing up. He was just phenomenal whenever he played for the Maroons, the Broncos, or for Australia. But I was pretty happy watching either rugby union or rugby league, I just love both of them.

What is the biggest highlight in your life so far?

Biggest highlight of my life so far.. I think probably debuting for the Reds. It’s been a dream of mine for a while to play for the Queensland Reds side… Watching them as a kid, and finally getting an opportunity to play, it’s hard to put into words. I made my debut, as I said, against South Africa against the Bulls, it’s a pretty awesome place to make a debut. I obviously would have loved to have made my debut at home here at Suncorp, in front of home fans and a home crowd, but Loftus is such an amazing place to play, and I was really happy with the opportunity I got give. I think that’s the highlight of my life so far, definitely.

And everyones favourite question… Can you tell us something about yourself that not many people may know?

I was waiting for this one. (Laughs). Maybe a couple of things. I’m studying at the moment, business and law at QUT. I like to keep myself busy when I’m not playing footy. I think it’s pretty important to keep myself doing something when I’m not around here.

Maybe another one, when I was leaving school, I was offered to go and play league with the Broncos under-20s. So I had the option of coming here and playing for the Reds, or going to Red Hill and playing with the under-20s with the Broncos. I weighed up those two options, and made the decision to stay here. I’m pretty pleased with the opportunity that I’ve been given here.

Thanks again for taking time out to chat.

No worries Tom.

All the best for your game against Sydney on Sunday!

Ahh thank you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to chat with you, and hopefully we’ll get the win on Sunday. The boys are pretty pumped!

Hanging with Higginbotham

I was happy today to get to hang out with one of the great number 8's, someone who's down (neck injury) but far from out. Fitting in some time after an early morning gym session, Scott was relaxed and optimistic. He shared that even though his injury recovery had been slow at first, he was making progress to get back in the game soon.

Hope you enjoy reading my latest interview!

Hi Scott! I'm really happy that we have finally got the time to chat! I'm surprised it hasn't happen sooner.....

Yeah me too Tommy, me too.

How has the off season been? Have you been up to much?

Yeah Tommy, I had that neck injury in the June test series which was a couple of bulged discs and a bit of nerve stuff. That happened during the Scotland game, so unfortunately I missed the game and I missed the last two rounds for the Reds. But since then, the necks come along well, it was a bit slow, but it’s improving. It makes pre-season a bit hard because you can’t do too much besides a bit of gym and a bit of cardio.

Also, I’m not able to do the fun stuff like surfing, that I normally do in an off-season.

I'm glad you're back in Queensland. Looking back though, what were the highlights of playing in other places, including Melbourne and Japan, and internationally for the Wallabies?

It was obviously hard to leave the Reds back in 2012, especially after having so much success in 2011. 2012 we made it to the quarter final, but you know, came up against a Sharks team that should have won that year - if they didn’t have to travel for the quarter, semi, and the final, I reckon they really would have won. But I think I got a lot of leadership skills, being in Melbourne. It was good to be captain I think, that was something that I aspired to. Being captain of a super team was a great achievement for me. Which, unfortunately I don’t think would have happened if I was at the Reds, in terms of, I suppose the leadership that was there at the time, it just didn’t look that way. So going to Melbourne, I got that out of it, and living in a different city was great. And same with Japan actually, being able to live overseas was a great experience, and something I’d recommend to all players. You know, if they get the chance to live in another country, or even experience another State, those experiences are second to none and they can really hold you through life I think.

How was it returning to the Reds this season as one of the experienced members of the squad?

Yeah it was a different experience. Being at the Reds initially, I started in 2005 in the academy, training out at that shed over on the other side of the field, and started training with guys like Chris Latham, John Lowe, and you know Crofty, Hardy, and all those guys. I guess I was here for 5 years initially, still coming through and just making the Wallabies and achieving a bit. But you know I still felt young and I still felt a bit immature in a rugby sense. And it’s a lot different to come back and be the older guy. I spent a lot of time as a younger bloke, and it’s nice to be older now and to have a bit more experience under your belt to hold you in better stead, and you feel like you can achieve something with the younger blokes here I think.

I'm interested in the stats of the game, and your name comes up as the highest scoring forward in Super Rugby. How did you feel when you broke that record?

(Laughs) Yeah I was pretty pumped about that. Rugby for me is a lot of fun, and I don’t like the idea of you know, forwards being stereotyped into a certain mould. I grew up as a back, as a winger through school, and played a lot of soccer and basketball. I like the idea of using different skills and being able to kick the ball in the game, I don’t think that should just be limited to backs, and that goes the same for scoring tries. It shouldn’t be just the backs. To me, that’s the funnest part of the game, it’s putting points on the board. That’s how you win games.

That’s something I’m really proud of, and hopefully, in the next couple of years I can extend that record and hold on to it for a while. (Laughs again).

What have you enjoyed most about playing for the Reds so far?

