1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:16,907 Speaker 2: One of the most enduring and exceptional sports people in 4 00:00:16,987 --> 00:00:21,627 Speaker 2: recent times is Brad Thorne. In a remarkable career stretching 5 00:00:21,627 --> 00:00:24,627 Speaker 2: across three decades, he played for the All Blacks and 6 00:00:24,667 --> 00:00:27,507 Speaker 2: the Crusaders, also the Highlanders, as well as top level 7 00:00:27,587 --> 00:00:31,707 Speaker 2: rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australia, in 8 00:00:31,747 --> 00:00:35,787 Speaker 2: astonishing four hundred and seventy seven professional games across the 9 00:00:35,787 --> 00:00:38,587 Speaker 2: two codes. He was still playing professionally at the age 10 00:00:38,627 --> 00:00:42,267 Speaker 2: of forty one. Four Premierships with the Broncos, fourteen games 11 00:00:42,267 --> 00:00:45,707 Speaker 2: for Queensland and State of Origin, eight caps for the Kangaroos, 12 00:00:46,107 --> 00:00:48,467 Speaker 2: and in the fifteen man code. He played fifty nine 13 00:00:48,547 --> 00:00:50,987 Speaker 2: Test matches for the All Blacks, the last of which 14 00:00:51,027 --> 00:00:53,867 Speaker 2: the twenty eleven Rugby World Cup Final one of course, 15 00:00:54,227 --> 00:00:57,187 Speaker 2: eight to seven by New Zealand over France. Brad Thorne's 16 00:00:57,187 --> 00:01:01,667 Speaker 2: book is out. It's called Champions Do Extra and Brad 17 00:01:01,707 --> 00:01:05,547 Speaker 2: Thorne is with us on weekends for congratulations on the book. Brad, 18 00:01:05,547 --> 00:01:07,387 Speaker 2: How did you find the pros of writing it? 19 00:01:08,427 --> 00:01:13,507 Speaker 3: Okay, Jason, thanks for having me mate. Yeah. It was solid. Yeah, 20 00:01:13,507 --> 00:01:17,707 Speaker 3: it was solid. I pretty much twenty two year playing 21 00:01:17,747 --> 00:01:22,307 Speaker 3: career and then straight into coaching another eight years. Says 22 00:01:22,387 --> 00:01:25,907 Speaker 3: like at thirty years of foot to the floor. You know, 23 00:01:26,187 --> 00:01:29,107 Speaker 3: my wife and I have four children, the young adults. 24 00:01:29,107 --> 00:01:31,787 Speaker 3: Now we've just been flat out. And then I finished 25 00:01:31,827 --> 00:01:35,067 Speaker 3: up with the Reds and it was you know, there 26 00:01:35,107 --> 00:01:36,827 Speaker 3: was a bit of I had some time, you know, 27 00:01:37,067 --> 00:01:40,787 Speaker 3: and to process and to you know, to just take 28 00:01:40,867 --> 00:01:43,067 Speaker 3: stock of what happened. And I thought, if I'm going 29 00:01:43,147 --> 00:01:45,827 Speaker 3: to write something, surely I've learnt something over the last 30 00:01:45,907 --> 00:01:49,707 Speaker 3: thirty years. You know, now is the time. So yeah, 31 00:01:49,747 --> 00:01:54,027 Speaker 3: it was a solid process. Devin Cleaver did a great job. 32 00:01:54,147 --> 00:01:56,987 Speaker 3: Nicola McCoy, my editor, did the outstanding job as well. 33 00:01:57,027 --> 00:02:03,627 Speaker 3: And it was good to get it done and hopefully 34 00:02:03,627 --> 00:02:06,547 Speaker 3: it's a positive for people who pick it up have 35 00:02:06,587 --> 00:02:06,907 Speaker 3: a read. 36 00:02:07,147 --> 00:02:10,187 Speaker 2: So yeah, to the fact that you've written it nearly 37 00:02:10,187 --> 00:02:12,707 Speaker 2: a decade since you played your last pro game, fifteen 38 00:02:12,787 --> 00:02:14,987 Speaker 2: years since your last tease, nineteen years since you last 39 00:02:14,987 --> 00:02:19,147 Speaker 2: played in the NRL. Does that sort of distance has 40 00:02:19,147 --> 00:02:21,667 Speaker 2: it given you greater perspective with the benefit of hindsight? 41 00:02:22,787 --> 00:02:27,427 Speaker 3: Definitely. My nature was always just the next job, the 42 00:02:27,507 --> 00:02:31,107 Speaker 3: next challenge the next year. Even as a thirty nine 43 00:02:31,187 --> 00:02:34,827 Speaker 3: year old, I wanted to get into my fortieth year 44 00:02:35,387 --> 00:02:38,067 Speaker 3: to with a goal that I wanted to I saw 45 00:02:38,107 --> 00:02:42,507 Speaker 3: that as my final competitor to play well at that age, 46 00:02:42,547 --> 00:02:49,347 Speaker 3: so to yeah, the whole time, my mindset was about 47 00:02:50,187 --> 00:02:53,627 Speaker 3: getting the most out of every thing I was part of. 48 00:02:53,747 --> 00:02:56,787 Speaker 3: So to have a bit of a downtime, I've coached 49 00:02:56,787 --> 00:03:01,627 Speaker 3: for fifteen at elite private school over here and done 50 00:03:01,627 --> 00:03:03,667 Speaker 3: a few other things, but it's been able to take 51 00:03:03,707 --> 00:03:07,947 Speaker 3: a breath and think