1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,467 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,827 Speaker 1: from Newstalk zed B. 3 00:00:12,787 --> 00:00:16,867 Speaker 2: So Honey, Hitter Me Smiler one of our absolute sporting greats. 4 00:00:17,267 --> 00:00:20,227 Speaker 2: She won the Silver Fern, rather War the Silver Fern 5 00:00:20,267 --> 00:00:24,627 Speaker 2: and rugby league, rugby seven's and nine's, winning four World 6 00:00:24,667 --> 00:00:27,427 Speaker 2: Cups and consistently being among the best players in the 7 00:00:27,467 --> 00:00:30,987 Speaker 2: world regardless of which sport she was playing. She's now 8 00:00:31,027 --> 00:00:33,547 Speaker 2: one of the best known and loved faces and voices 9 00:00:33,587 --> 00:00:37,587 Speaker 2: on Sky Sport with coverage of rugby and also rugby league. 10 00:00:37,587 --> 00:00:40,427 Speaker 2: She's a wife, a mum, and she's written the story 11 00:00:40,467 --> 00:00:43,707 Speaker 2: of her life, which is a brilliant read, a really 12 00:00:43,987 --> 00:00:48,027 Speaker 2: brilliant read with so many layers to it. Her autobiography 13 00:00:48,107 --> 00:00:52,747 Speaker 2: is called Honey, My Story of Love, Loss and Victory. Honey, 14 00:00:52,867 --> 00:00:55,907 Speaker 2: hitder Me Smiler is with us. Congratulations on the book, Honey. 15 00:00:55,947 --> 00:00:57,987 Speaker 2: Are you happy with the way that it's come out? 16 00:00:58,987 --> 00:00:59,267 Speaker 1: Yeah? 17 00:00:59,347 --> 00:01:01,987 Speaker 3: I am, to be honest, Jason Elsa paid so much, 18 00:01:02,267 --> 00:01:06,547 Speaker 3: really choice feedback from everybody and especially from my I 19 00:01:06,547 --> 00:01:08,707 Speaker 3: know like that they were probably you know, the main 20 00:01:08,747 --> 00:01:12,427 Speaker 3: lines that I really want to make sure that you 21 00:01:12,467 --> 00:01:15,947 Speaker 3: know that they received the book well. And set's all 22 00:01:15,947 --> 00:01:19,027 Speaker 3: I've really got and so I'm pretty stoked with it. 23 00:01:19,427 --> 00:01:22,307 Speaker 2: How did you find the process of going back over 24 00:01:22,347 --> 00:01:24,907 Speaker 2: your life and telling your story? How did you find that? 25 00:01:26,027 --> 00:01:29,987 Speaker 3: Oh, pretty grueling to be honest, Yeah, it's not an 26 00:01:30,027 --> 00:01:34,627 Speaker 3: easy job. And I think like Susan obviously she was 27 00:01:34,667 --> 00:01:36,707 Speaker 3: my ghosth riad, and she just did an amazing job. 28 00:01:36,827 --> 00:01:40,747 Speaker 3: Like we kind of sort of mutted out like a 29 00:01:40,867 --> 00:01:43,147 Speaker 3: kind of basics in terms of chapters and what were 30 00:01:43,227 --> 00:01:45,307 Speaker 3: kind of highlights in my life and maybe I want 31 00:01:45,347 --> 00:01:47,787 Speaker 3: a chat about but she would ever draw out so 32 00:01:47,907 --> 00:01:50,427 Speaker 3: much more than that. And actually the way she's I 33 00:01:50,427 --> 00:01:52,827 Speaker 3: think shaped the book and you know, sort of told 34 00:01:52,867 --> 00:01:55,507 Speaker 3: the story of like I don't ever really thought I 35 00:01:55,587 --> 00:01:58,707 Speaker 3: was that interesting, but as we got talking and things, 36 00:01:58,787 --> 00:02:01,947 Speaker 3: you know when you're reading stuff on paper like far out, 37 00:02:01,987 --> 00:02:04,627 Speaker 3: like it was actually quite significant in my life. So 38 00:02:05,187 --> 00:02:07,907 Speaker 3: it was a rollercoaster. It brought up a lot of stuff, 39 00:02:08,467 --> 00:02:12,547 Speaker 3: and yeah, but