So far, I think that the best thing has been seeing the young talent coming through. Like I said, being an older player, there’s two sides of it. I’ve really enjoyed coming back and playing with guys like Quadey, playing with Simmo, playing with Slips again, you know these are guys that I went through the academy and grew up with. And just being able to spend time with those guys. When you go overseas, and go to different States, you miss those friendships, so it’s great to come back and rekindle that. And on the other side, it’s great to see young guys coming through, and I guess to help them achieve their Super Rugby or Wallaby goals.

What do you enjoy most about living in Brisbane?

Probably days like this. Brisbane is one of the reasons I came back. Playing for Queensland, but also being able to live in this State, with the weather like this. Especially after being in Melbourne where it gets a bit cold through the winter. But I love it. We’re 40 minutes from the Gold Coast, an hour from the Sunshine Coast, surfing is something I’m passionate about, and I love doing that in my spare time.

It’s a big country town Brisbane, it’s an easy place to live, and it’s just got great weather. 

And everyone's favourite question... can you tell us something about yourself that not many people may know?

I love motorbikes. A few people know that, but I’m pretty big into my vintage cars, and vintage motorbikes. I love that kind of stuff, like getting to swap-meets, I’ve got a Harley myself, I’ve got mates that have Harley’s and we love going for a ride over the weekend. And of course I love music, and getting into live music. Brisbane’s come a long way in that scene. It’s good to be back, and trying to get back into it.

Thanks for making the time this morning. It's been great chatting.

Tommy, no worries. Any time mate, any time.

Kicking back with Karmichael

It's good to be back!!!

Since the last blog, I've been to New York and back to visit family (check out my Insta to see some pics)... But right now, it's good to be back at Ballymore and back into action.

Today, I was lucky enough to sit down with Karmichael Hunt and hear, among other things, how his injury recovery is going! It was great to see him him and also James Slipper with their trainer running on the field. It looked like they are both making awesome progress!

I hope you enjoy my latest interview, and getting to hear from Karmichael himself how he is going.

Hey Karmichael, how's it going? Thanks for making the time to catch up.

I'm going really well. My pleasure Tom.

How's the ankle going?

Yeah it's going well. I've been out of my moon boot for 2 weeks now, so into the second week I've started to run, and today, which is the end of the week (Friday), I've probably had my best running session yet. So all positive signs for me, that I'm heading in the right direction with football, and the ankles feeling great.

What's the next step for you?

The next step for me... Next week, I just got told by my physio that I'm going to be stepping up my running. So I'm probably going to be doing a lot more running, in terms of fitness sessions, and then hopefully in a couple of weeks time I'll be able to play some football.

Congrats on being selected for the Wallabies squad earlier this year. That was a huge achievement.

Yes it was. Thank you very much. It was definitely a huge achievement for me, especially for my career and having gone through some tough times individually, but also with the team up here in Queensland as well.. It was nice to be selected, along with Eto who made his debut, and we obviously had Quade in the team who's been there many times before, as well as Samu. So it was a huge honour for myself and my family.

What was it like putting on the gold jersey for the first time?

Well, it gave me goosebumps. I'd watched the Wallabies play so many times on TV before, and it had been a dream of mine ever since I came to Queensland to the Reds 3 years ago now. So for me to finally be able to pull the jersey on, I had a lot of emotions going through me, thinking about family, my parents, all the people who put hard work into me to get me up to this point, it was a really huge moment for me.

Well, we were all proud of you for getting there. You played brilliantly. We were gutted when you got injured. I'm really glad your recovery is going well.

Thank you very much. I enjoyed being involved with the Wallabies, and it is a shame that I got an ankle injury in the last round of the year, but these things happen in football. You just have to rehab it, move on, and get fitter and stronger and push for selection, which hopefully I'll be doing in a few weeks time.

What did you get up to during your down time?

Obviously, you probably know I've got 3 daughters and a wife, so my time at home is pretty well spent with the kids. We took them down to the beachh a couple of times, they love going down to the water, down on the Gold Coast, so just hanging out with the girls, doing a bit of study as well, so yeah not much travelling for me, just been here in Brisbane, looking after the family and keeping them happy.

Have you found any good music or books lately?

Yes I have actually, music wise, it's not new music,  it I've definitely found some good music that I've been getting into, I've been enjoying a bit of Metallica, so it's not my usual playlist, but Metallica, Guns N Roses... I've been getting into my rock which is pretty cool.

Did you watch any of the Wallaroos games at the World Cup?

I saw the highlights, I didn't watch any full games but definitely they gave it a good shake, they played some good football, and me having three daughters, it's nice to see the ladies playing sport that generally men would play. So definitely proud of them.

Cool. Well, thanks again K for taking time out for this. It's a pleasure as always.

Yeah my pleasure as well! It's always good to talk to you, and to be on the blog for the second time. So hopefully we can talk again in the future.

Sounds great. As supporters, we're all behind 100% you. Keep getting better fast.

Thank you very much. I definitely appreciate the support. So thank you very much.

Kick and Chase - An Excellent Afternoon

Last week was an exciting week. It's not every day that a producer from Fox Sports calls you up and asks to come and interview you personally.

The story aired last week, here's the clip if you didn't catch it:

Thanks to all involved, and thanks to Ryan for producing and bringing it all together.