through things. Basically came for a 52 00:03:07,947 --> 00:03:12,147 Speaker 3: lot of the structure came from when I Leinster reached 53 00:03:12,147 --> 00:03:13,987 Speaker 3: out to me after I'd played with them, and they 54 00:03:14,147 --> 00:03:17,467 Speaker 3: reached out. They were looking over their culture and they 55 00:03:17,507 --> 00:03:20,187 Speaker 3: wanted some comments from me. It was when I was 56 00:03:20,187 --> 00:03:22,867 Speaker 3: at the Holanders and I put down on paper when 57 00:03:22,907 --> 00:03:26,907 Speaker 3: I thought excellence living at daily book like and the 58 00:03:26,987 --> 00:03:29,947 Speaker 3: book is sort of an autobiography, goes from when I 59 00:03:29,947 --> 00:03:31,507 Speaker 3: was a younger guy through to the end of my 60 00:03:31,547 --> 00:03:33,987 Speaker 3: career coaching and all that. But it also it's the 61 00:03:34,067 --> 00:03:39,027 Speaker 3: structure of what I wrote to that to Leinster, of 62 00:03:39,187 --> 00:03:42,507 Speaker 3: just how I saw things. You know, So. 63 00:03:44,067 --> 00:03:46,427 Speaker 2: It's clear that your father Lindsay was a huge driving 64 00:03:46,467 --> 00:03:50,627 Speaker 2: force in your life. How did that influence play out 65 00:03:50,667 --> 00:03:53,107 Speaker 2: in your day to day life as you were growing up? 66 00:03:55,387 --> 00:04:00,027 Speaker 3: Just having a number one loving father, the way you know, 67 00:04:00,107 --> 00:04:02,947 Speaker 3: you have words, but you know how actions speak so 68 00:04:03,067 --> 00:04:05,827 Speaker 3: much more so just you know, you passed away just 69 00:04:05,867 --> 00:04:08,587 Speaker 3: before my twentieth birthday. But I've got an older brother, 70 00:04:08,667 --> 00:04:12,067 Speaker 3: two years older. But the way he treated our mother, 71 00:04:12,307 --> 00:04:16,667 Speaker 3: you know, the time he invested in us. He's a 72 00:04:16,667 --> 00:04:21,187 Speaker 3: busy man, you know, with his work and stuff like that, 73 00:04:21,307 --> 00:04:24,867 Speaker 3: but he always had time. He made time. It might 74 00:04:24,907 --> 00:04:27,147 Speaker 3: be a walk with the dog late in the evening 75 00:04:27,467 --> 00:04:32,267 Speaker 3: or you know, coming along for some sort of school event. 76 00:04:32,347 --> 00:04:36,507 Speaker 3: But he was a guy that had a pretty tough 77 00:04:37,307 --> 00:04:40,987 Speaker 3: upbringing a World War II veteran. My granddad was a 78 00:04:41,027 --> 00:04:45,627 Speaker 3: World War two veteran, and he was an alcoholic, and 79 00:04:45,907 --> 00:04:49,707 Speaker 3: they grew up and state housing and he, you know, 80 00:04:50,867 --> 00:04:53,907 Speaker 3: speaking to my father, he went there was I guess 81 00:04:53,947 --> 00:04:56,547 Speaker 3: that connection with his father wasn't great, and he and 82 00:04:56,987 --> 00:05:01,627 Speaker 3: he he found role models that were a strength for him. 83 00:05:01,827 --> 00:05:05,267 Speaker 3: And but with his own two sons, he was determined 84 00:05:05,307 --> 00:05:09,467 Speaker 3: to pour into us all the everything he wished I 85 00:05:09,507 --> 00:05:12,987 Speaker 3: guess he had and all that support, and sometimes that 86 00:05:13,107 --> 00:05:16,107 Speaker 3: was a home around the shoulder, you know, and sometimes 87 00:05:16,187 --> 00:05:18,987 Speaker 3: as they kick up the ass. Both of them were 88 00:05:19,187 --> 00:05:22,867 Speaker 3: barely needed. And I'm so grateful for my father and 89 00:05:22,947 --> 00:05:25,747 Speaker 3: my mother wonderful lady as well well. 90 00:05:25,747 --> 00:05:27,947 Speaker 2: One of the many, very powerful passages in the book 91 00:05:27,987 --> 00:05:29,627 Speaker 2: is where you write about coming home from a game 92 00:05:29,667 --> 00:05:31,387 Speaker 2: as a young fella. I just want to read a 93 00:05:31,387 --> 00:05:34,147 Speaker 2: couple of lines here. You write, as we walk through 94 00:05:34,147 --> 00:05:36,067 Speaker 2: the front door, Dad, let me have it. Looks on, 95 00:05:36,147 --> 00:05:37,907 Speaker 2: I've had enough of driving you all around the place 96 00:05:37,907 --> 00:05:39,787 Speaker 2: when you don't have it. You're not fit enough, you're 97 00:05:39,827 --> 00:05:42,587 Speaker 2: not driven, you don't have it in you to front up. 98 00:05:42,827 --> 00:05:44,547 Speaker 2: You have all this talent, but it happens again and 99 00:05:44,587 --> 00:05:47,147 Speaker 2: again and again. It's so frustrating, and I've had enough. 