healing in that sense. I think that 40 00:02:12,587 --> 00:02:14,827 Speaker 3: it needed to publicly be brought up. So and I 41 00:02:14,827 --> 00:02:17,987 Speaker 3: think it's the book really reflects that. 42 00:02:18,707 --> 00:02:21,067 Speaker 2: One thing that constantly occurred to me as I was 43 00:02:21,107 --> 00:02:24,907 Speaker 2: reading it was how busy and full your life has 44 00:02:25,147 --> 00:02:28,747 Speaker 2: been right through it? Really but particularly during your playing days, 45 00:02:28,747 --> 00:02:32,827 Speaker 2: fitting in games, tours, trainings, work, fino, how did you 46 00:02:32,867 --> 00:02:33,387 Speaker 2: manage it? 47 00:02:34,827 --> 00:02:37,027 Speaker 3: You know, I think that was just part of my era, 48 00:02:37,187 --> 00:02:40,147 Speaker 3: you know, like we didn't know any better, and we did, 49 00:02:40,467 --> 00:02:42,067 Speaker 3: you know, a lot of a lot of my years 50 00:02:42,107 --> 00:02:46,867 Speaker 3: playing you know, at top level where or manager, right, 51 00:02:46,947 --> 00:02:48,827 Speaker 3: So we did it for the love of the game. 52 00:02:48,907 --> 00:02:51,787 Speaker 3: So you managed life around it because you loved I 53 00:02:51,787 --> 00:02:54,307 Speaker 3: loved the footy field so much, so I just made 54 00:02:54,307 --> 00:02:56,187 Speaker 3: sure that I was always going to be out there 55 00:02:56,187 --> 00:02:59,467 Speaker 3: and adjusted life around there. And so I think I've 56 00:02:59,507 --> 00:03:03,587 Speaker 3: always been a fairly organized person. Some would say it's 57 00:03:03,627 --> 00:03:08,907 Speaker 3: ocd's you know, and I just made sure, like I've 58 00:03:08,947 --> 00:03:11,627 Speaker 3: always been a bit of a planner as well, Like I, 59 00:03:11,667 --> 00:03:14,307 Speaker 3: you know, religiously get you know, one year plans and 60 00:03:14,347 --> 00:03:16,547 Speaker 3: look at them and be like, right, this tournament's here, 61 00:03:16,667 --> 00:03:19,147 Speaker 3: I'm going to that. I'm going to that. Sometimes it 62 00:03:19,227 --> 00:03:21,907 Speaker 3: was difficult, right because we never got calendars very early 63 00:03:21,947 --> 00:03:23,987 Speaker 3: and we never knew what games were coming up and 64 00:03:24,027 --> 00:03:26,187 Speaker 3: things like that. But you know, so at the moment 65 00:03:26,227 --> 00:03:27,907 Speaker 3: I knew I'd chuck it up there and be like, right, 66 00:03:27,947 --> 00:03:30,027 Speaker 3: this is what I'm aiming for. So I know, I 67 00:03:30,027 --> 00:03:31,787 Speaker 3: think it was always gold driven. I always had to 68 00:03:31,827 --> 00:03:34,467 Speaker 3: have some sort of purpose that I wanted to work 69 00:03:34,507 --> 00:03:39,187 Speaker 3: towards in So obviously that came with, you know, a 70 00:03:39,187 --> 00:03:42,467 Speaker 3: lot of achievements, but also having to sacrifice a lot 71 00:03:42,507 --> 00:03:45,107 Speaker 3: as well, and sometimes whether that was family time or 72 00:03:45,147 --> 00:03:48,867 Speaker 3: work time or other things, I just yes, it didn't 73 00:03:48,867 --> 00:03:50,027 Speaker 3: met to me or made it happen. 74 00:03:50,427 --> 00:03:52,947 Speaker 2: But the other part was, honey, it's not just one sport. 75 00:03:53,067 --> 00:03:55,667 Speaker 2: You were going between sports as well, and sometimes I 76 00:03:55,707 --> 00:03:57,947 Speaker 2: had to reread passages to say, right, are we in rugby? 