Tom Hamilton's Team Talk with Tiarah

Tackling the Tough Topics with Queensland Red and Wallaroo Lock Tiarah Minns 

Last week, I had an opportunity to catch up with one of the Reds super-star players, who is a member of the Wallaroos. Tiarah Minns came to Queensland at the start of last season, after the Melbourne Rebels finished up as a franchise.

We talked about a lot of things, including what the Reds have been focusing on ahead of this weekends semi-final against Fiji, what she loves most about being based at Ballymore, living in Brisbane and much, much more!

I hope you enjoy reading our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it!

Make sure you tune in this weekend, as the Reds take on Fiji in the Super W semi-final! I’ll be watching Stan Sport at 11am on Saturday. I hope you’ll be joining me! (I actually can't wait....)

Hey Tiarah, thanks for making time to catch up, during a busy training schedule! What's been the team's focus ahead of playing Fiji next week in the semi-final?

The team's focus is continued belief, in the team. The really big thing that Frase [Reds coach Andrew Fraser] has been emphasising is, believe it, equals, achieve it.

We’ve been celebrating the win from the weekend, emphasising the good moments, celebrating the little wins, but also another big focus from today was, “how can we get better”? What happened on the weekend was awesome, but there was obviously little things we can still improve on, so we can get better.

I’m excited that we’re in the semi-final! Fiji is a top team, but we can beat them. What's your favourite thing about being based here at Ballymore? And what's your favourite thing about living in Brisbane?

Wow, these are great questions Tom. My favourite thing about Ballymore, a few things really… I love the whole club environment, so not just the women's, but, the men's and women's alike, and the Academy, having everyone all here together, that's a really big thing for me. So yeah, having that community around you, the staff around as well, the media staff down the other end, and everyone saying hi as they come through. I think for me, coming from Melbourne, we had a really good culture down there, that was really important for me, coming up here. 

And the facilities, having our own locker room, having our own training facilities… that would be my favourite things about being at Ballymore. 

And my favourite thing about being in Queensland… I mean, who doesn't love the weather?

For me, to be in winter, and this is a “cold” night for us, is pretty good. I think in Melbourne, if it was a cold night, it would be raining and you’d be freezing. So, this is a very big luxury that we have such nice weather up here.

When you're not playing rugby, what do you love doing?

Well, I’d probably start by saying my studies. I'm studying my master's of physiotherapy at UQ, which is very full on, but I do love it. 

Besides that, I'm very well known for doing a lot of warm ups. I'm usually here quite a few hours early doing my prep. And then outside of the footy scene, catching up with friends, I go to church on Sunday, I have a life group in church, which I love. 

Um, yeah, and besides that, drinking coffee, reading my Bible, I love going to the movies, I love going out in nature as well.

What's the number one thing you'd learned this season in your rugby journey?

This one's been a tough journey for me because I'm out with injury at the moment. That's a really good question. 

I think... I think my biggest thing would be… I've enjoyed this journey, and I think I've been able to, you know, go the furthest I've gone in Wallaroos, and just starting all that, but what I've learned in this journey is probably to trust God. 

I think, honestly, just to trust God and trust his process, and trust that it’s all gonna work out in the end. And I think, yeah, I think that'd be probably my number …one thing. Yeah. And trust the staff here, that I'm gonna get back to full health.

You were 19 when you started playing rugby, what was it that originally drew you to the game?

You did your did your research Tom!

 

I won't go too much in detail about my whole rugby origin, but I got into rugby through netball, and I was doing them both for a while, then I didn't drop netball until end of 2019, which was a lot, especially in year 12.

But I think what drew me to staying with rugby, would have to be, I think the family environment. I know that sounds a bit cheesy, but I think the community around rugby is just something that you don't experience anywhere else.

Like, you genuinely have to be there for your sister around the field, otherwise, they're gonna get smashed, or you’re gonna get smashed. 

So I think it's the, the team aspect of it, and the community off the field, as well as just, the grit and physicality you need in rugby, and to be able to push yourself to the limits, I think I've always loved that aspect.

Before netball, I did surf life-saving, where you're just pushing to limit, body to the limits.

I’d love to hear about your Wallaroos experience. What have you loved most about representing your country?

Wow, these are such a good question, Tom. 

What have I enjoyed most? I think, being on away on tour, and I think this last tour I enjoyed the most, …for a couple of reasons, but I think mostly feeling more comfortable in myself.