100 00:05:47,227 --> 00:05:49,707 Speaker 2: See your dad and you write every one of his 101 00:05:49,867 --> 00:05:53,987 Speaker 2: words landed. How much of a pivotal day was that for. 102 00:05:53,867 --> 00:06:00,587 Speaker 3: You, Dad? Yeah? Massive game changer. So yeah, under fourteen's team, 103 00:06:00,587 --> 00:06:03,627 Speaker 3: there's my coach, have been around the club for fifteen years. 104 00:06:03,627 --> 00:06:06,307 Speaker 3: He said, you're the laziest kid I've seen him fifteen years. Here. 105 00:06:07,067 --> 00:06:08,667 Speaker 3: I was a kid with talent, but I didn't have 106 00:06:08,707 --> 00:06:12,187 Speaker 3: any work ethic. Therefore I didn't have any belief. When 107 00:06:12,227 --> 00:06:15,507 Speaker 3: I'd try and make rep teams, I didn't front, I'd 108 00:06:15,547 --> 00:06:20,107 Speaker 3: pull back. I justn't know, didn't have that drive. So, yeah, 109 00:06:20,387 --> 00:06:25,027 Speaker 3: Dad had enough. There's a state forest nearby that Dad 110 00:06:25,107 --> 00:06:27,107 Speaker 3: used to run. He said, I want you to do 111 00:06:27,147 --> 00:06:30,067 Speaker 3: this run. Basically it was just sprinting hills and then 112 00:06:30,307 --> 00:06:34,667 Speaker 3: jogging anything flat or downhill, but it was never to 113 00:06:34,707 --> 00:06:37,387 Speaker 3: stop your spreend your hills doing that. If you don't 114 00:06:37,427 --> 00:06:39,947 Speaker 3: do it, I've had enough. I can't do this anymore. 115 00:06:40,507 --> 00:06:43,387 Speaker 3: I'm not driving the train or anything whatever. I'm not asking, 116 00:06:43,467 --> 00:06:46,827 Speaker 3: I'm telling you. So it was, don't get me wrong, 117 00:06:47,347 --> 00:06:49,307 Speaker 3: encouraging Dad and all that. But it got to a 118 00:06:49,347 --> 00:06:52,147 Speaker 3: point where kids were starting to push forward and I wasn't. 119 00:06:52,227 --> 00:06:54,867 Speaker 3: And I clearly had talent, but I didn't know how 120 00:06:54,907 --> 00:06:56,867 Speaker 3: to realize it. And he got to a space where 121 00:06:56,947 --> 00:06:59,987 Speaker 3: right there needs to be changing. I did that run, 122 00:07:00,627 --> 00:07:04,427 Speaker 3: and something happened in that forest. Half way through what 123 00:07:04,507 --> 00:07:09,027 Speaker 3: would be the eventual run. I remember stopping and standing 124 00:07:09,067 --> 00:07:10,947 Speaker 3: there and just felt pens and there it was felt 125 00:07:10,987 --> 00:07:15,107 Speaker 3: like almost like a joy inside, and I just remember 126 00:07:15,187 --> 00:07:23,147 Speaker 3: saying out loud, this feels good. And I became addicted. 127 00:07:23,187 --> 00:07:26,627 Speaker 3: To that run. My mindset change all of a sudden. 128 00:07:26,707 --> 00:07:31,467 Speaker 3: Talent was joined with work, ethic and drive and determination, 129 00:07:31,707 --> 00:07:34,947 Speaker 3: and the rest is history. I never didn't make a 130 00:07:34,987 --> 00:07:39,587 Speaker 3: REP team again, and a completely different animal, you know, 131 00:07:39,787 --> 00:07:40,867 Speaker 3: came out of it. 132 00:07:41,507 --> 00:07:44,387 Speaker 2: I absolutely love that. I love that both for the 133 00:07:44,387 --> 00:07:48,347 Speaker 2: Broncos in nineteen ninety four had a hugely successful seven 134 00:07:48,427 --> 00:07:51,627 Speaker 2: years in rugby league. What was behind the switch to 135 00:07:51,787 --> 00:07:54,227 Speaker 2: union in two thousand and one? 136 00:07:55,187 --> 00:07:58,107 Speaker 3: Very easy. I was born in New Zealand, and as 137 00:07:58,147 --> 00:08:00,747 Speaker 3: in New Zealand, he probably for one hundred and twenty years. 138 00:08:00,947 --> 00:08:03,587 Speaker 3: That's what we do. You know, boys born in New Zealand. 139 00:08:03,627 --> 00:08:07,307 Speaker 3: We wanted to be an all black and play rugby 140 00:08:07,347 --> 00:08:10,467 Speaker 3: and being all blacks. So I moved to New Zealand 141 00:08:10,547 --> 00:08:13,027 Speaker 3: at the age of nineties. You know, I'd never heard 142 00:08:13,027 --> 00:08:15,987 Speaker 3: of league. I went to a state school. I love league, 143 00:08:16,027 --> 00:08:20,347 Speaker 3: but I always you know, all my relations in wet 144 00:08:21,787 --> 00:08:26,867 Speaker 3: rugby player, we love it. It was never an option 145 00:08:27,227 --> 00:08:30,667 Speaker 3: because the game was amateur way, but there was word 146 00:08:30,707 --> 00:08:32,787 Speaker 3: that the game was going to go pro in the 147 00:08:32,827 --> 00:08:36,347 Speaker 3: mid nineties and Super Rugby Foley came ninety ninety six 148 00:08:36,867 --> 00:08:39,027 Speaker 3: from my father and me had a chat and my 149 00:08:39,107 --> 00:08:41,787 Speaker 3: dad said when I started to really take with my 150 00:08:41,867 --> 00:08:44,627 Speaker 3: league in my late teens. If you get some stuff 151 00:08:44,667 --> 00:08:47,627 Speaker 3: done in rugby with the Broncos and you know whatnot 152 00:08:48,067 --> 00:08:51,147 Speaker 3: you know representative. If you get some stuff done, maybe 153 00:08:51,187 --> 00:08:53,747 Speaker 3: you go back and the game goes pro and have 154 00:08:53,827 --> 00:08:56,547 Speaker 3: a crack, you know pretty much what you you know 155 00:08:56,547 --> 00:08:58,467 Speaker 3: as a key, we lad I felt born to do. 156 00:08:58,667 --> 00:09:01,827 Speaker 3: So we did get some stuff done at the Broncos. 