77 00:03:57,947 --> 00:04:00,267 Speaker 2: Here are we rugby League? Are we seven? Where are we? 78 00:04:00,507 --> 00:04:02,267 Speaker 2: Where are we in this? Because you had tournaments that 79 00:04:02,387 --> 00:04:05,107 Speaker 2: basically buttered up against each other? How did you so 80 00:04:05,307 --> 00:04:09,987 Speaker 2: seamlessly move between the codes that you played? Yeah, a 81 00:04:09,987 --> 00:04:10,227 Speaker 2: lot of. 82 00:04:10,227 --> 00:04:12,787 Speaker 3: Back to back stuff, to be honest, And I think 83 00:04:12,827 --> 00:04:16,627 Speaker 3: at the time I never really got I never really 84 00:04:16,667 --> 00:04:19,987 Speaker 3: worried too much about transitioning in terms of the games. 85 00:04:20,147 --> 00:04:21,507 Speaker 3: You know, when I was on the field, I knew 86 00:04:21,507 --> 00:04:24,347 Speaker 3: what I was out there to do, and you know, 87 00:04:24,387 --> 00:04:26,667 Speaker 3: I knew what game was playing, what the rules were, 88 00:04:27,027 --> 00:04:29,707 Speaker 3: and what I what my strengths were. So I'm back 89 00:04:29,747 --> 00:04:32,747 Speaker 3: to that part of my playing ability. It was just 90 00:04:32,947 --> 00:04:35,347 Speaker 3: I suppose more so the logistics of getting around it. 91 00:04:35,387 --> 00:04:38,987 Speaker 3: And I mean, you know, the twenty thirteen was the Hector's 92 00:04:39,067 --> 00:04:42,067 Speaker 3: trying to play, you know, a World Cup sevens from 93 00:04:42,187 --> 00:04:45,387 Speaker 3: Russia and then get over to England, getting lost in 94 00:04:45,467 --> 00:04:48,707 Speaker 3: transition in terms of you know, the wrong airports and 95 00:04:48,747 --> 00:04:51,347 Speaker 3: all of that kind of stuff getting over there, being 96 00:04:51,387 --> 00:04:55,387 Speaker 3: the captain, pushing through a whole World Cup, getting to 97 00:04:55,427 --> 00:04:58,587 Speaker 3: the end and losing, you know. So again it was 98 00:04:58,707 --> 00:05:05,187 Speaker 3: just I think, just that determination to want to be there, 99 00:05:05,707 --> 00:05:10,387 Speaker 3: be involved. And I think for me it was always 100 00:05:10,427 --> 00:05:13,267 Speaker 3: about earning it. I always wanted to earn my right 101 00:05:13,347 --> 00:05:16,027 Speaker 3: to be there. I never wanted to be there our named. 102 00:05:16,067 --> 00:05:19,507 Speaker 3: So I played for so many years, you know, and 103 00:05:19,827 --> 00:05:22,707 Speaker 3: I played quite long until obviously in my late thirties, 104 00:05:23,467 --> 00:05:24,867 Speaker 3: and I always wanted to make sure that I was 105 00:05:24,907 --> 00:05:27,507 Speaker 3: earning it. So I don't know, I think I just 106 00:05:27,907 --> 00:05:31,867 Speaker 3: held had a very different, I suppose, set of standards 107 00:05:31,907 --> 00:05:33,547 Speaker 3: in terms of my own accountability. 108 00:05:34,227 --> 00:05:37,347 Speaker 2: Yeah, that story you alluded to their airports, trains, trams, 109 00:05:37,427 --> 00:05:41,387 Speaker 2: not speaking Russian. I was even getting anxious reading it. 110 00:05:42,947 --> 00:05:45,547 Speaker 2: But of course, I mean there were pannicle events, lots 111 00:05:45,587 --> 00:05:47,987 Speaker 2: of them. You won World Cups, in league in five, 112 00:05:48,027 --> 00:05:50,507 Speaker 2: in two thousand and eight, sevens and twenty thirteen you 113 00:05:50,587 --> 00:05:53,227 Speaker 2: won the Nines and twenty nineteen. Does any of your 114 00:05:53,267 --> 00:05:56,787 Speaker 2: World Cup wins stand out above the others? 