So, I think the difference for me, playing before to the start of this year was kind of a mental shift… I think I've always been very hard on myself, and this year, my attitude has been “there's nothing to lose”, I'm just gonna enjoy it and go out there and give everything. So, I think that's probably, what I've enjoyed the most with Wallaroo’s, representing and like, backing myself. Enjoying it, is what I've enjoyed most, if that makes sense. 

I think it can be so easy at the top level to put so much pressure on yourself and then that pressure just takes away joy. Pressure to a certain degree is awesome. But when you put too much weight on yourself, then it just takes away from that joy. I think I’ve been finding that balance a little bit more.

And then, obviously, seeing America was pretty cool, as well. Being able to travel with Wallaroos has been amazing. I’ve gone to some amazing places like America, where else… to Fiji, to Ireland, Wales, South Africa... So, yeah, I've been very blessed to travel around.

What would your advice be for young up and coming players?

Ooh. My biggest advice would be two things: One would be to enjoy the journey. That's something that my dad said to me when I was very young and it sounds simple, but like I said, it's very easy to forget that, when you have that pressure on you and you’re in high stakes environments. 

It can be a bumpy ride, it comes with ups and downs, and I've had plenty of setbacks and injuries and missed selections and missing World Cups, but I think you've got to enjoy the ups and downs of it too. I've had so many good moments when I have missed out as well in life, and in footy... I think enjoying the journey, that'd be my biggest one.

And I think, also, to not be afraid to work hard for it as well, doing the one percenters, and really working harder than everyone next to you. If you put in the effort, then you'll get there eventually, no matter how long it takes, like, you will get there.

What’s a fun fact about you that most fans wouldn’t know?

Ooh. Before I answer this, genuinely, this is one of the best interviews I've ever had. These are very good questions Tom. I have to really think about these. Wow. What's a fun fact, no one knows about me... 

Most people know that I come from a big family, I’m one of five kids, I'm the fourth. Um, I grew up doing surf life-saving… Can I circle back to that one?

What's your favourite post game meal?

Ooh, that's a good one. Um, this sounds like I'd just be saying this, but genuinely, something, like, a high carb, high protein meal with a bunch of veggies. 

I grew up on a lot of veggies, so I genuinely do like a lot of veggies. But I would also add to that, I do feel like something a little bit fried in there is good. Like a few chips, or something like that. It does, I feel like after you've like just exerted yourself, something like salty and with a bit of oil in it, is good, but I genuinely love, maybe, one of my mum's homemade meals, like a spag bowl. 

And she makes amazing spag bowl with lots of veggies in it, lots of meat, and pasta... or gluten-free pasta, because I'm gluten intolerant. Maybe that’s something not a lot of people outside of rugby would know… I don't know if that's a fun fact! But yeah, that's me.

Thanks Tiarah, for your time. Glad we finally got to do this! I really enjoyed this conversation. All the best to the whole squad against Fiji!

Yes! Thank you so much. This has been awesome, genuinely. An amazing interview.

***Tune in to Stan Sport this Saturday at 11am to watch the Reds take on Fiji, in Suva. (Again, I literally can't wait!)***

An Excellent Conversation with Eva Karpani

Last week, I caught up with Reds and Wallaroos star Eva Karpani. We had an awesome catch up, in the middle of a busy training week, ahead of their “grudge match” against the Waratahs. Two days later, the team went on to win that game, to finish in the top four of the competition!

***The Reds play the Fijian Drua, away in Suva, for the semi-final, on Saturday July 18th at 11:05am.***

During our chat, Eva shared about her rugby journey, including what it’s been like coming to Ballymore and some

awesome advice for up and coming players! I hope you enjoy reading our conversation, as much as I enjoyed having it!

Hey Eva, thanks so much for your time. How have you been enjoying your second season here at Ballymore?

Yeah. This is my 2nd season here at Ballymore, I've loved it.  I spent six seasons with the Waratahs and I thought this would be a great opportunity to be challenged elsewhere, and no better place to come than to the Queensland Reds. 

Some do say I've seen the greener side, or I've seen the light, but yeah, I've loved it. 

The two past two years, yeah, it's a different kind of experience. I'm an older head now, so I've loved every moment of it and I think the Queensland Reds are great. 

That's awesome. I’m definitely glad you came! What are you looking forward to the most about the final game of the regular season against your old teammates in the Waratahs?