157 00:09:02,027 --> 00:09:05,067 Speaker 3: Three titles and four years ninety seven, ninety eight, two thousand. 158 00:09:05,227 --> 00:09:07,507 Speaker 3: I got the players. I got play for Australia. I 159 00:09:07,507 --> 00:09:09,867 Speaker 3: was proud to play for Australia who had grown up 160 00:09:09,867 --> 00:09:15,347 Speaker 3: and made league my heroes whatever. But yeah, I got 161 00:09:15,387 --> 00:09:20,227 Speaker 3: to that last That contract finished at twenty five, and 162 00:09:21,107 --> 00:09:26,547 Speaker 3: I was looking across watching rugby and I didn't want 163 00:09:26,587 --> 00:09:29,027 Speaker 3: to be an old man one day thinking could I 164 00:09:29,107 --> 00:09:33,427 Speaker 3: have Would I have made it if I'd stayed in 165 00:09:33,427 --> 00:09:36,067 Speaker 3: New Zealand, if I grew up? Would you know? I 166 00:09:36,107 --> 00:09:39,107 Speaker 3: didn't want those questions, and I've always been up for 167 00:09:39,147 --> 00:09:43,947 Speaker 3: a challenge, and so yeah I made that play. And 168 00:09:45,907 --> 00:09:49,947 Speaker 3: you know Dad passed away just as about the turn twenty, 169 00:09:50,067 --> 00:09:52,907 Speaker 3: so he wasn't there for this. He only saw me 170 00:09:52,947 --> 00:09:57,427 Speaker 3: play seven games. The first grade for the Broncos, but 171 00:09:57,467 --> 00:09:59,827 Speaker 3: there was a lot of it. You know, it was 172 00:10:00,867 --> 00:10:02,187 Speaker 3: pretty special to go back. 173 00:10:03,707 --> 00:10:05,587 Speaker 2: The first time you were selected for the All Blacks 174 00:10:05,907 --> 00:10:07,867 Speaker 2: for the end of year two in two thousand and one, 175 00:10:07,947 --> 00:10:12,027 Speaker 2: you declined the invitation. Can you tell us about that decision? 176 00:10:13,187 --> 00:10:15,587 Speaker 3: Well, when I went across, I had three questions to 177 00:10:15,627 --> 00:10:19,867 Speaker 3: start with that I knew, do I like rugby? Am 178 00:10:19,907 --> 00:10:21,787 Speaker 3: I any good at it? And do I like leaving 179 00:10:21,827 --> 00:10:26,307 Speaker 3: in New Zealand? And after playing rugby you know a 180 00:10:26,667 --> 00:10:32,867 Speaker 3: league and union, I'd say they're similar games. Lineouts, power, scrammaging, mauling, breakdown, 181 00:10:33,067 --> 00:10:35,587 Speaker 3: thick and go kick off receipts where you get lifted 182 00:10:35,627 --> 00:10:38,307 Speaker 3: in there and catch it like an AFL player. It's 183 00:10:38,347 --> 00:10:42,347 Speaker 3: nothing like rugby league. So it was a real battle 184 00:10:42,387 --> 00:10:46,987 Speaker 3: for me. And the whole challenge is to do things 185 00:10:47,227 --> 00:10:50,987 Speaker 3: enough times to finally become instinctive. And at the end 186 00:10:51,067 --> 00:10:53,827 Speaker 3: of that first Super Raby season, the answer to those 187 00:10:53,867 --> 00:10:56,107 Speaker 3: three questions I said at the beginning, We're all No, 188 00:10:56,627 --> 00:10:59,707 Speaker 3: I'm not good at rugby, I don't like it, and 189 00:10:59,787 --> 00:11:04,587 Speaker 3: I'm not necessarily enjoying New Zealand. I miss Brisbane. That's 190 00:11:04,587 --> 00:11:07,467 Speaker 3: where growing up and my family my mum. You know 191 00:11:08,147 --> 00:11:14,307 Speaker 3: my brother my Broncos teammates. So yeah, and after a 192 00:11:14,307 --> 00:11:16,507 Speaker 3: good chat from my brother, I went back home after 193 00:11:16,547 --> 00:11:19,427 Speaker 3: Super Rugby and my brother said, I think you know 194 00:11:20,227 --> 00:11:23,787 Speaker 3: you go back there. I know you you you're missing 195 00:11:23,827 --> 00:11:26,067 Speaker 3: your girlfriend who's now my wife for twenty three years. 