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.
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.