And while you're at it, check out this video from the same episode and "Get to Know the Wallaroos". My cousin Grace is on the right:

The Reds Final Game is This Friday

Apologies for the delay with getting an interview online. The Queensland Reds are in New Zealand at the moment preparing to take on the Highlanders.

Tune in 5:35pm (Brisbane time) to watch and support!

Sitting Down with Sef Faagase

Earlier this week, right after a tough mornings training, I was able to sit down with Reds prop Sef Faagase to chat. We spoke about rugby, his life, and his teams recent trip to Samoa - his families country of origin. Enjoy!

Hey Sef, Thanks for making the time to chat.

That's ok. Thanks for having me Tom.

How's training going for the Reds team at the moment?

Trainings been very tough. It's been almost like a mini-preseason. It's been a good opportunity, during the June period with all the [Wallabies] test matches where us as individuals can get better with the little things that we need to work on that we can't really do during the season, so trainings been really good.

What was your highlight from the Samoa trip?

I guess playing in front of my family, they don't get to see me play too often. They've only been able to watch from a distance. And I guess showcasing to the boys a little bit about where I come from was a real highlight.

You guys played well, especially with the captain out of action.

Yeah I think we played exceptionally well. We were unlucky to not come away with the win - but it was good that the captain that we had that night stepped up when Samu got injured and he led really well.

You're originally from New Zealand. How did you end up playing in Brisbane?

Yes I was born in New Zealand, but my family moved to Brisbane in 94. So I've spent most of my life in Brisbane, and I've played most of my junior footy out in Beaudesert, and now I'm here with the Reds.

What do you enjoy most about playing in the Prop position? What does the position involve?

I guess being a prop you're really at the front line of it all, especially within the scrums, it's my favourite part of the game. Just being physical with the other opposing player, it's why I love playing.

My main job as a prop is scrum first and foremost, and I play an integral part in the line out functioning. So a lot of lifting, and a lot of set pieces.

Can you tell us something about yourself that not many people may know?

Ok, something that not a lot of people know about me... it wasn't til after I left school that I picked up rugby, but during high school I was a cheer-leader, so I think I can thank that for my line-out lifting. [Laughs].

You already have a lot of experience in rugby society. Do you have any advice for someone wanting to pursue a career in rugby union, both boys and girls?

So like I said, I didn't pick up rugby until after I left school, but for anyone that has a dream of playing rugby, I just say go ahead, anything is possible. Just as long as you set yourself some goals, I think that's the main part. And then asking as many questions as you can, people that are around, within the rugby society. So that's my biggest advice. Ask a lot of questions, set goals, and anythings possible.

The next Reds game is against the Brumbies on Friday the 7th July. For sure I'll be there watching and supporting. All the best for your teams training over the next few weeks.

Thank you a lot! I look forward to seeing you there, and I look forward to hopefully getting a win against the Brumbies, just for you.

A Big Day for Ballymore/A Conversation with Izack Rodda

I had a great day today at Ballymore stadium. I got to watch the Wallabies train and meet a few of them for the first time, as well see the Reds do their thing. The Wallabies are in Brisbane, ahead of their match against Italy - 3pm this Saturday at Suncorp - on Channel 10.

Henry Speight was humble enough to take a photo with me, even with my Reds hat on

Bumped into this stranger. I tried to make him feel as welcome as possible at Ballymore

For this weeks player interview, I was lucky to sit down with the giant himself, Izack Rodda. Enjoy!

Hey Izack, thanks for taking time to chat. I know things are busy for you at the moment.

Yeah no worries mate!

I heard a rumour you've been training with the Wallabies. Is that true? 

Yeah it’s true I trained yesterday.

How did it go?

It was exciting. It was a new step for me in my career. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work. Contacts are a lot harder than over here, so it was good.

Back to the Reds - how's the teams training going at the moment?

Yeah trainings been good. We’ve doing a lot of games and we’ve been working specifically on our line out work and kick-off reception which has been good for us. We’ve been lacking that this year, so we’ve been really honing down on it in the last couple of weeks and really improving.

So how did you end up playing for the Reds?

Well I finished school up at Ipswich Grammar in 2014 and I came over to the under-20s programme and was in that for about 2 years. In 2016 I went from that and started training here and haven’t left since. I sort of just went through the pathway.

You’re originally from Lismore, which is in New South Wales.

Yeah I grew up in Evans Head down in Byron Bay. They had some scouts from the school come down to one of the local rep game and asked me to come along down to the school there so I just took the chance.

Sorry about the game last night.

Yeah the Blues sort of went to sleep in the second half, and let Queensland back into it. JT was never going to miss that kick.

What was your highlight from the teams recent trip to Samoa?

It was probably Jakey McIntyre dancing with his shirt off at the dinner, with a little Samoan girl in the show they did. That was definitely a highlight.

And the question we ask everyone... can you tell us something about yourself that not many people may know?

Umm… when I was 6 years old, I played soccer and did ballet for school. Not many people know that. I kept that on the down low for a long time.

Thanks for your time. Good luck with your training this week.

No, thank you. Pleasure. Yeah, one more session to go and then a couple of days off.