196 00:11:26,147 --> 00:11:29,667 Speaker 3: I know that. You know you've been paid less a 197 00:11:29,667 --> 00:11:31,787 Speaker 3: lot less than you were in league and you're feeling 198 00:11:31,827 --> 00:11:34,307 Speaker 3: down and out. But you go back there and you 199 00:11:35,027 --> 00:11:36,707 Speaker 3: give it your best and then at the end of 200 00:11:36,707 --> 00:11:38,467 Speaker 3: the year, if you've had enough, you can walk away 201 00:11:38,547 --> 00:11:41,387 Speaker 3: knowing that you gave it a good shot. I went. 202 00:11:41,587 --> 00:11:44,787 Speaker 3: They moved me from position number eight, whighly technical position 203 00:11:44,907 --> 00:11:49,227 Speaker 3: into Locke and it started to take. It started with 204 00:11:49,267 --> 00:11:53,427 Speaker 3: the scrum where it really suited my nature, know my style, 205 00:11:53,947 --> 00:11:57,787 Speaker 3: just the power game being part of a pack and 206 00:11:57,787 --> 00:12:01,187 Speaker 3: that it filtered all across to the other parts of 207 00:12:01,227 --> 00:12:05,267 Speaker 3: the game. So as I there was word that they 208 00:12:05,347 --> 00:12:07,387 Speaker 3: were looking at me, I would have been picked on 209 00:12:07,467 --> 00:12:10,027 Speaker 3: potential for two years out from a two thousand and 210 00:12:10,067 --> 00:12:16,067 Speaker 3: three World Cup, and I know I was feeling like, 211 00:12:16,227 --> 00:12:20,067 Speaker 3: do I like rugby? It's getting better? You know? Am 212 00:12:20,147 --> 00:12:22,867 Speaker 3: I any good at I'm improving? And do I like 213 00:12:22,907 --> 00:12:25,027 Speaker 3: New Zealand. Yeah, it's starting to grow on me. But 214 00:12:25,107 --> 00:12:28,067 Speaker 3: I was still, you know, I wasn't sure. So I 215 00:12:28,547 --> 00:12:32,947 Speaker 3: at the end of that season, I just when they 216 00:12:32,947 --> 00:12:34,867 Speaker 3: were going to name the team, I put forward that, 217 00:12:34,947 --> 00:12:38,147 Speaker 3: you know, I wanted to go back to Australia think 218 00:12:38,187 --> 00:12:41,467 Speaker 3: about things. I did get picked anyway, it made it 219 00:12:41,507 --> 00:12:45,947 Speaker 3: a little bit awkward. But I felt if I had 220 00:12:45,987 --> 00:12:48,867 Speaker 3: gone on that tour and taken the All Black jersey 221 00:12:48,867 --> 00:12:51,627 Speaker 3: and then finished and said, hey see you guys, I'm 222 00:12:51,627 --> 00:12:54,187 Speaker 3: out of here, I think that would have been a 223 00:12:54,227 --> 00:12:56,827 Speaker 3: lot worse, you know what I mean. So I actually 224 00:12:56,827 --> 00:12:58,827 Speaker 3: had a year away from all sport after that. I 225 00:12:58,947 --> 00:13:01,307 Speaker 3: married my wife, I did a whole heap of different things, 226 00:13:02,067 --> 00:13:05,107 Speaker 3: and then when it was the decision that I'm going 227 00:13:05,147 --> 00:13:08,107 Speaker 3: to go back and play footage and legal union. But 228 00:13:08,267 --> 00:13:11,467 Speaker 3: when I came back in three it was reward for effort. 229 00:13:11,547 --> 00:13:14,547 Speaker 3: I put an effort in two thousand and one. I 230 00:13:14,627 --> 00:13:19,227 Speaker 3: was getting at the doorstep of getting reward. I had 231 00:13:19,307 --> 00:13:21,787 Speaker 3: unfinished business there. So I came back in two thousand 232 00:13:21,787 --> 00:13:24,707 Speaker 3: and three and got to playing a World Cup and 233 00:13:24,787 --> 00:13:26,987 Speaker 3: become an All Black. It was pretty special year. 234 00:13:27,067 --> 00:13:29,307 Speaker 2: Twelve test that year, including seven at the Rugby World 235 00:13:29,347 --> 00:13:32,267 Speaker 2: Cup and three. I hope everybody's keeping up here because 236 00:13:32,307 --> 00:13:35,347 Speaker 2: then you went back to league. So at that time, 237 00:13:35,507 --> 00:13:38,067 Speaker 2: did you think that was it for rugby. You'd scratched 238 00:13:38,067 --> 00:13:40,227 Speaker 2: that itch and that was it. You were going back 239 00:13:40,267 --> 00:13:40,867 Speaker 2: to league. 240 00:13:41,587 --> 00:13:44,827 Speaker 3: You've nailed it exactly. Yeah, looking back and it looks weird, 241 00:13:45,027 --> 00:13:48,027 Speaker 3: why did you go back? But at the time the 242 00:13:48,107 --> 00:13:51,907 Speaker 3: new administration came Henry and Steve Hanson in that day. 243 00:13:52,987 --> 00:13:55,587 Speaker 3: The following year, I wasn't peaked. Initially they wanted me 244 00:13:56,347 --> 00:13:59,467 Speaker 3: as things went on that year, but I'd already made 245 00:13:59,467 --> 00:14:02,747 Speaker 3: a decision to go back to league. I was twenty 246 00:14:03,227 --> 00:14:07,747 Speaker 3: nine years old. I'd come to rugby, I'd had a 247 00:14:07,747 --> 00:14:10,587 Speaker 3: great time, make great friends, and I'd achieved that goal. 248 00:14:12,067 --> 00:14:13,787 Speaker 3: You know, it's something it was special to me around 249 00:14:13,787 --> 00:14:17,467 Speaker 3: my father and different things. But I loved the Rugby 250 00:14:17,547 --> 00:14:20,667 Speaker 3: League of the nineties. We were a championship team. I 251 00:14:20,707 --> 