115 00:05:57,587 --> 00:05:59,867 Speaker 3: Probably not the winds, to be honest, Jason, but more 116 00:05:59,947 --> 00:06:03,667 Speaker 3: so the losses. And I always refer back on that 117 00:06:03,787 --> 00:06:06,587 Speaker 3: twenty thirteen Rugby League World Cup. I won two, right, 118 00:06:06,587 --> 00:06:09,667 Speaker 3: so that was going into my third one as the captain, 119 00:06:11,067 --> 00:06:13,027 Speaker 3: and there was just so much I did in that 120 00:06:13,147 --> 00:06:15,467 Speaker 3: final game that I wasn't happy with that that I 121 00:06:15,507 --> 00:06:19,387 Speaker 3: was constantly regreat I think, and that just came down 122 00:06:19,427 --> 00:06:22,347 Speaker 3: to those you know, there's a little one percentage and 123 00:06:22,387 --> 00:06:26,547 Speaker 3: playing under pressure, and so I think it's the losses 124 00:06:26,627 --> 00:06:31,107 Speaker 3: that get me more than anything, uh, you know, and 125 00:06:31,147 --> 00:06:34,867 Speaker 3: then those of those are just the ones that I feel, 126 00:06:35,307 --> 00:06:39,387 Speaker 3: you know, I could have done better. The woms for 127 00:06:39,587 --> 00:06:42,947 Speaker 3: me are awesome that you know. Obviously I played ten sports, 128 00:06:42,987 --> 00:06:45,227 Speaker 3: so you know, I was putting everything down to a 129 00:06:45,267 --> 00:06:48,667 Speaker 3: collective where if I reflect back on the losses and 130 00:06:48,787 --> 00:06:51,507 Speaker 3: what I did individual as an individual, as an individual 131 00:06:51,547 --> 00:06:56,307 Speaker 3: player impact, that was what I probably hold onto. 132 00:06:56,947 --> 00:06:59,427 Speaker 2: What's interesting because and amongst you know, many of the 133 00:06:59,427 --> 00:07:02,707 Speaker 2: defeats you were still individually brilliant and recognized as such, 134 00:07:02,747 --> 00:07:04,947 Speaker 2: but I can understand how that would be perhaps pailing 135 00:07:05,027 --> 00:07:08,267 Speaker 2: by comparison compared to the way the team had gone. 136 00:07:08,667 --> 00:07:12,467 Speaker 2: There are some harrowing parts to your life story as well. 137 00:07:12,507 --> 00:07:16,107 Speaker 2: You've experienced some tough times personal loss. Were you always 138 00:07:16,267 --> 00:07:19,307 Speaker 2: keen to include most things in this book? 139 00:07:21,427 --> 00:07:24,747 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I was. My intention for the book 140 00:07:24,907 --> 00:07:27,787 Speaker 3: was just to tell my truth and my version of events, 141 00:07:27,827 --> 00:07:34,187 Speaker 3: and I think I hadn't planned for maybe all the 142 00:07:35,267 --> 00:07:37,147 Speaker 3: I mean, there's a lot of books that I've experienced 143 00:07:37,187 --> 00:07:39,587 Speaker 3: in my life, and I don't know that that's tame 144 00:07:39,667 --> 00:07:41,547 Speaker 3: for all of that to come out, but when you 145 00:07:41,667 --> 00:07:43,467 Speaker 3: read it, there's a whole book, I think, well, that's 146 00:07:43,507 --> 00:07:46,587 Speaker 3: actually quite a lot. And that's really one of the 147 00:07:46,627 --> 00:07:49,227 Speaker 3: big things that I have gotten in terms of a 148 00:07:49,267 --> 00:07:51,667 Speaker 3: lot of those times that I have faced, And the 149 00:07:51,787 --> 00:07:54,987 Speaker 3: book is probably less about my sports and more about, 150 00:07:55,107 --> 00:07:57,307 Speaker 3: you know, some of those personal challenges that I've been through, 151 00:07:57,507 --> 00:08:01,347 Speaker 3: so and I thought those stories that would be because 152 00:08:01,347 --> 00:08:05,107 Speaker 3: it's really what shaped me in terms of there's been 153 00:08:05,147 --> 00:08:10,067 Speaker 3: an athlete and the mums, Mary and all of those 154 00:08:10,147 --> 00:08:10,627 Speaker 3: kinds of things. 155 00:08:11,787 --> 00:08:13,427 Speaker 2: Well, we see you on the screen now and I'm 156 00:08:13,467 --> 00:08:16,187 Speaker 2: sure many people will find it hard to correlate that 157 00:08:16,267 --> 00:08:19,227 Speaker 2: with you raising a bout of hell as a teenager. 158 00:08:20,227 --> 00:08:22,067 Speaker 2: On the back of the book it even says, you know, 159 00:08:22,147 --> 00:08:24,507 Speaker 2: you were the town bully, which maybe stretching things a bit, 160 00:08:24,547 --> 00:08:26,707 Speaker 2: but how do you reflect on your teenager is now? 161 00:08:27,947 --> 00:08:31,347 Speaker 3: I think you can shoot back and ask my hidical principle. 162 00:08:31,387 --> 00:08:35,427 Speaker 3: I think most of them would agree. Actually, I've had 163 00:08:35,587 --> 00:08:38,387 Speaker 3: lots of feedback from my old school texts, so just 164 00:08:38,987 --> 00:08:41,907 Speaker 3: you know, it's really interesting to hear from them, and 165 00:08:42,067 --> 00:08:43,947 Speaker 3: I suppose that's the growth that they saw on me. 166 00:08:44,067 --> 00:08:46,147 Speaker 3: But you know, also the honesty I think that I 167 00:08:46,187 --> 00:08:50,667 Speaker 3: gave him a book. But yeah, I think it's interesting. 168 00:08:50,787 --> 00:08:55,987 Speaker 3: You know, I suppose I wanted to you know, people 169 00:08:56,347 --> 00:08:59,187 Speaker 3: will see the athlete on the field, you know, the 170 00:08:59,267 --> 00:09:02,947 Speaker 3: honey build honey the presidenter and all of that. But 171 00:09:03,267 --> 00:09:05,947 Speaker 3: I think, you know, I wanted to see what's actually 172 00:09:05,947 --> 00:09:08,187 Speaker 3: in behind met it and how I've got there. I 173 00:09:09,707 --> 00:09:12,467 Speaker 3: think it goes back to I didn't want to be 174 00:09:12,587 --> 00:09:16,147 Speaker 3: that token person. You know, there's a lot of feedback 175 00:09:16,267 --> 00:09:18,867 Speaker 3: obviously you see in the book that I read, you know, 176 00:09:18,947 --> 00:09:22,867 Speaker 3: from just online bullying and things like that. You know, 177 00:09:22,907 --> 00:09:24,947 Speaker 3: where they're like, oh, you just got that job because 178 00:09:24,987 --> 00:09:27,867 Speaker 3: of this and because of that and started. But I 179 00:09:27,947 --> 00:09:31,387 Speaker 3: just I just wanted to Actually, yeah, I was. I 180 00:09:31,427 --> 00:09:35,507 Speaker 3: was given the role with Sky through my playing career 181 00:09:36,227 --> 00:09:38,827 Speaker 3: as I worked really, really harder as well. And I'm 182 00:09:38,867 --> 00:09:41,227 Speaker 3: not perfect and I've still got a lot of growing 183 00:09:41,307 --> 00:09:43,907 Speaker 3: to do and a lot of growth. I don't know 184 00:09:43,947 --> 00:09:45,987 Speaker 3: that just like I did when I was playing on 185 00:09:45,987 --> 00:09:47,827 Speaker 3: the foot of Field, I put a lot of weak 186 00:09:47,867 --> 00:09:48,747 Speaker 3: into it. 187 00:09:49,387 --> 00:09:53,267 Speaker 2: Yeah, I found that really interesting. You you're the bits 188 00:09:53,267 --> 00:09:55,667 Speaker 2: about your introduction into television and how that had its 189 00:09:55,667 --> 00:09:57,427 Speaker 2: own set of challenges, and the fact that you read 190 00:09:57,427 --> 00:09:59,627 Speaker 2: some of the stuff online, which can I recommend to 191 00:09:59,667 --> 00:10:02,387 Speaker 2: you don't ever do that. You've probably stopped doing it now, 192 00:10:02,467 --> 00:10:05,227 Speaker 2: But man, the keyboard worry is just just forget about them. 193 00:10:05,267 --> 00:10:07,427 Speaker 2: Do you feel in Do you feel comfortable in front 194 00:10:07,427 --> 00:10:08,147 Speaker 2: of the camera now? 195 00:10:09,947 --> 00:10:12,587 Speaker 3: Yeah, I do. I feel a lot more confident. I 196 00:10:12,667 --> 00:10:15,627 Speaker 3: always get confidence out of my preparation that I do, 197 00:10:15,827 --> 00:10:19,547 Speaker 3: you know, whatever game long covering and whatever my role 198 00:10:19,667 --> 00:10:22,307 Speaker 3: is on that day. For me, I get confidence out 199 00:10:22,347 --> 00:10:25,107 Speaker 3: of my preparation and it's just like the same as 200 00:10:25,107 --> 00:10:27,227 Speaker 3: if I was taking a footfield, you know, and you know, 201 00:10:27,267 --> 00:10:29,427 Speaker 3: when you've played a good game, or when you've presented 202 00:10:29,467 --> 00:10:32,107 Speaker 3: well or commentated well, and when you haven't, and sometimes 203 00:10:32,187 --> 00:10:34,067 Speaker 3: you walk and I could have did that better. So 204 00:10:34,107 --> 00:10:37,627 Speaker 3: I think it's it's still that the whole sports preitor mentality, 205 00:10:37,667 --> 00:10:41,507 Speaker 3: and that you're constantly assessing yourself, you know, while you're 206 00:10:41,547 --> 00:10:44,507 Speaker 3: on camera, while you're off camera, during the game, after 207 00:10:44,587 --> 00:10:46,467 Speaker 3: the game, and when I get home and the drive 208 00:10:46,587 --> 00:10:50,027 Speaker 3: back to Hamilton. Just it's just consequence, and it's just 209 00:10:50,187 --> 00:10:53,507 Speaker 3: I think the way I'm made up in terms of 210 00:10:53,507 --> 00:10:57,107 Speaker 3: my DNA, I just constantly wanted to do better for myself. 211 00:10:57,387 --> 00:11:00,147 Speaker 2: Honey. It was I really enjoyed writing your book. It's 212 00:11:00,147 --> 00:11:01,507 Speaker 2: been great to get the chance to chat to you 213 00:11:01,507 --> 00:11:03,747 Speaker 2: about it. I hope you sell hopes. Thanks for taking 214 00:11:03,747 --> 00:11:06,667 Speaker 2: the time this afternoon. Thank you, no, thank you, Honey, Honey, 215 00:11:06,787 --> 00:11:07,547 Speaker 2: hitter me smiler. 216 00:11:07,627 --> 00:11:07,787 Speaker 3: There. 217 00:11:07,827 --> 00:11:10,067 Speaker 2: Her book is out. It's called Honey, My Story of Love, 218 00:11:10,107 --> 00:11:12,307 Speaker 2: Loss and Victory. And as I've said a couple of 219 00:11:12,387 --> 00:11:14,027 Speaker 2: times at the top of the chat and during the chat, 220 00:11:14,067 --> 00:11:17,867 Speaker 2: I found it a really interesting read, multi layered and 221 00:11:18,067 --> 00:11:20,587 Speaker 2: painted a much bigger picture of Honey hitting me smiler 222 00:11:20,627 --> 00:11:22,707 Speaker 2: than I had any idea about I guess that's the 223 00:11:22,747 --> 00:11:26,427 Speaker 2: reason autobiographies are written, aren't they who to fill in 224 00:11:27,387 --> 00:11:29,627 Speaker 2: a lot of gaps. Not that I thought there were any, 225 00:11:29,667 --> 00:11:31,387 Speaker 2: but like I say, without wanting to labor the point, 226 00:11:31,427 --> 00:11:33,987 Speaker 2: I found it a really really good read. Honey, hitter me, 227 00:11:33,987 --> 00:11:37,587 Speaker 2: smile it Honey, My story of love, loss and victory. 228 00:11:38,387 --> 00:11:41,587 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 229 00:11:41,667 --> 00:11:44,987 Speaker 1: to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow 230 00:11:45,027 --> 00:11:46,627 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.