Yeah, what I'm looking forward to is just going up against them. It's, always fun playing with your mates, but going up against them is different. And I think it brings that competitiveness. 

I've played with them, and I've gone through juniors and international rep with them. So, yeah, I'm excited to go up against them, but also challenge them in my own way, knowing how they play. 

What's something unique about the training environment at Ballymore that not many people might know about?

I think what's so unique about the training environment at Ballymore is... I think the support we have from the men...  I think, Les Kiss is absolutely lovely. The scrum coach, Zane is absolutely lovely. He's always taken the time, they've always taken the time to come downstairs and have a yarn with us. 

I had a really good yarn with Zane, who was very, very welcoming and he said, if you need anything, come join in on the boys' session, come and watch wherever you're comfortable, but... I think something I do value, is that support from the men, it's more of a family from both sides, if that makes sense. Yeah. 

Yes, Les and Zane are great value. Awesome people as well as coaches. What does a typical training week look like for you at the moment? 

So usually that first session of the week. On Monday, it will be a bit of a fast day off of the back end of the game. So, we do a review, a bit of skills, and then lineup primers and some lineup plays. 

And then, recovery day on a Tuesday... Wednesday is usually our scrum, scrum base, and also, it's 15 on 15, or 14 on 14, it varies with the numbers... It's more of our contact day.

Then Thursdays are usually our captain's run and our final touches before we head off. But this week, it was a bit different. We started on Tuesday. [Because game day was a day later, on Sunday.] So tonight [Friday] is our captain's run.

Can you tell us what first inspired you to play rugby?

Yeah, I think what first inspired me to play rugby was… I come from a big family, but I also come from South Australia.  I come from a family of nine, so I have four sisters and four brothers.

I lost my parents at a very young age. I was always into sport, but I got into rugby at 15 and I found my sense of community there. And the thing that was so inspiring to me, and the reason I've spent my half my life now doing rugby is because it's for all shapes and sizes and it's no matter who you are or what you are, rugby will always love you.

That’s why I found rugby and gravitated towards it.

What have been some of the biggest challenges of your rugby career, and how did you overcome them? 

Yep. I think, um, probably one of my biggest challenges was relocating to Sydney from Adelaide. So, Adelaide is my home, it's where I belong. But unfortunately, it doesn't provide what Queensland and New South Wales do, which is a strong competition and also the quality of the training environment.

I moved in 2018, and I was probably homesick for about three years. And then, and I was also learning a new position, which was tight head prop. And I came from playing wing originally, so... I think, I overcame it by… I’d put it this way… I left my home to go and do something great. So, I'm gonna continue to keep being great, no matter how long it takes, I'm gonna make sure that I make South Australia proud, because I'm only, the second Wallaroo from South Australia to represent the country. [The first was Lito 'Lee' Fata.]

How do you mentally prepare for big matches, especially on the international stage?

Yeah, I think for big matches, on the big stage especially, but just in general, I prepare by… I like to be clean. So the night before, my bag is packed, the house is clean, the room is clean. 

I like to fuel really well, but I also don't like to think of rugby. So, today for example, I'll do Captain's Run, and after that, I won't really think of the game. until game day.

And then I don't really start switching on, until probably about two hours outside of the game.

What some advice you would give to young up and coming players?

Yeah. I think the advice that I'd give to young up and coming players is... that rugby is for all shapes and sizes, but I think tough times, like, a quote that I stick by, to this day is, tough times don't last, tough people do. And another one is, when I'm in the trenches, is when I'm trying to work on something in my rugby career: You don't have to be great to start. We have to start to be great. 

And I think... that's why I'm probably here, it's because time's got tough, but I guess I believed in myself to continue to move forward, and I guess, build my craft.

Awesome. What's a fun fact about you that most fans wouldn't know? 

I think a fun fact about me is... it'd probably be about my family. I play rugby union for the Reds, but my sister actually plays for the NRLW Knights, so, she's a leaguey! So there's a big rivalry between the two of us.

What's your favourite post-game meal?

 

I don't know if you'll like or love my answer, but I love a nice double quarter powder from McDonald's. Not gonna lie!

There’s definitely a few boys from the Reds that like going to the same place, after their game!

Thanks heaps, Eva, for your time, especially during a very busy week. All the best against the Tahs! I can’t wait to watch. See you when you get back.

Oh thank you for having me. I love Q and A's, that's probably an interesting fact! But yeah, really appreciate your time as well Tom. 

And also I would love to give you some kit. So the next time I see you, I'll make sure I have some. It looks like you need an updated cap, and I've got a few of them!

***Tune in to Stan Sport next Saturday (18th July) at 11:05am to watch the Reds play the Fijian Drua (away in Suva) in the SUPER W SEMI-FINAL.***

Classic Interviews with Today’s Reds

It’s been a while since a posted here, so I thought I’d take a trip down memory lane. I’ve made so many great memories down at Ballymore and on the road with the Reds. This week, I thought I’d post a few classic interviews from the first few years when I started this blog (between 2017-19) that are still in the team today! These guys are just a few of my “OG’s”. Click on some of the links below and enjoyoy!

Harry Wilson

I first caught up with Harry in 2019, down at Brothers Rugby Club. He showed more signs of true promise with the junior Wallabies soon after! (See interview #2 with Harry, Fraser and Isaac right here, fresh from their win over New Zealand!)

I also loved catching up officially with Harry last year at Ballymore, while he was rehabbing his arm. Harry is always good value and good company!

Fraser McCreight

It’s been awesome seeing Fraser go from Club footy, to NRC, to the Reds, to… a Wallabies billboard! Amazingly, his journey has coincided with Harry’s rise to impact. This year, Fraser did us all proud captaining Reds and Harry is once again about to captain the Wallabies. They are two great men who don’t care who has the “title” but will both always be leaders wherever they play, because of who they are.

I first caught up with Fraser outside Wests, during the NRC season, back in 2018.

And again during the 2019 NRC season… I regularly see him around Ballymore and like many of these guys, I consider him a good mate.

I’m hoping to catch up with him again officially soon. (Stay tuned!)

Tate McDermott

Tate has grown into a phenomenal player. I can’t wait to see him come off the bench for the Wallabies this weekend against Ireland! I first interviewed Tate back in 2018 and it was clear how much he loved the game of rugby. In the years following, he’s expressed a great desire to bring Australian Rugby to new levels. Along with Fraser and Harry I know he has his sights on a certain Cup in 2027.

Check out my first interview with Tate here...

In May of 2019 here...

2020, (the Lock-Down interview, via Zoom) is here...

2022 (also via Zoom) is here...

2024 is here!

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto:

I first caught up with Lukhan in 2017, during the Reds trip to Samoa! (You can read that interview here and my Samoa trip blog here.)

I also caught up with him in January, 2020 (right before the sporting world turned upside down...)

He's played around the world since my last official catch up with him, and I'm hoping to interview him again him soon!

Jock Campbell

I first interviewed him in 2019, which was his debut (and most certainly “break-out”) year with the Reds. We had a fun chat and just a little bit of banter with a ring-in.

Jock has been a staple for the Reds ever since. I'm excited to see where he goes with the Reds (and the Wallabies!!!) in the future!

Special mention: James Slipper

James plays for another Super Rugby team now (I’m not sure if I want to mention who!) However, James was my first interviewee for Reds Rugby Rules back in 2017. He’s been a good mate ever since. (He’s broken a few cool records since then aswell!)

James is a 2011 champion and a good bloke in my book. My interviews with the OG himself are here and here!

Reds Super W Squad:

Lori Cramer

Lori has been a mainstay of the Reds squad for most of the the last 9 years. You can catch up on my interviews with
her here, here and here.

I always love seeing Lori down at Ballymore. She's got a personality as big as her game, and as it happens, the Wallaroo regular has always been handy on the field!

She missed last weeks game with the Reds squad, because she was invited to travel to England to play with the Barbarians against Wales! I’m hoping to catch up with her soon to ask her about this amazing experience.

Sarah Riordan

Along with Lori, Sarah is also an experienced Red and Wallaroo that I’ve enjoyed catching up with over the years. Besides a few seasons in exile playing a very strange game called Rugby League, she’s been a regular at the Reds ever since Super W launched. It is clear she’s still having an amazing impact on the team!

My 2018 interview with her is here and last years interview with her is here (2025).

While you're here!!!! The Reds Super W Reds have their final game of the regular season this Sunday! 4:05pm on Stan Sport (Away, against the Tah's.) I'll be watching!

The Wallabies play Ireland tomorrow night and I can't wait!!!