00:14:23,747 Speaker 3: had my mates back there, Petra and web Webby and 252 00:14:24,027 --> 00:14:26,787 Speaker 3: you know, all these sort of guys. And I still 253 00:14:27,227 --> 00:14:30,587 Speaker 3: would say I enjoyed rugby league a little bit more. 254 00:14:31,027 --> 00:14:34,867 Speaker 3: And so I just thought, you know, this could be 255 00:14:34,907 --> 00:14:38,147 Speaker 3: my last contract. I'm going to play out playing you know, 256 00:14:38,467 --> 00:14:41,067 Speaker 3: we're back of them, you know, those guys, and try 257 00:14:41,067 --> 00:14:43,347 Speaker 3: and win a title. So I went back. I won 258 00:14:43,387 --> 00:14:45,827 Speaker 3: a title in six I got to play Origin again 259 00:14:46,747 --> 00:14:49,547 Speaker 3: and you know, but it was I watched the two 260 00:14:49,587 --> 00:14:53,027 Speaker 3: thousand and seven World Cup and they had a few 261 00:14:53,027 --> 00:14:55,507 Speaker 3: injuries at Locke. I remember Carl Hayman in the lineout 262 00:14:55,507 --> 00:14:59,347 Speaker 3: Watson Sahne Lowaky, I think maybe another one. And I 263 00:14:59,387 --> 00:15:02,187 Speaker 3: was sitting there thinking, you know, see that could have 264 00:15:02,267 --> 00:15:05,307 Speaker 3: been me out there, and but yeah, I thought it 265 00:15:05,347 --> 00:15:07,227 Speaker 3: was done. From now. I was going to play out 266 00:15:07,267 --> 00:15:09,787 Speaker 3: my days in the North of England playing rugby league. 267 00:15:09,947 --> 00:15:14,067 Speaker 3: But there was a door shut there. It didn't seem 268 00:15:14,587 --> 00:15:17,867 Speaker 3: the interests that I know. It didn't work out there. 269 00:15:18,627 --> 00:15:21,587 Speaker 3: I just thought to myself, I got two trades, a 270 00:15:21,667 --> 00:15:25,227 Speaker 3: chippy and a sparky. I'm going to do my other trade, 271 00:15:25,267 --> 00:15:27,427 Speaker 3: which is rugby union. So at the end of that 272 00:15:28,787 --> 00:15:32,707 Speaker 3: Broncos I went back to rugby again, but to the Crusaders, 273 00:15:32,707 --> 00:15:35,547 Speaker 3: and I thought I'll go back and play there, try 274 00:15:35,587 --> 00:15:37,507 Speaker 3: and win a title, which we did in two thousand 275 00:15:37,507 --> 00:15:40,907 Speaker 3: and eight, and then I'll go to Europe and finish 276 00:15:40,947 --> 00:15:44,507 Speaker 3: out playing rugby. The thing was, after three games, I 277 00:15:44,587 --> 00:15:46,867 Speaker 3: hed from New Zealand Rugby Union and they wanted to 278 00:15:46,907 --> 00:15:51,067 Speaker 3: sign me on for another couple of years, and before 279 00:15:51,107 --> 00:15:53,667 Speaker 3: you knew it, I played the full four years through 280 00:15:53,707 --> 00:15:54,467 Speaker 3: to the World Cup. 281 00:15:55,587 --> 00:15:58,347 Speaker 2: Among everything else you've achieved, and it's a long list. Bread, 282 00:15:58,987 --> 00:16:01,787 Speaker 2: where does winning the twenty eleven Rugby World Cup with 283 00:16:01,867 --> 00:16:03,787 Speaker 2: the All Blacks set. 284 00:16:04,227 --> 00:16:08,467 Speaker 3: Number one, easily final of Grand finals. I felt like 285 00:16:08,627 --> 00:16:14,067 Speaker 3: all the other Grand finals sort of prepared me, were 286 00:16:14,147 --> 00:16:16,307 Speaker 3: sort of lined up for. I had four played in 287 00:16:16,347 --> 00:16:20,067 Speaker 3: four for the Broncos, played in four for the Crusaders, 288 00:16:20,587 --> 00:16:24,787 Speaker 3: and yeah we hadn't. It was a twenty four year drought, 289 00:16:25,067 --> 00:16:30,427 Speaker 3: you know all this, but yeah, this is our home 290 00:16:30,627 --> 00:16:34,107 Speaker 3: World Cup, the pressure where the most senior All Black 291 00:16:34,747 --> 00:16:37,307 Speaker 3: team there had been. I was the oldest player, thirty six. 292 00:16:37,387 --> 00:16:40,587 Speaker 3: The World Cup final was my last game, game number sixty. 293 00:16:40,627 --> 00:16:44,947 Speaker 3: It was Test fifty nine, game number sixty, and yeah, 294 00:16:44,947 --> 00:16:46,947 Speaker 3: everything was on the line. I was only in New 295 00:16:47,027 --> 00:16:50,507 Speaker 3: Zealand for one job and that was you know, for 296 00:16:50,627 --> 00:16:52,987 Speaker 3: one main reason was the World Cup. I got my 297 00:16:53,027 --> 00:16:55,867 Speaker 3: fiftieth Test cap the year before I could have left. 298 00:16:55,907 --> 00:17:02,067 Speaker 3: But and you know it was basically, in my opinion, 299 00:17:02,147 --> 00:17:04,987 Speaker 3: like three grand finals we needed to win. You couldn't 300 00:17:05,027 --> 00:17:08,467 Speaker 3: go into the quarterfinal planning for the semi that, you know, 301 00:17:09,347 --> 00:17:12,347 Speaker 3: because it's doll a die. Year got to take each 302 00:17:12,467 --> 00:17:16,907 Speaker 3: game and earn the right to go through to the 303 00:17:16,987 --> 00:17:19,907 Speaker 3: next week. And I know that's easy to say, but 304 00:17:19,987 --> 00:17:22,907 Speaker 3: that's the mindset that you know. I know for me, 305 00:17:22,947 --> 00:17:24,867 Speaker 3: I was focused on I think the team was as well. 306 00:17:24,907 --> 00:17:28,907 Speaker 3: And we met the France, we were raging favorites and 307 00:17:28,947 --> 00:17:32,267 Speaker 3: they were underdogs. And till the day I die, I'll 308 00:17:32,307 --> 00:17:34,347 Speaker 3: have so much respect for the French, the way they 309 00:17:34,347 --> 00:17:36,867 Speaker 3: stood up, how proud they were for their country, the 310 00:17:36,947 --> 00:17:40,507 Speaker 3: performance they put in. They brought everything that's great about 311 00:17:40,867 --> 00:17:44,547 Speaker 3: the French. And yeah, we got into a fight and 312 00:17:44,627 --> 00:17:48,187 Speaker 3: it was great. It's exactly the challenge we've had over 313 00:17:48,227 --> 00:17:51,427 Speaker 3: that twenty four years, played great rugby in between World Cups. 314 00:17:51,427 --> 00:17:56,027 Speaker 3: But you know, I had a team had stayed with us. 315 00:17:56,027 --> 00:18:00,347 Speaker 3: Pressure come on and we battled. Not this time. This time, 316 00:18:01,027 --> 00:18:04,907 Speaker 3: you know, the French. We didn't pull away. I think 317 00:18:04,907 --> 00:18:07,427 Speaker 3: Petty kicked too from seven and he had his God 318 00:18:07,667 --> 00:18:11,227 Speaker 3: was saw the French day in there. And then it 319 00:18:11,307 --> 00:18:15,187 Speaker 3: was just you know the connection of the crowd and 320 00:18:15,227 --> 00:18:19,627 Speaker 3: the team. You could feel. It wasn't a great feeling. 321 00:18:19,787 --> 00:18:23,827 Speaker 3: It was a feeling of this is this is one 322 00:18:23,867 --> 00:18:26,747 Speaker 3: of those games that can go in a way, and 323 00:18:26,787 --> 00:18:30,107 Speaker 3: it was just about belief. It was about the guys 324 00:18:30,987 --> 00:18:35,067 Speaker 3: you know, doing their job individually and that's doing it collectively. 325 00:18:35,707 --> 00:18:37,987 Speaker 3: And we went at it and then it comes down 326 00:18:38,027 --> 00:18:42,947 Speaker 3: to pure who wants it more and never stop until 327 00:18:42,987 --> 00:18:46,267 Speaker 3: that final thing. So yeah, the funniest Saint look thing 328 00:18:46,307 --> 00:18:49,547 Speaker 3: for me, Jase is you know I took the final 329 00:18:49,627 --> 00:18:51,627 Speaker 3: line out with a minute ago. You know, we win 330 00:18:51,667 --> 00:18:55,467 Speaker 3: that line out, we win the game. And the crazy 331 00:18:55,547 --> 00:18:58,587 Speaker 3: thing is, if you think about it, I took my 332 00:18:58,707 --> 00:19:02,027 Speaker 3: first lineout as a twenty six year old, never taken 333 00:19:02,067 --> 00:19:05,427 Speaker 3: a line out, and to think those years later, somehow 334 00:19:05,507 --> 00:19:09,267 Speaker 3: I'd be that guy in that line out, it was crazy. 335 00:19:09,387 --> 00:19:12,467 Speaker 3: So yeah, so good to get that job done. It 336 00:19:12,507 --> 00:19:15,827 Speaker 3: felt like for me a duty to the country of 337 00:19:15,907 --> 00:19:18,707 Speaker 3: my birth, where I come from, and then I could 338 00:19:19,067 --> 00:19:21,267 Speaker 3: from that time I could live my life in peace. 339 00:19:23,147 --> 00:19:25,947 Speaker 2: Yeah, killed on you, and well you could have then said, okay, 340 00:19:25,987 --> 00:19:27,747 Speaker 2: you know what I'm done. I'm done, Beaver did. I 341 00:19:28,147 --> 00:19:30,427 Speaker 2: don't think you played much after that, but you went on. 342 00:19:30,507 --> 00:19:32,547 Speaker 2: You played in Japan, you played for Leinster back to 343 00:19:32,547 --> 00:19:35,947 Speaker 2: the Highlanders for Leicester, even played a couple of games 344 00:19:36,427 --> 00:19:40,427 Speaker 2: for Queensland Country into your forties. What drove you to 345 00:19:40,467 --> 00:19:42,067 Speaker 2: do that and how did you keep your body in 346 00:19:42,147 --> 00:19:45,027 Speaker 2: shape for the physicality of those matches. 347 00:19:47,067 --> 00:19:49,907 Speaker 3: I just feel, yeah, I put a lot of the 348 00:19:49,907 --> 00:19:52,147 Speaker 3: profession about what I do, put a lot of effident 349 00:19:52,267 --> 00:19:56,147 Speaker 3: but yeah, my body is made for this stuff and 350 00:19:57,267 --> 00:20:02,147 Speaker 3: you know, but yeah, I had ten years at the Broncos. 351 00:20:02,187 --> 00:20:05,387 Speaker 3: You think about seven years at the Crusader's origin in 352 00:20:05,467 --> 00:20:10,227 Speaker 3: Australia all Blakes, so ten and seven, so seventeen years. 353 00:20:10,707 --> 00:20:13,787 Speaker 3: I've just everything's on the line. Whenever I put those 354 00:20:13,867 --> 00:20:17,667 Speaker 3: jerseys on, I felt to wait, a responsibility of those jerseys, 355 00:20:17,707 --> 00:20:22,587 Speaker 3: to honor them, to pass them on to the next 356 00:20:22,587 --> 00:20:27,547 Speaker 3: guy in a good space. And then I got to 357 00:20:27,827 --> 00:20:33,667 Speaker 3: thirty six and I was like, I feel good, very diligent. 358 00:20:35,187 --> 00:20:37,987 Speaker 3: I stopped drinking alcohol for six years, and as a 359 00:20:38,027 --> 00:20:41,427 Speaker 3: twenty six year old, I think that was a good thing. 360 00:20:41,507 --> 00:20:43,747 Speaker 3: I took that year off, which was like a half 361 00:20:43,747 --> 00:20:45,987 Speaker 3: in my tenth season. You think about it, it's like 362 00:20:46,027 --> 00:20:52,827 Speaker 3: a halftime. I was a guy faster because of my faith. 363 00:20:52,947 --> 00:20:56,067 Speaker 3: I did fast once a week all throughout time. I 364 00:20:56,067 --> 00:20:59,187 Speaker 3: think that was something that benefited me. But yeah, being 365 00:20:59,267 --> 00:21:04,067 Speaker 3: stronger and went in collisions I think definitely helps coming 366 00:21:04,107 --> 00:21:08,587 Speaker 3: out the right side of things. And once I got 367 00:21:08,627 --> 00:21:11,827 Speaker 3: to that time, I feel good. I want to have 368 00:21:11,867 --> 00:21:14,267 Speaker 3: some fun, I want to do some stuff. Now I've 369 00:21:14,267 --> 00:21:19,067 Speaker 3: been serious. So yeah, I went to Japan. I went 370 00:21:19,147 --> 00:21:22,267 Speaker 3: to Ireland and what got to one I he to 371 00:21:22,347 --> 00:21:24,707 Speaker 3: can Cut with a great group and men. I went 372 00:21:24,747 --> 00:21:28,507 Speaker 3: to Leicester and I finally something that was pretty personally. 373 00:21:28,587 --> 00:21:30,667 Speaker 3: I finally went back to where I come from the 374 00:21:30,707 --> 00:21:36,987 Speaker 3: Highlanders and represented where I was actually from. Finally, finally 375 00:21:37,027 --> 00:21:40,267 Speaker 3: I represented where I come from and I played for 376 00:21:40,307 --> 00:21:43,707 Speaker 3: the club team that my father, my brother, my cousins, 377 00:21:43,747 --> 00:21:47,427 Speaker 3: my uncle played for for me, Rugby's, you know, a 378 00:21:47,507 --> 00:21:50,907 Speaker 3: big fabric have been of New Zealand for me. That 379 00:21:51,067 --> 00:21:54,027 Speaker 3: was like a welcoming home playing for that club. See 380 00:21:54,147 --> 00:21:59,187 Speaker 3: my relations and father and stuff and the photos around 381 00:21:59,867 --> 00:22:03,907 Speaker 3: you know, the clubroom. So yeah, that was That's how 382 00:22:03,947 --> 00:22:04,507 Speaker 3: it played out. 383 00:22:06,027 --> 00:22:09,747 Speaker 2: The book. The books are an absolute cracker, and look, 384 00:22:09,787 --> 00:22:11,627 Speaker 2: I know from listening to a lot of our listeners 385 00:22:11,667 --> 00:22:15,547 Speaker 2: will be rushing out to get their copy. Spectacular career. 386 00:22:15,747 --> 00:22:17,787 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for joining us, mate, being so generous 387 00:22:17,827 --> 00:22:20,027 Speaker 2: with your time. It's it's a pleasure to get the 388 00:22:20,107 --> 00:22:21,427 Speaker 2: chance to chat to your mate and all the best 389 00:22:21,467 --> 00:22:22,307 Speaker 2: for what lies ahead. 390 00:22:23,227 --> 00:22:26,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, I appreciate your confext for having me MATEOS get. 391 00:22:26,267 --> 00:22:28,947 Speaker 2: On your Brad brad Thorn joining us the books called 392 00:22:29,067 --> 00:22:32,387 Speaker 2: Champions Do Extra Well. You can tell from the last 393 00:22:32,427 --> 00:22:34,187 Speaker 2: fifteen twenty minutes we've been on the phone with brad 394 00:22:34,187 --> 00:22:35,987 Speaker 2: Thorn what you're going to get in that book. 395 00:22:37,427 --> 00:22:37,787 Speaker 3: Unreal. 396 00:22:38,027 --> 00:22:39,547 Speaker 2: I've had a chance to have a look at it. 397 00:22:39,547 --> 00:22:45,747 Speaker 2: It is tremendous, it is It's terrific brad Thorn Champions 398 00:22:45,947 --> 00:22:46,947 Speaker 2: Do Extra 399 00:22:47,707 --> 00:22:50,907 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 400 00:22:50,987 --> 00:22:54,307 Speaker 1: to News Talk said Be weekends from midday, or follow 401 00:22:54,347 --> 00:22:55,947 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio