1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: This episode is brought to you by our partners at 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:09,959 Speaker 1: Workplace Law. Welcome to The Female Athlete Project Season two. 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: My name is Chloe Dalton. I'm an Olympic gold medalist 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: in rugby seven's and I'm now playing for the GWS 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: Giants in the AFLW. I started TFAT to share the 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: stories of incredible female athletes and to address the gender 7 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: inequalities that exist. 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: Within the sports media space. 9 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: We want to change that story and we're all about 10 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: making news and highlights of women's sport easily accessible across 11 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: our platforms. Our hope is that more female athletes will 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: become household names and in turn enable the next generation 13 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: of young kids to pick up a ball, racket, back board, 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: whatever they want to pick. At the age of seventeen, 15 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: Tianna Pennatani became the youngest player to represent Australia at 16 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: a Rugby World Cup. In the years following, she went 17 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: through an intent hence rehabilitation process following two separate aceal 18 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: ruptures while playing rugby sevens. Her second rupture was just 19 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: ten months out from the Rio Olympics. A week before 20 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: the plane departed to Brazil, Tiana had to sit down 21 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: with the team doctor to hear the news that she 22 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: hadn't made it back in time. Tiana now plays for 23 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: the Paramatta Eels in the NLW competition. She represents the 24 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: New South Wales Blues and the state of Origin, and 25 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: has also represented the Australian Rugby League team, the Jillarus. 26 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: Tiana has overcome huge trauma in her life after losing 27 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: her father at the age of twelve. I've had the 28 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: chance to get to know Tiana through our time together 29 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: at the rugby sevens, and as you're hear, she's got 30 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: a really beautiful relationship with her family and a wisdom 31 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: beyond her years. I really hope you enjoy this one, 32 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: Tiana Panettani, Welcome to the Female Athlete Project. 33 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 2: Thanks Bo, so good to finally be on. I'm so 34 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 2: proud of what you're doing on the My Lovely Project 35 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 2: as well, so thanks for having me. 36 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: Oh, thank you very much. Yeah, we've been hoping to 37 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: line this one up for a little while, so it's 38 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: really cool to have the chance and to sit down 39 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 1: and chat with you today. I'm really looking forward to, 40 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: I guess getting into a bit of detail around your 41 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: incredible story. I got to be a part of it 42 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: for a small part of your journey there, so I'm 43 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: keen to kind of take a look into that. But 44 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: to kick us off, can you tell us what Tiana 45 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 1: was like as a little kid. 46 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like my mom. These are probably echoing 47 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 2: words from my mum. But I was super energetic, just yeah, 48 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 2: super resilient, energetic, full of beans. My mom had me 49 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 2: in like ten different sports at one stage. I remember. 50 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: This is a story that I kind of tell everyone 51 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 2: when they ask about me as a child. When I 52 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 2: was four years old, she had me in preschool and 53 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: we only lived like five minutes away from the preschool. 54 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 2: So what mum would do was let me drop me 55 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: off like on the footpath around the corner, like one 56 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: block away, and she would just slowly drive next to me, 57 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 2: and I would sprint by beside the car because I 58 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 2: loved running so much, and I was always like, Mum, 59 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: let me run. I want to run, And so it's 60 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 2: just like, okay, just drop you off on the corner 61 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 2: and you can run. Yeah. So that's that, pretty much 62 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: in a nutshell, summed up how much energy I had 63 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: as a kid. And I feel like the rest of 64 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: my life played out. Yeah, from off the back of that. Yeah, 65 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: I feel like that makes a lot of sense about 66 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: the lives that you. 67 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, what sport was it that kind of Oh, obviously 68 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: you played a whole range of sports, but what sport 69 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: was it that kind of first caught your eye that 70 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:27,799 Speaker 1: you loved? 71 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: Initially? It was actually gymnastics. So I was obsessed with gymnastics. 72 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: I just loved everything about it, and I admired obviously 73 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 2: the Olympic athletes that I used to watch growing up, 74 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 2: and I just I loved how intense the sport is 75 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 2: and how well rounded and strong everywhere in your body 76 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: that you need to be. So I got a lot 77 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: of a lot of enjoyment in gym But as you 78 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: probably know, gymnasts need to commit a lot of their 79 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 2: life from an early age to be quite successful. So 80 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 2: I think I got to like eight or nine years old, 81 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: and I was kind of pushing those elite levels that 82 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 2: were asking for a lot of time through the week, 83 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 2: like something north of thirty six hours a week of training. 84 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 2: And this is for like a primary school student. So 85 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 2: mum wasn't too keen on that. And you know, obviously 86 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 2: they were asking for restrictions around my other commitments with sports. 87 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: So like swimming. Didn't want me swimming because it made 88 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 2: my shoulders tight and like those kind of things. So 89 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 2: I didn't have any time to really invest in the 90 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: other sports that I loved as well. So I kind 91 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 2: of shied away from gymnastics for a few years and 92 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 2: looked more towards track because I loved running track and 93 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 2: swimming as well as like a little bit of oz tag, 94 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: so a little introduction to the footy side of things. 95 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 2: And then I started playing rugby league at ten years 96 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 2: old as well, And it was around ten and eleven 97 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 2: that I got back into gymnastics. But by that stage 98 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 2: I was like a little bit too tall, and I 99 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 2: was only doing it for more social reasons. But yeah, 100 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 2: early on, those were predominantly the sports that I loved, 101 00:04:59,040 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 2: loved doing. 102 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,679 Speaker 1: It almost seems like at ten years old as a gymnast, 103 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: if you're not going to the Olympics, it's like it's 104 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: too late down, sorry. 105 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 2: It is you've got a peak. You've literally got a 106 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 2: peak in year six, Like it's such a brutal it's 107 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: so yeah, So it's funny, hey, like, oh, I was 108 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 2: eleven years old and like my time would passed. So 109 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 2: I was doing it socially, like, who says that about 110 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: It's insane? Yeah, so insane, but so much fun. 111 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: Talk to me about this introduction into rugby league, because 112 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: I guess looking back at that time, probably wasn't a 113 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 1: hugely common thing for a young girl to come and 114 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: play rugby league, right, I imagine you were playing with 115 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: the boys at that time. 116 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. So the only reason that I started playing rugby 117 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: league is because I had these two really good friends 118 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 2: at school and we played like every sport together. So 119 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 2: we would like do track together, we played odds, tag, 120 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 2: touch together, and we were in like all of the 121 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 2: same representative teams. So and I played netball with them 122 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,799 Speaker 2: as well, so we like they both started playing rugby 123 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 2: league for our local club and they were I, come along, 124 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 2: come and play. You know, we played tag together, you love. 125 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 2: It's the same kind of thing, just it's a little 126 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: bit more physical. So I was like, yeah, great, no worries. 127 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 2: So we had three girls in this particular team in 128 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 2: the under elevens in a boys camp, so it was 129 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 2: very like unheard of that girls were playing rugby league, 130 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 2: and we didn't really have anyone to look up to either. 131 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 2: We were like I grew up watching NRL and Super 132 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: Rugby and it was just all predominantly meant there was 133 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 2: no NROLW and there were no female athletes to kind 134 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,559 Speaker 2: of look up to. So it was fun to play 135 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 2: at that time, but it was kind of like a 136 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: dead end. It was more just oh, I'm just going 137 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 2: to play this season with my friends socially because there's 138 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 2: a couple of girls in the team and it's whatever. 139 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 2: But most of the teams that we played there were 140 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: no girls. So yeah, it was a little bit unheard 141 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 2: of that girls were playing rugby league back then. 142 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: And was it after what was it just a year 143 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: pretty much that you could play before you had to 144 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,479 Speaker 1: stop playing before they kind of brought the rules in 145 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 1: that girls couldn't keep playing with the boys. 146 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, and because I started late, so these girls had 147 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: been playing for a couple of years prior, in like 148 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 2: the under eights, nines and tens under eleven's was the 149 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 2: last years. 150 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: When did the athletics piece come into the play. 151 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 2: So athletics I started little as when I was really young, 152 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 2: and I think I did one or two seasons and 153 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 2: then I had a break And it wasn't until I 154 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: was about nine ten years old. I wasn't in little athletics. 155 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 2: I was sorry. I was a nipper as well. I 156 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 2: was like a pig sprinter. Yeah. So I did serf 157 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 2: life saving and it was someone there, like a parent 158 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 2: there that kind of like watched me run and said 159 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 2: to my mum, you should really get her a track 160 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: coach because she she can move. And I was like, yeah, okay, 161 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: I'll look into it. And so when I was nine, 162 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 2: I ended up starting little athletics and then when I 163 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 2: was ten, I went to my first ever Australian Champs 164 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: and I ended up winning the hundred, winning the two 165 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 2: hundred at ten. Yeah. So I was quick like from 166 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: a young age and I think that's what kicked off 167 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 2: my athletics journey. Yeah, And I ended up pursuing track 168 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 2: with aspirations to one day go to the Olympics until 169 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: I was about sixteen. 170 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: Two thousand and nine, the Aussie women's team won the 171 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: World Cup in Dubai and that was kind of a 172 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: bit of a turning point. And then in twenty oh 173 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: was it still in two thousand and nine, they kind 174 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: of went to lobby at the Australian Olympic Committee at 175 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: the International Olympic Committee for rugby sevens to be included 176 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: in the Olympics, and so it was eventually approved that 177 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: rugby sevens was going to be in the Olympics for 178 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: the very first time in Rio in twenty sixteen, and 179 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: Rugby Australia kind of went on the hunt. They obviously 180 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: had some traditional rugby players already, but they kind of 181 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: went on the hunt for a whole range of different 182 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: sports to bring these amazing athletes together. Yeah, what was 183 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: your story in terms of how you became part of 184 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: that program? 185 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was really interesting actually, and I think like 186 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 2: my story alongside some of the girls that we've both 187 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 2: played alongside that then became really big figures in the 188 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 2: rugby sevens world. We were all at like the perfect 189 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 2: age in terms of school level. So when I was 190 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 2: in year twelve, I was seventeen, and that was when 191 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 2: there was the inaugural Australian School Girls Champs, the first 192 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 2: ever competition where they had a rugby sevens like competition 193 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 2: for both boys and girls. That's where they had selectors 194 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: from the Australian Open squad. They're kind of like hunting 195 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: for new talent and I played for obviously New South 196 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 2: Wales and it was the likes of like Evanniy Palidi, Charlottekaslick, 197 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 2: all of those girls that were playing for Queensland, and 198 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 2: then it was like me and Mytonagado and a couple 199 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 2: of those New South Wales girls playing for New South Wales. 200 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 2: So kind of like the next gen. But yeah, we 201 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 2: were super lucky to be that age and to get 202 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 2: picked up through through that way. But my introduction to 203 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 2: rugby union itself was I was looking for like another 204 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 2: just another sport to add do this, you know a 205 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 2: little literally. I was like, oh, I feel like, you know, 206 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 2: trying another code and just just learning something new. And 207 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 2: I was initially looking at playing grid iron like I 208 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: left L, you know, because it's it's LFL in America, 209 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 2: but it was Grid nine in Australia, just for something new, 210 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 2: like something new to learn. And then I ended up 211 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 2: like kind of just that idea just fizzled out. And 212 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 2: I had a couple of friends that I knew through 213 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 2: netball that were playing rugby union for Rockdale fifteens and 214 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: they were like, just come and have a run with us. 215 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 2: I come to a training session, like you'll love it, 216 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: and we need some new players anyway, So I was 217 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 2: literally just going there just to film numbers. I ended 218 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,839 Speaker 2: up playing like two or three games and then that's 219 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 2: when Seven's like the school Girls Seven's Pathway was introduced 220 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,839 Speaker 2: and that like that all transpired so quickly. So I 221 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 2: went from playing for New South Wales at the Australian 222 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: school Girls Champs to then being asked to join a 223 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 2: camp with the Open Women's squad and being part of 224 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 2: like their New South Wales program, and yeah, being asked 225 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 2: to having my first introduction into the Australian Open Squad, 226 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 2: and then there being two injuries at that particular camp 227 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 2: in Casarina, and then me getting the call up super 228 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 2: nic expectedly at my first camp to then travel with 229 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 2: them for the first time to China and Hong Kong. 230 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 2: And that was my introduction to the SEVENS World Series. 231 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 2: And that was literally six months after playing like the 232 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 2: school Girls Champs, So it all happened really really quickly. 233 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: How did it feel as a seventeen year old, even 234 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: looking back now that you've lived a little bit more life, Like, 235 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: what was it like debuting and playing with girls who 236 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: are older than you and women who are older than 237 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 1: you who had also some of them had obviously come 238 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: across not too long ago, but ye, some had played 239 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: rugby probably for a pretty decent amount of time. What 240 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: was that process like for you being inducted into that squad. 241 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, Like I said, it all happened so quickly. I 242 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 2: mean like I went to that initial that first camp 243 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 2: like earlier that year, just completely admiring these senior players. 244 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 2: Like some of us younger girls were like this is amazing, 245 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 2: Like that is that Rebecca Tavo, like the Australian captain. 246 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 2: You know that we were fangirling at this camp. So 247 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 2: it was like this is so sick. We're hanging out 248 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 2: with the older girls and then like next minute get 249 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 2: called up. You albad to Hong Kong and China with us. 250 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 2: I was like, I don't know if I'm ready, Are 251 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 2: you sure? No? I was so excited, And I think 252 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 2: when you're you can kind of see it with like 253 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 2: the new talent that's coming through the Seven's pathways. You 254 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 2: see these younger girls and they're just so hungry and 255 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 2: they're just so fresh and have so much energy, and 256 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 2: I feel like I can definitely relate to that kind 257 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 2: of mindset. You feel a little bit invincible almost when 258 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 2: you're young, and you know that you've got talent, and 259 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 2: you're kind of you're on that big stage, and you 260 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 2: know you're just back yourself. You haven't really had too 261 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 2: many setbacks and anything to kind of knock you off 262 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 2: your perch or keep you humble. But I was I 263 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 2: never really considered myself to be like the youngest in 264 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 2: the team. No one treated me like that. Opposition certainly 265 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 2: didn't treat me like that. So I was just really 266 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 2: eager to kind of like make my mark in the 267 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 2: team and earn the respect of the older players that 268 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 2: I was playing alongside. I feel like that was a 269 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 2: really big thing. So I was probably a little bit intimidated, 270 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 2: but also I don't know, like super confident to be 271 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 2: there as well. And yeah, I had so much i 272 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 2: think media attention around being so young, but that never 273 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 2: really phazed me. Like that's honestly something that I never 274 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 2: really looked too hard into. I was like, it doesn't 275 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 2: really matter that I'm seventeen, Like I never thought. Now 276 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 2: that I look back, I'm twenty six, and I look back, 277 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 2: I'm like, that's pretty amazing. And I look at these 278 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 2: young eighteen nineteen seventeen year olds I'm like, you guys 279 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 2: are so amazing. I could get babies, you know. Yeah, 280 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 2: I feel like the older, the older that I got, Like, 281 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 2: I'm at a point now where I can actually appreciate 282 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 2: it more now looking back than I did at the time. 283 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 2: At the time, I was like, doesn't matter how young 284 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 2: I am, Like, run at me. See if I feel 285 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 2: like a seventeen year old, you know what I mean, 286 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 2: Like that's I had that kind of attitude. Just I 287 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 2: feel like it was more putting pressure on myself to 288 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 2: be like, don't play like a seventeen year old. Don't 289 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 2: let people see that, like it's a weakness, you know. 290 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 2: So yeah, yeah, it's different looking back now, what was 291 00:13:58,240 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 2: it like? 292 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: So seventeen at the time time, what was the setup 293 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: like at that point in time? As a it was 294 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: still pretty semi professional at that point in time. 295 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, twenty thirteen, it was still only semi professional. So 296 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 2: we would respectively train like in our New South Wales 297 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 2: and Queensland bases. So Sunnybank was the Queensland base in 298 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 2: Brisbane and moor Park which is now where like this 299 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 2: centralized the seventh program. That's where we were based as 300 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 2: the New South Wales squad and we would train like 301 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 2: a few nights a week doing gym and field stuff, 302 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 2: but a lot of our training was if you couldn't 303 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 2: make those sessions, then you were doing a lot of 304 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 2: your training on your own. And in preparation for tournaments, 305 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: we would go to the AIS, go into camp to 306 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 2: the AIS for like a week, and then we would 307 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 2: drive from the Ais to the airport and go and 308 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 2: travel overseas for a week or two weeks. So there 309 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 2: wasn't a lot of like cohesion or what It definitely 310 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 2: wasn't centralized yet and you could definitely see that, I guess, 311 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 2: in our performance compared to the countries overseas that were 312 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 2: that one step ahead that were centralized, because we came 313 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: like seventh or something at the World Cup in twenty thirteen, 314 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 2: and that was I think the turning point in twenty 315 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 2: fourteen where they then gave us contracts and made us 316 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 2: a centralized program, and that's really where I guess we 317 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 2: saw started to see the benefits of that. 318 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: Before getting into that into that twenty fourteen process and 319 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: a bit about the Youth Olympics that we'll get to 320 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: as well. There was at the World Cup in twenty 321 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: thirteen that you ruptured your ACL. Yeah, what was that experience? 322 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: Like, Yeah, it was, honestly, it was so traumatic to 323 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 2: be honest, like I ended up because you can you 324 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: can do your ACL like just having structural weakness and 325 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 2: just like stepping off it and not realizing that you've 326 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 2: done it, or you can obviously do it in contact 327 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 2: where there's a lot of like impact and a lot 328 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 2: of trauma. So I did it in a big tackle, 329 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 2: And I just feel like looking back now as well'm 330 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 2: I kind of see the prevalence of young girls that 331 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: are still growing, going from like being a teenage girl 332 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 2: to a woman, like that adolescent kind of transition. You 333 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 2: look at their bodies and they're still quite like, I 334 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 2: don't know, there's still like a little bit bendy, and 335 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 2: they just don't have that muscle, like that muscle definition 336 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 2: and that strength to kind of support a contact sport. 337 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 2: And I think, honestly, like this is a conversation we 338 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 2: could have for hours, but I honestly think that that 339 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 2: is an issue in women's sport. Is just like throwing 340 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 2: these younger girls into full contact against fully grown women 341 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 2: that are quite strong and developed in their bodies, unprepared 342 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 2: and I really feel looking back now, I actually feel 343 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 2: like that's probably the situation that I was in. I mean, 344 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 2: if you could have told me, if I could have 345 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 2: seen the future, I probably would have still played. I 346 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 2: was so eager, but like looking back, I just think 347 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: that my body was definitely not conditioned for what the 348 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 2: level that I was playing at. So anyway, so I 349 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 2: did my ACL, MCL and miniscus as well. So I 350 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 2: did a good job of it, and that took my 351 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,439 Speaker 2: time coming back from that. I think that was a 352 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 2: really big test of character for me, especially my family 353 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 2: had just moved to Queensland and I'd obviously stayed in 354 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 2: Sydney on my own at seventeen to pursue a career 355 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 2: with seven So that was really hard just not to 356 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 2: have my family, who I'm really close with around me 357 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 2: to kind of support me. I mean they were there, 358 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 2: but like they weren't there in Personah, So that was 359 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 2: really difficult. And I'd learned a lot about myself over 360 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: that twelve months, and I think I built a lot 361 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 2: of resilience as well. It was really hard, like coming 362 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 2: back from an ACL. Anyone that knows or has had 363 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 2: a long term injury knows how lonely it can be. 364 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 2: And it's just you're literally after having surgery, you're literally 365 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 2: learning how to walk again, and then how to jog again, 366 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 2: and how to hop again, and just like the basic 367 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 2: fundamentals that people kind of take for granted, you're doing 368 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 2: that and you're doing it all on your own. So, yeah, 369 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 2: that was really really tough, and I ended up I 370 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 2: came I think I had complications around the nine month 371 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 2: mark where I then had to go in and have 372 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 2: a clean out, which then pushed my comeback a couple 373 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 2: of months. So I ended up coming back around thirteen months. Yeah, 374 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 2: so that was it was really tough. But I'm super 375 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,919 Speaker 2: grateful for all of the hardship that I've kind of 376 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: injured in terms of injury and whatnot. It's shaped who 377 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 2: I am. 378 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: So Yeah, I always find because I probably would say 379 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: the same thing when I talk about some of the 380 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: injuries that I've been through, that you learn a lot 381 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 1: about yourself. And I think people say that a lot 382 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: around injuries. What did you actually learn about yourself during 383 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 1: a rough process like that. 384 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a really good question. I learned. I feel 385 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:45,880 Speaker 2: like I learned that what my capabilities were, I'd never 386 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 2: really been tested like that, and being put in a 387 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:53,679 Speaker 2: position of weakness essentially, Like I was always a strong 388 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 2: athlete growing up, and I'd only ever sprained my ankle 389 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 2: here and there, and it was never anything too major. 390 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 2: But being in a position where you're so weak and 391 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 2: you literally have to either put in the work or 392 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 2: just live with a deficit for the rest of your life, 393 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 2: Like I was really challenged there and just having super 394 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 2: hard days where I just felt like that's it, I'm done, 395 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 2: I don't feel like playing sport anymore. I just was 396 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 2: able to kind of pick myself up, dust myself off, 397 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 2: and overcome those those days. And it was those little 398 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 2: wins that really built character for me. Even you know, 399 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 2: just doing strength work or doing conditioning or doing rehab 400 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 2: runs by yourself, and like you would know, rehab runs 401 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:33,679 Speaker 2: a hell, especially when you're doing them by yourself and 402 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 2: you're learning how to change direction and you're learning how 403 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 2: to even just straight line running and you feel like 404 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 2: a baby giraffe off and not not running for four months, 405 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 2: like or six months in my case, actually I didn't 406 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 2: run for six months after surgery, and then my first 407 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 2: run back, I was like I forgot how to run. Literally, 408 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,159 Speaker 2: I was like, I feel so uncoordinated, but just like 409 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 2: seeing the improvement and just having those little wins, having 410 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 2: good days bad days. Yeah, it really tested me, but 411 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 2: I just it became those little hurdles and I feel like, yeah, 412 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 2: once you know they had accumulated, that gave me a 413 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 2: lot of like inner strength and inner confidence. It's really cool. 414 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: I love this idea because I've actually a few athletes 415 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: recently on the podcast have talked about whether it's like 416 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: the injury process or mental health or just overcoming stuff. 417 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: And it's this idea of like getting little bits of evidence, 418 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,360 Speaker 1: getting little wins and then it all compounds, Yeah, to teach. 419 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 2: You a lot. It's really really cool exactly. 420 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 1: And I guess this piece around twenty fourteen where they'd 421 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: centralize the program, it'd become full time because Rugby Australia 422 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,640 Speaker 1: had made the decision that first priority was to qualify 423 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: for the Olympics in Rio and then from there, I 424 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: guess they wanted to win a gold medal, so they 425 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: kind of came together and made this decision to centralize 426 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: the program. The salaries were not huge, they were pretty 427 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: small amounts. Let's go with that. In twenty fourteen. But 428 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: for me, I found it really interesting. I came across 429 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: from basketball at the time, but to have the opportun 430 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 1: unity and the resources to be a full time athlete 431 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 1: was an absolute game changer. Did you find it the same? 432 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent. And I feel like, once again, 433 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 2: like the older I get and the more exposure I 434 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 2: have even to like different sports and just paying attention 435 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 2: to how other codes kind of are working their systems 436 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 2: in terms of paying their female athletes, that keeping them 437 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,640 Speaker 2: part time or making them full time. I just find 438 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 2: that whole conversation really interesting and just to cland it. 439 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 2: For us in twenty fourteen to kind of be part 440 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 2: of that first ever squad that were made full time, 441 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 2: the money was terrible, like let's be honest, but in 442 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 2: terms of the like the resources that we had though, 443 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 2: in terms of having like nutrition, us physios on call, 444 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 2: having a coach, head coach, manager, high performance staff, having 445 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 2: everyone that you need in a full time program, we 446 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 2: had that. So I guess like we had it better 447 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 2: than a lot of female athletes in twenty fourteen, which 448 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 2: is like I cannot believe it's like so long ago. 449 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: It's a bit scary, isn't it. 450 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 2: Is scary. Yeah, and just to see how much like 451 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 2: how far ahead I guess we were being in the 452 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 2: seventh program and even looking now like we're still a 453 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 2: lot of codes are still part time. Yeah, it's crazy 454 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 2: to think that, Like, you know, Rugby really took a 455 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: leap of faith, obviously wanting to win a gold medal, 456 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 2: but yeah, I was like fresh out of high school, 457 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,199 Speaker 2: so I feel like in context it didn't really I 458 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 2: was like, this is sick. I'm getting paid to play 459 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 2: for me, like I haven't even had a real job yet. Yeah, 460 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 2: I guess like and a lot of us were that age, 461 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:36,199 Speaker 2: like that high school age. I feel like we had 462 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,919 Speaker 2: a really super young squad around that twenty fourteen to 463 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:43,679 Speaker 2: twenty sixteen like era. So yeah, I think that appreciation 464 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 2: probably wasn't there as much as what it would be 465 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 2: now looking back, But it was just more like the 466 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 2: gratitude to be like this is. We had friends that 467 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 2: were you know, out of school, studying at UNI getting 468 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:56,719 Speaker 2: their first real jobs that were just kind of like, 469 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 2: you guys are just absolutely taking the piss. You're getting paid, 470 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 2: getting paid to run around and play footy. And don't 471 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 2: get me wrong, we earned our money, like it was 472 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 2: so hard. 473 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 3: We earned every cent of that, We owned every stan 474 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 3: But no, it was really cool to be part of 475 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 3: and just interesting to see the different perspectives from the 476 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 3: senior players in the group that had worked so hard 477 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:22,679 Speaker 3: and we're probably so grateful for the opportunity to be 478 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 3: full time, compared to a lot of the younger players 479 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 3: that were like this is amazing. 480 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, absolutely, heading well getting closer to the re 481 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: Olympics in twenty sixteen, both of us had some pretty 482 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 1: traumatic experiences as we got closer. Yeah, I fractured my 483 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: arm three times in the space of twelve months and 484 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 1: had to go through a pretty lengthy rehab process, and 485 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 1: you did your knee for the second time. 486 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was intense. So twenty fifteen was the year 487 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 2: that we were qualifying, so that was the season that 488 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:58,880 Speaker 2: we were to qualify for RIO, and obviously qualify would 489 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 2: like set our seating as well. And it was the 490 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 2: end of season in twenty fifteen in Amsterdam that I 491 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 2: did my ACL for the second time. So that was 492 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 2: and again it was in contact, so it was I 493 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 2: was shattered at that point because I knew what it 494 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 2: felt like and I knew in that moment like I 495 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 2: just felt if you've ever done your ACL in contact, 496 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 2: it's like a gunshot, It's like someone's literally snipered you, 497 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,120 Speaker 2: and it's loud. It's like a loud pop. So I 498 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 2: just knew in the tackle the way I fell and 499 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 2: just having had so I had one player up top 500 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 2: that I was kind of she had me by my jersey, 501 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,159 Speaker 2: I had her by her jersey, and then I had 502 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 2: another player that just kind of chopped me from the side, 503 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,679 Speaker 2: and that's when I just felt it and I just screamed. 504 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,880 Speaker 2: I was in so much pain, and I just knew 505 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 2: straight away. I was like I just felt the instability 506 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:51,679 Speaker 2: and just felt how much pain I was in. It 507 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 2: was like deja vu. It was such a scary moment. 508 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:56,639 Speaker 2: I think it was a bit bittersweet because we just 509 00:24:56,680 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 2: technically qualified for Rio at that tournament. So look it 510 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 2: back at photos and I'm like standing out the crutches, 511 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 2: like with tears, like smiling, like, yeah, you were going everywhere. 512 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 2: It was so funny that I look back at those 513 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 2: photos now, but I'm like, that's the nature of sport. 514 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:16,399 Speaker 2: It's just so cutthroat, you know, totally. But then yeah, 515 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 2: and fast forward to Rio. I ended up like I 516 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 2: with that second RICO. I ended up coming back in 517 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 2: ten months, So I think, yeah, was it twenty fifteen 518 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 2: that I did it. 519 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it would have been, yeah, the end 520 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: of twenty fifteen, end of twenty fifteen, and you had 521 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 1: about nine months or so to get ten months ten months, Yeah, 522 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: so it was around like yeah, I think maybe like 523 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 1: August twenty fifteen that I did it. 524 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 2: So I had about ten months. I came back in 525 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 2: ten months. But then I had another little hiccup in 526 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 2: terms of because you when you do that much damage, 527 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,199 Speaker 2: you would know clo like when you do that much damage, 528 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 2: you get a little bit of like cartilage that can 529 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 2: float around in there, you get miniskis damage. So I 530 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 2: had that and I struggled with that for a little bit, 531 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 2: and I had some cartilage damage in there, and I 532 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 2: had a loose body that was floating around, and we 533 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 2: thought that we could manage it all the way up 534 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 2: to Rio, and it got one week out when the 535 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 2: team was announced and I was announced as the first 536 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 2: Shadow to travel. Over one week out, we I had 537 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 2: my medical with the doc and my knee wasn't getting 538 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,919 Speaker 2: any better. It was progressively getting worse and I just 539 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 2: had the final medical in that team room to see 540 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 2: the doctor see whether he'd clear me or not. I 541 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 2: knew what the answer was going to be, but I 542 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:31,439 Speaker 2: went in there and he had a look at it 543 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 2: and he was like, I'm so sorry, but there's no 544 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 2: way you're not going. And yeah, that was a week 545 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:38,719 Speaker 2: before the team was set to leave, and I was 546 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 2: just completely shattered, like and yeah, that was probably one 547 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:45,440 Speaker 2: of that was one of one of the lowest points 548 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 2: in my life that month or that two months after that, 549 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 2: I really had to kind of pick myself up. I 550 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 2: think I just placed so much of my personal value. 551 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 2: And I'm sure we'll get a little bit deeper into 552 00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:00,080 Speaker 2: this later, but like, as an athlete, I placed all 553 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:02,639 Speaker 2: of my value into being an athlete, and I placed 554 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:04,640 Speaker 2: so much and you have to be in that mindset 555 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 2: to win an Olympic gold and to be an Olympian, 556 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 2: and a lot of people don't see that with athletes 557 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 2: that you put like you put so much pressure on 558 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 2: yourself to just be the best, and you have this 559 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 2: mentality where you're like you can't even think about failure, 560 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:22,200 Speaker 2: like failure is just not even an option, and if 561 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 2: you do failure, you just don't have that plan B 562 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:26,199 Speaker 2: to go. Okay, things didn't work out the way I 563 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 2: expected them to. What do I do now? And I 564 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,120 Speaker 2: feel like that was the position that I was kind 565 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 2: of left in, was like the last four years leading 566 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 2: up to this particular moment, this event, and it just 567 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 2: has gone completely pair shaped and not the way that 568 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 2: I anticipated it ongoing. And I didn't have a plan B. 569 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 2: I was only twenty at the time, so I still 570 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 2: learning about myself, like still you know, kind of developing 571 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 2: emotional maturity. So I really struggled to process process that 572 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:56,439 Speaker 2: just not even not being able to be there with 573 00:27:56,520 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 2: you guys, like, yeah, that really that hurt me pretty deep. 574 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 2: A yeah, yeah. 575 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 1: And I unfortunately got to experience a similar thing with 576 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,160 Speaker 1: the Olympics last year where refractioned my cheatbone just before 577 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 1: we went. We've had kind of similar journeys in different ways, 578 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,679 Speaker 1: kind of unfortunately missing out and experiencing some heartbreak. But 579 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 1: I love what you touched on there because I think 580 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 1: as an athlete, it's so tricky nailing this balance where 581 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:29,919 Speaker 1: you don't ever want to not invest enough of yourself 582 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: that you can't be successful, that you'll get to the 583 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 1: world stage or playing in the grand final of the 584 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: NLW or whatever. That stage looks like you don't ever 585 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: want to get to that and think, if only I'd 586 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 1: put a bit more in. Then there's this part of 587 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 1: you where it's like, and I'm sure you would have 588 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 1: learned this as you've grown up a bit more, because 589 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 1: I know I certainly have. Is I actually now have 590 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 1: multiple other things in my life that give me so 591 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 1: much purpose and it's actually okay for me to invest 592 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: I'm into them and to be okay that sport and 593 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: football is not my entire value and my entire worth 594 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: and my entire being. 595 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, You're so much more than an athlete. And 596 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 2: I think like we both probably learned that the hard 597 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 2: way and had to kind of hit rock bottom after, 598 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 2: you know, obviously the experiences that we both had. I 599 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:22,720 Speaker 2: know that I certainly did. I just I had a 600 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 2: conversation with a sports psych at one point and he 601 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 2: said to me, you know, like he asked me, if 602 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 2: you made the Olympics and you want a gold medal, 603 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 2: how would your family feel? And I was like, oh, 604 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 2: they'd be so happy for me, Like he said, would 605 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 2: they love you? And I was like, yeah, of course 606 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 2: they would love me like it's my family. They'd be 607 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 2: so over the mood, you know, stoked. And then he said, okay, 608 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 2: so if you didn't make the Olympics and you didn't 609 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,239 Speaker 2: win a gold medal, how would your family feel. I 610 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 2: was like, Oh, they'd still be so proud of me. 611 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 2: And he said would they love you any different? And 612 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 2: I was like, no, they just love me the same, 613 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 2: And he was just like, there's your answer. He's like, 614 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 2: your value is so much more than just being an 615 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 2: athlete and just making the pinnacle of this particular sport 616 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 2: and getting to an event. And he's like, that's the 617 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 2: reality of sports sometimes, is that it doesn't work out perfect. 618 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 2: And there is such a fine line that you're dancing 619 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 2: on being an elite athlete between injury and peaking, and 620 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 2: you know all of those factors that come into play. 621 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 2: And I read another article after the twenty sixteen Olympics 622 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 2: that was really cool and it was just like, you 623 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:26,160 Speaker 2: guys see like the top one percent, and you don't 624 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 2: see the athletes that just fall short, whether it's due 625 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 2: to injury, or whether it's due to having a bad 626 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 2: performance in a qualifier or a trial, or just all 627 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 2: of those factors that come into play. It's the Olympics 628 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 2: is like you have to peak at the perfect time, 629 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 2: and it doesn't work. It's not perfect for everyone. So 630 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 2: it's really interesting when you open your mind up as 631 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 2: an athlete to those to that perspective and to kind 632 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 2: of just let yourself off in you know, like let 633 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 2: yourself off the hook in terms of all the pressure 634 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 2: that you put yourself under. I think learning that was 635 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 2: a pretty cool realization. Hey, and that contributed to a 636 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 2: lot of my growth over like the last five years. 637 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 2: I'd say, it's really special. 638 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:07,360 Speaker 1: I actually got a big teary when you're saying that 639 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: about the question about would your family still love you? 640 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 1: Because I think that's a really powerful message. I think, 641 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: whether it's in sport or we have a lot of 642 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 1: people who listen right who might not even play sport, 643 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: Like I just think as a general in general life thing, 644 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:24,480 Speaker 1: we often put so much pressure on ourselves to achieve 645 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 1: in different areas of our life. Yeah, it's cool and 646 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 1: it's special for your family and the people that love 647 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 1: you to be a part of those things, But it's 648 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:33,200 Speaker 1: never going to change how. 649 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 2: Much they love you. No, And it's never going to 650 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 2: change your value as a person, like your mere existence 651 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 2: is enough, you know, And I think that's that message 652 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 2: along the mental health side of things needs to just 653 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 2: be it needs to be emphasized. Yes, especially like especially 654 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 2: like our younger community. We live in such a fast 655 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 2: paced environment at the moment, and it's just pressures left, 656 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:56,520 Speaker 2: right and center, and I just think, yeah, as a 657 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 2: broad like in a broad scope, I think that's a 658 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 2: really important message. Yeah. Absolutely. 659 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 1: The year following you sat down and you had a 660 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 1: pretty good think. Not in a short period of time, 661 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: I'm sure it's something that kind of happened over a 662 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: period of time and you kind of came to the 663 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:16,240 Speaker 1: realization that maybe I'm actually not enjoying this as much 664 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:17,520 Speaker 1: as what I used to. 665 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I did. That's when I kind of put my 666 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 2: big girl pants on, I think, and I was like, 667 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:26,480 Speaker 2: I've just been like so lucky to be a professional 668 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:29,480 Speaker 2: athlete from you know, like the moment when I was 669 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 2: in year twelve really and the last I think it 670 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 2: was five years from them. And then I ended up 671 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 2: playing another season with Sevens after the Olympics, so I 672 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 2: had I had an extra month off just with leave. 673 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:44,719 Speaker 2: I just needed to kind of get my head right 674 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 2: before I came back into pre season with the squad, 675 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 2: and the coaching staff were all fine with that, knowing 676 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 2: that it was a bit of a tough time for me. 677 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 2: And then I came back and obviously had a pre season, 678 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 2: and then we got through another season and we finished 679 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 2: up in France, which was also like us just being 680 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 2: able to stay over there for an extra few weeks 681 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 2: and just enjoy each other's company. There'll be some of 682 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 2: the best memories like ever that I kind of hold 683 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 2: close to me, so and that really contributed to the 684 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 2: decision that I that I made, But it was definitely 685 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 2: something that I was thinking about for that twelve months 686 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:20,680 Speaker 2: after Rio. It kind of shifted my perspective and just 687 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 2: even off the back of the conversation we were just having, 688 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 2: like just kind of shifting my perspective from like I'm 689 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 2: not just an athlete, There's so much more that I 690 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:29,600 Speaker 2: have to offer in life and kind of starting to 691 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 2: you know, like get my mind working in that kind 692 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 2: of fashion. So I started thinking about, you know, opportunities 693 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 2: outside of sport and like the plan B kind of 694 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 2: stuff I was at UNI, but that I was only 695 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:45,000 Speaker 2: doing any part time and I wasn't really studying something 696 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 2: that I wanted to do, so yeah, just trying to 697 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:51,320 Speaker 2: think of a plan B and I had that nice 698 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 2: few weeks in Europe with you guys, some of our 699 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:58,200 Speaker 2: good friends, and that just helped me really refresh and 700 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 2: come home and I sat down with my mum and 701 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 2: I was like, Mum, I've been feeling like this for 702 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 2: a long time. I think I think I'm just going 703 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:05,560 Speaker 2: to step away from Seven's and maybe have like a 704 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 2: year off. But I worked up the courage to eventually 705 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:11,680 Speaker 2: do that and had a meeting with the coaching staff 706 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 2: and just let them know or just ask for a 707 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:15,880 Speaker 2: release from my contract. I still had six months left 708 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 2: until the end of twenty seventeen from when they that's 709 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 2: when they were going to renew contracts, and I just yeah, 710 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 2: asked for a release before we went into another preseason. 711 00:34:25,080 --> 00:34:26,719 Speaker 2: And it was, honestly, at the time, it was the 712 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 2: best thing that I did, because I just felt I 713 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 2: felt like the weight of the world was kind of 714 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 2: lifted off my shoulders. I just felt like and even 715 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:38,360 Speaker 2: just like for my for myself, but also my squad, 716 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 2: like I just felt like I wasn't there one hundred percent. 717 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:44,560 Speaker 2: It got to a point the last few months of 718 00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 2: that season, it got to a point where I was 719 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:48,880 Speaker 2: like struggling to get out of bed to go to 720 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 2: training and just really not wanting to be there and 721 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 2: just kind of losing that competitive edge a little bit 722 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:56,839 Speaker 2: just because I didn't want to be there. And that's 723 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 2: not like me. I'm like to be in that squad, 724 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:01,160 Speaker 2: You've got to be a certain type of person in 725 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:04,400 Speaker 2: terms of like just striving for the best. It's a 726 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 2: very elite environment, and I just found like it wasn't 727 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:09,799 Speaker 2: like myself to not be competitive and not want to 728 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:12,080 Speaker 2: be there and not want to constantly be pushing for 729 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:14,960 Speaker 2: PBS and constantly be wanting to get fitter, faster, stronger. 730 00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:17,319 Speaker 2: I have that mentality. That mentality just kind of like 731 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 2: went out the window in like the last few months. 732 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:22,720 Speaker 2: So I knew that it was time to make a change, 733 00:35:22,719 --> 00:35:26,080 Speaker 2: and I did that and it was really really good 734 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 2: for me, good for my mental health, just to refresh 735 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:30,680 Speaker 2: and like I say it sometimes, you know when I'm 736 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:33,640 Speaker 2: sharing my story, I went and got a normal job 737 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:36,360 Speaker 2: and office nine to five jobs, and it was the 738 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:39,759 Speaker 2: funnest thing ever. Honestly, I really enjoyed it. I was 739 00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:42,160 Speaker 2: like I just feel so normal, you know, Like I 740 00:35:42,200 --> 00:35:44,120 Speaker 2: go to work and I just like go home and 741 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:45,719 Speaker 2: have a normal life. And I could just go to 742 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 2: a gym and it doesn't have to be like trying 743 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:50,000 Speaker 2: to lift or squat as heavy as I can to 744 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 2: like be the best athlete in the gym. It was 745 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:55,719 Speaker 2: just normal, like a super normal lifestyle. And yeah, I 746 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:58,560 Speaker 2: really enjoyed that for like eighteen months, and then I 747 00:35:58,600 --> 00:35:59,800 Speaker 2: got a bit antsy again. 748 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:05,880 Speaker 1: Now for a quick halftime break. Workplace Law is a 749 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:09,120 Speaker 1: law firm focused on supporting and empowering FEMA athletes to 750 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:11,799 Speaker 1: take control of their careers. If you can't afford an 751 00:36:11,840 --> 00:36:14,360 Speaker 1: agent or would like to manage your own career, Workplace 752 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,480 Speaker 1: Law would love to help you. They provide FEMA athletes 753 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:21,120 Speaker 1: with guidance through the complexities of player contracts, negotiations and 754 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 1: sponsorship agreements, personal brand building, mentoring with on and off 755 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 1: field careers, crisis management, and work with individuals to ensure 756 00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:32,520 Speaker 1: they respond to incidents and media stories in an appropriate manner, 757 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:37,759 Speaker 1: and advice and representation in disciplinary hearings and tribunals. Find 758 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:41,440 Speaker 1: out more at www. Dot Workplace Law dot com dot au. 759 00:36:42,719 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 2: So eighteen months. 760 00:36:43,600 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 1: In the office job get a little bit antsy, what's 761 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:48,359 Speaker 1: the next decision from there? 762 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:55,360 Speaker 2: So I had a couple of friends, so this is 763 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:58,319 Speaker 2: this is how it all transpired. So I was playing 764 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:01,200 Speaker 2: Social Ods Tag, which was fu on, like really really good, 765 00:37:01,239 --> 00:37:04,440 Speaker 2: just playing like a week night comp and that was 766 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:08,080 Speaker 2: We're playing Mixed. So Mixed gets so intense and super serious. 767 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:10,239 Speaker 2: I love it like that. I probably wouldn't ever play 768 00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:12,759 Speaker 2: any other comp other than Mixed because you can kind 769 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:14,719 Speaker 2: of get a little bit like rough with the with 770 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:16,880 Speaker 2: the boys trying to put shots on you and stuff. 771 00:37:18,239 --> 00:37:19,759 Speaker 2: So that was I was kind of like, you know, 772 00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 2: like getting my adrenaline hits out of out of playing 773 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:27,160 Speaker 2: like Wednesday night Tag. But I was We moved to 774 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:29,840 Speaker 2: my fiance and I moved to Cronulla. He was playing 775 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 2: at the Sharks at the time, so so we both 776 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 2: moved to Cronulla. Hadn't lived in the Shire before, so 777 00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:36,399 Speaker 2: that was really exciting for us to kind of move 778 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:38,439 Speaker 2: somewhere new. We both kind of grew up in the East, 779 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:42,279 Speaker 2: so change locations and just you know, refresh and start 780 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:46,360 Speaker 2: somewhere new. He played with the Sharks for two seasons 781 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:50,319 Speaker 2: and through him and some of his teammates, I kind 782 00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:52,759 Speaker 2: of reconnected with some old friends that I'd played touch 783 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 2: with through school and we were at a farewell party 784 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:59,080 Speaker 2: on a boat one year after the first season that 785 00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:02,360 Speaker 2: he was with them, and I ran into these girls 786 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:04,520 Speaker 2: and they were like, tee, come and play rugby league. 787 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:06,879 Speaker 2: And I'd actually been watching. I watched the first ever 788 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 2: NROLW season that was the year that I had off, 789 00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:12,760 Speaker 2: so first ever NLW season and then like the first 790 00:38:12,760 --> 00:38:15,719 Speaker 2: women's State of Origin that was televised online, and like 791 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:18,640 Speaker 2: rugby league really started to kind of gain traction and 792 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:21,920 Speaker 2: started to blow up, and I was just like I 793 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:23,520 Speaker 2: was in or I was like, this is awesome, and 794 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:26,719 Speaker 2: like they're getting you know, real traction and like getting 795 00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:29,040 Speaker 2: attention and support from the NRL or from the media, 796 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:30,799 Speaker 2: and they're really kind of blowing up the women's game. 797 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:33,120 Speaker 2: And I love that, especially from where we'd been, you know, 798 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:37,960 Speaker 2: being pioneers of you know, rugby sevens and contributing to 799 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:40,480 Speaker 2: kind of that growth. Rugby league was kind of in 800 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:42,600 Speaker 2: that same phase and it was really appealing to a 801 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,239 Speaker 2: lot of people at that stage. So when I ran 802 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:47,360 Speaker 2: into those girls and they said, come and have a 803 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:49,479 Speaker 2: run with us at the Caronala Sharks training was around 804 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:51,360 Speaker 2: the corner from my house living in Cronola, So I 805 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,440 Speaker 2: was like, why not give it a crack. I was 806 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:58,000 Speaker 2: super super nervous for my first induction day. Mind you, 807 00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:00,600 Speaker 2: this is just like club footy but being competitive. I 808 00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 2: was like, you know, like I have to earn my 809 00:39:03,719 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 2: right to be here, like have to kind of make 810 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:08,880 Speaker 2: my you know, just earn this jersey or like a 811 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:10,759 Speaker 2: spot in this squad. I'd like literally was like I 812 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:12,400 Speaker 2: don't even know if I'm going to make the top thirty. 813 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:14,879 Speaker 2: Like I was just putting myself on just so much 814 00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:17,719 Speaker 2: pressure because I'm so intense and competitive, Like what is 815 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:22,479 Speaker 2: wrong with meally? So I got to like my first 816 00:39:22,680 --> 00:39:26,320 Speaker 2: I got to my first induction training at the Corona 817 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:29,919 Speaker 2: Sharks and we had fitness testing, and honestly, I had 818 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:32,520 Speaker 2: not run for like I'd not actually gone for a 819 00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:34,399 Speaker 2: long run. I don't have the attention span to run 820 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,759 Speaker 2: long distance. So the only running I've really done was 821 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:39,520 Speaker 2: playing like park tag. So I was like, oh, I'm 822 00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:43,120 Speaker 2: gonna be so unfit, but like, surprisingly I was actually 823 00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:44,600 Speaker 2: pretty fit. And then when I look back at it, 824 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:47,360 Speaker 2: I'm like grateful for sevens because I feel like seven 825 00:39:47,480 --> 00:39:50,960 Speaker 2: positioning changes your whole body. It just changes your body 826 00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:54,560 Speaker 2: and you're left with like just this stamina that just 827 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:56,360 Speaker 2: doesn't go away, which is great. I'm grateful for it 828 00:39:56,880 --> 00:39:58,879 Speaker 2: that we love that we love that we do all 829 00:39:58,920 --> 00:40:01,960 Speaker 2: of those all of those years of crunning for those 830 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:08,840 Speaker 2: who don't know cry running, they paid, paid off, paid dividends. Yeah. 831 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:12,200 Speaker 2: So I started with the Sharks with the Panola Sharks 832 00:40:12,239 --> 00:40:15,680 Speaker 2: and honestly, Chloe like that just kicked off my rugby league, 833 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:19,760 Speaker 2: I guess career and I love playing at the Kernela Sharks. 834 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:23,360 Speaker 2: I love playing club footy there and that was just 835 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:25,560 Speaker 2: a really really positive experience for me to kind of 836 00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:29,399 Speaker 2: start at. It's like it's a great club. And from 837 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:33,839 Speaker 2: that year that was twenty nineteen, I just progressed really 838 00:40:33,920 --> 00:40:37,839 Speaker 2: quickly in the game, I guess, yeah, just kind of 839 00:40:38,360 --> 00:40:41,560 Speaker 2: right time and just take making the most of opportunities 840 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:43,600 Speaker 2: that came. But I played for the Sharks in the 841 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:46,520 Speaker 2: Harmy Norman Premiership and then I got selected in the 842 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:50,440 Speaker 2: city team to play City Country or the National Champs 843 00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:52,879 Speaker 2: it was called that year, and then from their game 844 00:40:52,920 --> 00:40:57,680 Speaker 2: selection to play State of Origin and a Jillarouse Jersey 845 00:40:57,719 --> 00:40:59,160 Speaker 2: as well at the end of the year. So that 846 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:01,960 Speaker 2: was another really really big year for me. I think 847 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:05,319 Speaker 2: the most the most special thing that I kind of 848 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:09,520 Speaker 2: touch on with my rugby league journey was And I 849 00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:13,440 Speaker 2: get really emotional like talking about this, because especially in 850 00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:17,120 Speaker 2: those kind of intimate jersey presentation environments, you kind of 851 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:18,920 Speaker 2: have to say what the jersey means to you and 852 00:41:18,960 --> 00:41:21,120 Speaker 2: like kind of share your story. And I think for 853 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:25,000 Speaker 2: me as a mature athlete starting so young in a 854 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:27,920 Speaker 2: different code and all the experience that I'd had previously, 855 00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:30,840 Speaker 2: I feel like these jerseys mean so much more to 856 00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:32,560 Speaker 2: me now because I never thought that I was ever 857 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:35,799 Speaker 2: going to pull on a representative jersey in my life. Again, 858 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:39,480 Speaker 2: I kind of had just accepted that. It just accepted, 859 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:42,000 Speaker 2: you know, that I stepped away from the professional athlete 860 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:44,120 Speaker 2: life and then that was that. So to be able 861 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:47,640 Speaker 2: to kind of just progressively earn, you know, like a 862 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:49,719 Speaker 2: city jersey, an e South Wales jersey, and then an 863 00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:53,600 Speaker 2: Australian jersey. When I got my Juleruse jersey, like I 864 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:57,160 Speaker 2: just the rush of emotions over like the last six 865 00:41:57,239 --> 00:42:00,920 Speaker 2: years had just kind of overcame overwhelmed me, and I 866 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:03,040 Speaker 2: kind of that came to that realization that I was 867 00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:04,799 Speaker 2: like I never thought that I would ever pull on 868 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:06,759 Speaker 2: a green and gold jersey again, and I think that 869 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:10,200 Speaker 2: is super special to me. But I'm so much more 870 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:12,360 Speaker 2: of a mature athlete than what I was, and I 871 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:16,359 Speaker 2: think i'd Yeah, it's just a really nice realization to have. 872 00:42:16,440 --> 00:42:18,279 Speaker 2: And you look at the game a different way, you 873 00:42:18,320 --> 00:42:21,759 Speaker 2: look at playing sport a different way, and it makes 874 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:25,000 Speaker 2: it all kind of a little bit easier to balance life. 875 00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:28,280 Speaker 2: But yeah, so that's kind of that was my introduction 876 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:31,560 Speaker 2: to rugby league. In a nutshell. It all happened really quickly. Again, 877 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:34,160 Speaker 2: but yeah, I'm really really happy with where I'm at 878 00:42:34,280 --> 00:42:35,880 Speaker 2: the moment. That's really cool. 879 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:38,560 Speaker 1: Every week on the show, I have a question from 880 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:41,760 Speaker 1: a six year old and from my granny, My beautiful grannie, 881 00:42:41,920 --> 00:42:45,240 Speaker 1: you know, well, she's so special. She was very excited 882 00:42:45,280 --> 00:42:46,279 Speaker 1: when she heard you were coming on. 883 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:52,000 Speaker 2: Yes, Hi, Tiana, what do you think is the most 884 00:42:52,040 --> 00:42:55,560 Speaker 2: important lesson you have learned in your life so far? 885 00:42:57,239 --> 00:42:57,600 Speaker 3: Oh? 886 00:42:57,640 --> 00:43:04,520 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm getting emotional just hearing your voice. Oh, hi, Grannie, 887 00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:13,000 Speaker 2: that makes me so emotional. Oh she's so sweet. Good question, Grannie. 888 00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:16,440 Speaker 2: I think the most important lesson that I've learned in 889 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:20,520 Speaker 2: my life at the moment is not to take yourself 890 00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:24,400 Speaker 2: too seriously. I think. I think with my experience obviously 891 00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:28,120 Speaker 2: losing dad at twelve as well and growing up, you know, 892 00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:31,520 Speaker 2: with that kind of trauma, really easy to kind of 893 00:43:32,120 --> 00:43:37,920 Speaker 2: fall victim to everything. And I think, yeah, like all 894 00:43:37,960 --> 00:43:40,760 Speaker 2: of my experience with sport and all of the highs 895 00:43:40,760 --> 00:43:43,360 Speaker 2: and the lows, I just think, like, life's too short. 896 00:43:43,880 --> 00:43:47,359 Speaker 2: It's so cliche, but it just rings so true. Life 897 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:49,680 Speaker 2: is too short. Just with the small stuff and don't 898 00:43:49,719 --> 00:43:53,000 Speaker 2: take yourself too seriously and just be true to who 899 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:56,160 Speaker 2: you really are. I think they're the kind of like 900 00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:57,319 Speaker 2: the values that I live by. 901 00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:00,799 Speaker 1: It's really beautiful. Grannie would love that. She would love 902 00:44:00,840 --> 00:44:05,400 Speaker 1: that crying. She does that to a lot of people. 903 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:07,680 Speaker 1: She's a special lady. She is so special. 904 00:44:07,840 --> 00:44:08,279 Speaker 2: She is. 905 00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:10,759 Speaker 1: I wanted to chat to you about the tattoo that 906 00:44:10,800 --> 00:44:13,439 Speaker 1: you have on your leg that you went to get 907 00:44:13,520 --> 00:44:17,120 Speaker 1: and there's a pretty special story around that tattoo for 908 00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:19,800 Speaker 1: you and in relation to your dad and your tongue 909 00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:23,400 Speaker 1: in heritage. You are you happy to Are you comfortable 910 00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:24,960 Speaker 1: to share that story around your tattoo? 911 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:27,359 Speaker 2: Of course I am. Yeah. I love talking about it. 912 00:44:27,360 --> 00:44:31,320 Speaker 2: It's really cool because, like I guess like the fireband 913 00:44:31,400 --> 00:44:35,720 Speaker 2: wasn't really like a trend, it wasn't really in. And 914 00:44:36,080 --> 00:44:37,960 Speaker 2: so for those that don't know, I lost my dad 915 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,239 Speaker 2: when I was twelve. So Dad was murdered in two 916 00:44:40,239 --> 00:44:43,600 Speaker 2: thousand and eight. And I'm the oldest of four, so 917 00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:45,960 Speaker 2: I was twelve, my little sister was eight, my brother 918 00:44:46,040 --> 00:44:49,480 Speaker 2: was three, and my baby sister was one, and that 919 00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:52,640 Speaker 2: the day before. So the last day that we saw him, 920 00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:56,680 Speaker 2: he ran him and Mum owned his concreting business, so 921 00:44:57,520 --> 00:44:59,880 Speaker 2: he had to go oversee a couple of jobs with 922 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:01,759 Speaker 2: some of the boys that worked for him, and then 923 00:45:01,760 --> 00:45:04,040 Speaker 2: he was going to go and get his tattoo finished off. 924 00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:07,960 Speaker 2: And we had just gotten back from a family holiday 925 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:10,319 Speaker 2: in Fiji, So this was literally one week after we'd 926 00:45:10,360 --> 00:45:13,240 Speaker 2: landed back home, and it was the first ever family 927 00:45:13,239 --> 00:45:15,439 Speaker 2: holiday we've been on together, like the six of us, 928 00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:18,080 Speaker 2: so it was really really special. Mom and Dad were 929 00:45:18,080 --> 00:45:21,560 Speaker 2: feeling like really excited for you know, the new new year, 930 00:45:21,640 --> 00:45:25,719 Speaker 2: the new business year that was ahead, and he wanted 931 00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:27,480 Speaker 2: to go and get his tattoo finished off that he'd 932 00:45:27,480 --> 00:45:29,080 Speaker 2: had for a little while. We need to go get 933 00:45:29,120 --> 00:45:32,359 Speaker 2: some like coloring and shading. Anyway, we ended up didn't 934 00:45:32,360 --> 00:45:34,040 Speaker 2: see him. He never came home and we never got 935 00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:37,680 Speaker 2: to see the finished product. So a few months later, 936 00:45:37,800 --> 00:45:40,000 Speaker 2: my mum reached out to dad's friend who was the 937 00:45:40,040 --> 00:45:45,600 Speaker 2: tattoo artist that's he's based in New Zealand. She reached 938 00:45:45,600 --> 00:45:49,200 Speaker 2: out to him to then create a piece for her. 939 00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:51,319 Speaker 2: She said to him, you know, I want a piece 940 00:45:51,360 --> 00:45:55,080 Speaker 2: of Solomon's tattoos. I feel like having a piece of 941 00:45:55,120 --> 00:45:57,640 Speaker 2: his artwork and you know, his his tongue and heritage 942 00:45:57,800 --> 00:46:00,120 Speaker 2: on my body. I can carry him with me for 943 00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:03,239 Speaker 2: the rest of my life. And she wanted something that 944 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:06,080 Speaker 2: was unique and that wasn't really no one no one had, 945 00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:08,920 Speaker 2: so she decided to get a thigh band on her 946 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:12,720 Speaker 2: right right leg and obviously bits and pieces. So this artist, 947 00:46:12,800 --> 00:46:17,000 Speaker 2: his name's Carl Kocker, his business is Klia Tattoo. He 948 00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:20,640 Speaker 2: is a free hand artist, so he just he's super 949 00:46:20,680 --> 00:46:23,760 Speaker 2: creative and he literally freehand draws all of his artwork. 950 00:46:23,760 --> 00:46:27,520 Speaker 2: He doesn't use a stencil, so pretty like quite amazing. 951 00:46:27,560 --> 00:46:28,800 Speaker 2: And she said to him, you know, I want you 952 00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:30,759 Speaker 2: to pick bits and pieces of what you did to 953 00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:33,080 Speaker 2: Solomon's arm. We never got to see the finished product, 954 00:46:33,120 --> 00:46:34,760 Speaker 2: so I want you to just kind of create something 955 00:46:34,760 --> 00:46:36,560 Speaker 2: for me like my own. So he made it a 956 00:46:36,560 --> 00:46:39,640 Speaker 2: little bit smaller to make it a bit more feminine, 957 00:46:39,760 --> 00:46:42,319 Speaker 2: and then created this beautiful band and then had all 958 00:46:42,320 --> 00:46:45,200 Speaker 2: of our names underneath it, so it had my dad's 959 00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:47,600 Speaker 2: name and then all of our kids' names, and my 960 00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:50,160 Speaker 2: baby sister's names, Renee like my mum as well. So 961 00:46:50,640 --> 00:46:55,600 Speaker 2: Renee was on there once. And yeah, I always said 962 00:46:55,880 --> 00:46:58,800 Speaker 2: I was only their team when she got that tattoo, 963 00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:00,719 Speaker 2: and I always said, when I'm old enough, I want 964 00:47:00,760 --> 00:47:02,040 Speaker 2: to get the same one. I want to have a 965 00:47:02,040 --> 00:47:03,960 Speaker 2: piece of Dad with me for the rest of my 966 00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:06,080 Speaker 2: life and something to kind of connect me and Mum 967 00:47:06,120 --> 00:47:09,520 Speaker 2: in that way as well. And I don't have any 968 00:47:09,560 --> 00:47:13,880 Speaker 2: other tattoos yet, but this one. When I turned twenty, 969 00:47:14,160 --> 00:47:17,200 Speaker 2: we had just gotten back from Dubai sevens so when 970 00:47:17,239 --> 00:47:22,440 Speaker 2: we were in Dubai I think it was twenty I 971 00:47:22,440 --> 00:47:24,360 Speaker 2: can't remember when it was, but yeah, we were in 972 00:47:24,440 --> 00:47:27,600 Speaker 2: Dubai and then I had ended up just getting this impulse, 973 00:47:27,640 --> 00:47:30,120 Speaker 2: like this urge to message this artist to see when 974 00:47:30,160 --> 00:47:32,920 Speaker 2: he was in Sydney, and freakily enough, he was like, oh, 975 00:47:32,920 --> 00:47:34,880 Speaker 2: I'm going to be in Sydney over the next two weeks, 976 00:47:34,960 --> 00:47:37,480 Speaker 2: and we were just about to come home. So I 977 00:47:37,520 --> 00:47:39,239 Speaker 2: was like, perfect book me in. So got off the 978 00:47:39,239 --> 00:47:42,600 Speaker 2: plane to Dubai, literally went straight to this tatoo artist 979 00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:45,400 Speaker 2: and just yeah, sat there with him, and he was 980 00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:47,759 Speaker 2: telling me stories about Dad, and he's just like, I 981 00:47:47,760 --> 00:47:49,719 Speaker 2: can't believe how big you are now, and kind of 982 00:47:49,760 --> 00:47:52,920 Speaker 2: just reminiscing on stories. And I said to him, I 983 00:47:52,920 --> 00:47:57,600 Speaker 2: gave him a photo of Dad's initial one and Mum's tattoo, 984 00:47:57,880 --> 00:48:00,520 Speaker 2: and said, can you create something that's my own, but 985 00:48:00,600 --> 00:48:02,440 Speaker 2: something that's got a part of both of theirs in it? 986 00:48:03,120 --> 00:48:05,880 Speaker 2: And he did that for me. So on the front 987 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:08,520 Speaker 2: of my fire, I've got a shield which represents my dad, 988 00:48:08,920 --> 00:48:11,200 Speaker 2: like the protector of the family. And then I've got 989 00:48:11,239 --> 00:48:13,440 Speaker 2: little bits of pieces of like tongue and artwork. So 990 00:48:13,440 --> 00:48:16,960 Speaker 2: we've got like the traditional flowers, and there's a flower 991 00:48:16,960 --> 00:48:20,839 Speaker 2: that represents it represents each of my siblings. There's little 992 00:48:20,880 --> 00:48:23,560 Speaker 2: turtle trails which are big in the like the tongue 993 00:48:23,600 --> 00:48:26,279 Speaker 2: and culture that they represent the journey of life that 994 00:48:26,320 --> 00:48:28,960 Speaker 2: you go on. And then there's the waves as well, 995 00:48:29,640 --> 00:48:33,080 Speaker 2: which obviously represents like the ocean, tongue being an island, 996 00:48:33,360 --> 00:48:35,719 Speaker 2: and yeah, just some beautiful little bits and pieces that 997 00:48:35,880 --> 00:48:39,080 Speaker 2: kind of like relevant to my story. But yeah, the 998 00:48:39,080 --> 00:48:41,160 Speaker 2: biggest connection there is just that it's a part of 999 00:48:41,239 --> 00:48:45,280 Speaker 2: dad's tattoo that Mom then had modified to make hers, 1000 00:48:45,360 --> 00:48:47,680 Speaker 2: and then I ended up having it modified to make mine, 1001 00:48:47,719 --> 00:48:49,879 Speaker 2: and then my younger sister Tash ended up getting hers 1002 00:48:49,880 --> 00:48:52,080 Speaker 2: a couple of years ago as well, So the three 1003 00:48:52,120 --> 00:48:55,600 Speaker 2: of us are matching. And I feel like seeing like 1004 00:48:55,640 --> 00:48:59,160 Speaker 2: our young Pacific Islander girls as it's a very common 1005 00:48:59,160 --> 00:49:03,879 Speaker 2: tattoo now like the community, especially with the girls. It's 1006 00:49:04,239 --> 00:49:07,400 Speaker 2: it's beautiful, like it's it's still quite feminine, but I 1007 00:49:07,440 --> 00:49:09,920 Speaker 2: just feel like I see it everywhere now and it's 1008 00:49:10,000 --> 00:49:12,239 Speaker 2: really nice to see that. You know that may may 1009 00:49:12,360 --> 00:49:14,600 Speaker 2: or may not have kind of inspired younger girls to 1010 00:49:14,640 --> 00:49:18,040 Speaker 2: feel like they can wear their culture in artwork that 1011 00:49:18,560 --> 00:49:21,920 Speaker 2: feels feminine like that they still feel like, you know, 1012 00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:24,239 Speaker 2: isn't like a sleeve like what the boys usually get. 1013 00:49:25,120 --> 00:49:27,600 Speaker 2: But yeah, so that's the story behind the tattoo, and 1014 00:49:27,640 --> 00:49:30,320 Speaker 2: it's really special because like no one really knows about it. 1015 00:49:30,360 --> 00:49:32,880 Speaker 2: They just think like, oh, cool, like sick tat. I'm like, oh, 1016 00:49:32,880 --> 00:49:36,359 Speaker 2: it's actually like a special story behind it, so it's yeah, 1017 00:49:36,360 --> 00:49:38,560 Speaker 2: it's nice to share it's really beautiful. 1018 00:49:38,560 --> 00:49:41,080 Speaker 1: And what I love about watching you play is well 1019 00:49:41,200 --> 00:49:43,239 Speaker 1: not only just watching you as an athlete and the 1020 00:49:43,239 --> 00:49:45,560 Speaker 1: way that you perform is it's really cool seeing that 1021 00:49:45,680 --> 00:49:49,399 Speaker 1: on you because like I obviously know that story behind 1022 00:49:49,440 --> 00:49:51,319 Speaker 1: the tattoo, but knowing that you actually get to go 1023 00:49:51,320 --> 00:49:53,560 Speaker 1: out into the field and you represent your family in 1024 00:49:53,560 --> 00:49:55,640 Speaker 1: such a beautiful way, and as you touched on it, 1025 00:49:55,760 --> 00:49:58,480 Speaker 1: you actually also get to represent your culture and be 1026 00:49:59,040 --> 00:50:02,400 Speaker 1: a role model for the next generation of young people. 1027 00:50:03,360 --> 00:50:06,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks, Chloe, Yeah, it is special, and definitely I 1028 00:50:06,480 --> 00:50:08,680 Speaker 2: do always keep that in mind. You know, I feel 1029 00:50:08,680 --> 00:50:12,520 Speaker 2: like I forget sometimes like that you are in that 1030 00:50:12,560 --> 00:50:15,640 Speaker 2: position of not position of power, but you are, like 1031 00:50:16,040 --> 00:50:19,319 Speaker 2: especially being a Polynesian athlete, like you have so much 1032 00:50:19,360 --> 00:50:23,840 Speaker 2: influence over that younger generation and the Polynesian way of life, 1033 00:50:23,880 --> 00:50:25,920 Speaker 2: like the Island way of life is very different, It's 1034 00:50:26,000 --> 00:50:29,880 Speaker 2: very traditional compared to the Western way of life. So 1035 00:50:29,960 --> 00:50:31,640 Speaker 2: I feel like, you know, being able to kind of 1036 00:50:31,680 --> 00:50:37,160 Speaker 2: connect and to inspire those young young females to pursue 1037 00:50:37,320 --> 00:50:40,239 Speaker 2: sport and to be athletic and to know that you 1038 00:50:40,360 --> 00:50:43,640 Speaker 2: can still be feminine and play football, like just trying 1039 00:50:43,680 --> 00:50:46,880 Speaker 2: to help break that stigma because unfortunately, it is like 1040 00:50:46,960 --> 00:50:49,720 Speaker 2: so prevalent in the Polynesian community that it's like girls 1041 00:50:49,719 --> 00:50:53,960 Speaker 2: don't play sport, boys play sport, and it's it's not 1042 00:50:54,000 --> 00:50:57,520 Speaker 2: feminine to play football, especially football's it's a masculine sport. 1043 00:50:57,680 --> 00:50:59,319 Speaker 2: Like that's it just it is what it is. But 1044 00:50:59,400 --> 00:51:02,080 Speaker 2: you don't have to be masculine to be able to 1045 00:51:02,120 --> 00:51:04,520 Speaker 2: be a good athlete. And I try to kind of 1046 00:51:04,560 --> 00:51:07,400 Speaker 2: break help break that stigma and even what I do 1047 00:51:07,480 --> 00:51:09,919 Speaker 2: outside of football, being a beauty therapist, like it's chalk 1048 00:51:09,920 --> 00:51:13,239 Speaker 2: and cheese. And I love that. I had, you know, 1049 00:51:13,320 --> 00:51:16,000 Speaker 2: insecurities like a few years ago about that being like 1050 00:51:16,080 --> 00:51:19,080 Speaker 2: it just doesn't match, doesn't fit, but like who created 1051 00:51:19,080 --> 00:51:22,160 Speaker 2: that mold? You know who created that mold and you 1052 00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:25,080 Speaker 2: know kind of put athletes in a box where they 1053 00:51:25,120 --> 00:51:28,040 Speaker 2: can't be, you know, feminine and have that feminine side 1054 00:51:28,080 --> 00:51:32,480 Speaker 2: and be a beauty therapist in a very an industry 1055 00:51:32,520 --> 00:51:35,560 Speaker 2: where aesthetics mean a lot, and also be an athlete. 1056 00:51:36,080 --> 00:51:39,120 Speaker 2: Like so yeah, I'm kind of in that phase now 1057 00:51:39,160 --> 00:51:42,760 Speaker 2: as well, just kind of yeah, learning a bit about 1058 00:51:42,760 --> 00:51:45,760 Speaker 2: myself there and hoping to yeah, break stigmas. 1059 00:51:46,280 --> 00:51:50,280 Speaker 1: I love that. I love that question from freeda. 1060 00:51:50,280 --> 00:51:56,799 Speaker 2: Hi Tiana, Have you ever been scared of tackling? Hi? 1061 00:51:56,960 --> 00:52:00,160 Speaker 2: FREDA great, great question, and I get this question a lot, 1062 00:52:00,239 --> 00:52:04,840 Speaker 2: especially with new, you know, younger athletes, especially girls that 1063 00:52:05,360 --> 00:52:10,160 Speaker 2: have never played contact sport. I don't get scared of 1064 00:52:10,239 --> 00:52:12,840 Speaker 2: being tackled now because I've had a lot of years 1065 00:52:12,880 --> 00:52:15,880 Speaker 2: of experience and practice. But when I first started playing footy, 1066 00:52:17,520 --> 00:52:20,440 Speaker 2: I think I was a little bit scared to get tackled, 1067 00:52:20,560 --> 00:52:23,560 Speaker 2: only because it's collision and it's not something that you 1068 00:52:23,680 --> 00:52:25,920 Speaker 2: naturally do as a young girl unless you're growing up 1069 00:52:25,920 --> 00:52:30,360 Speaker 2: with a house full of brothers like Kloth just getting 1070 00:52:30,400 --> 00:52:33,800 Speaker 2: beaten up all the time. But I can definitely understand 1071 00:52:33,880 --> 00:52:37,080 Speaker 2: why why girls are scared of contact. I think my 1072 00:52:37,239 --> 00:52:41,319 Speaker 2: biggest piece of advice is that, and this is what 1073 00:52:41,360 --> 00:52:44,000 Speaker 2: we got taught, like playing Seven's Cloth, is that it's 1074 00:52:44,040 --> 00:52:47,600 Speaker 2: eighty percent mental, twenty percent technique. So I think you 1075 00:52:47,680 --> 00:52:50,319 Speaker 2: just need to accept the fact that you're going to 1076 00:52:50,360 --> 00:52:53,400 Speaker 2: collide with someone, and if you train the right technique 1077 00:52:53,440 --> 00:52:55,560 Speaker 2: and you and you learn how to tackle properly, it 1078 00:52:55,560 --> 00:52:59,160 Speaker 2: doesn't have to be just this chaos collision where you're 1079 00:52:59,160 --> 00:53:01,960 Speaker 2: going to get yourself hurt. There are ways to learn 1080 00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:04,440 Speaker 2: how to tackle properly, and if you just invest a 1081 00:53:04,480 --> 00:53:06,360 Speaker 2: little bit of time in doing that, making sure you 1082 00:53:06,360 --> 00:53:09,040 Speaker 2: get your head in the right position and that you 1083 00:53:09,120 --> 00:53:12,040 Speaker 2: wrap and use your shoulders, then it doesn't really hurt. 1084 00:53:12,440 --> 00:53:18,080 Speaker 2: And yeah, it's very easy to do. Yeah, you nailed that. 1085 00:53:18,920 --> 00:53:22,040 Speaker 1: When we were in gosh, I think we're in Atlanta, 1086 00:53:22,239 --> 00:53:25,800 Speaker 1: in the middle of who knows where, and Fox Sports 1087 00:53:25,840 --> 00:53:27,960 Speaker 1: came along and we went out and we did a 1088 00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:31,759 Speaker 1: segment with Sew Maloney, who's a commentator and who does 1089 00:53:31,800 --> 00:53:33,839 Speaker 1: a lot of work in the rugby space, and we 1090 00:53:33,880 --> 00:53:35,560 Speaker 1: did I don't even know what the segment was. It 1091 00:53:35,640 --> 00:53:37,840 Speaker 1: was something about super Rugby at the time. And we 1092 00:53:37,920 --> 00:53:40,560 Speaker 1: went out there and I did not nail it. And 1093 00:53:40,600 --> 00:53:44,600 Speaker 1: I just remember you were just so articulate and so eloquent, 1094 00:53:44,960 --> 00:53:47,759 Speaker 1: and you just absolutely nailed it. I remember Sean just 1095 00:53:47,760 --> 00:53:50,960 Speaker 1: watching you, like what is going on? Like this girl 1096 00:53:51,120 --> 00:53:55,320 Speaker 1: is amazing. And product of that, you've now developed another 1097 00:53:55,360 --> 00:53:58,480 Speaker 1: career where you get to work in the commentary space 1098 00:53:58,480 --> 00:54:00,960 Speaker 1: and in the media space and you are you're exceptionally 1099 00:54:01,000 --> 00:54:03,200 Speaker 1: talented at it, and I love listening to you when 1100 00:54:03,200 --> 00:54:04,839 Speaker 1: you work in that space as well. What has that 1101 00:54:04,920 --> 00:54:07,279 Speaker 1: been like for you to move to that side of 1102 00:54:07,280 --> 00:54:08,040 Speaker 1: the game as well. 1103 00:54:08,719 --> 00:54:12,759 Speaker 2: Thanks Chloe. Yeah, honestly, it was really unexpected. Hey, I 1104 00:54:12,840 --> 00:54:16,600 Speaker 2: just think from back from quite a young age, we 1105 00:54:16,600 --> 00:54:19,719 Speaker 2: were pretty exposed to all of the media, and I 1106 00:54:19,719 --> 00:54:21,360 Speaker 2: think a lot of the girls in our sCOD are 1107 00:54:21,440 --> 00:54:24,120 Speaker 2: quite eloquent and articulate and know how to speak and 1108 00:54:24,160 --> 00:54:26,239 Speaker 2: all like well trained when it comes to media. So 1109 00:54:26,680 --> 00:54:29,560 Speaker 2: I just think off the back of being an athlete, 1110 00:54:29,600 --> 00:54:33,320 Speaker 2: always in front of the camera doing interviews and whatnot, content, 1111 00:54:34,360 --> 00:54:35,960 Speaker 2: we kind of just got used to that, and I 1112 00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:40,640 Speaker 2: think from stepping away from being an athlete, that opened 1113 00:54:40,680 --> 00:54:43,560 Speaker 2: up some doors for me and some opportunity to work 1114 00:54:44,520 --> 00:54:46,920 Speaker 2: in front of the camera, you know, on the other 1115 00:54:46,960 --> 00:54:49,359 Speaker 2: side of the interview, I guess, which was Yeah, it's 1116 00:54:49,400 --> 00:54:52,160 Speaker 2: not not really something that I had ever dreamed of doing, 1117 00:54:52,160 --> 00:54:53,960 Speaker 2: Like I didn't want to be a journalist or anything 1118 00:54:54,480 --> 00:54:57,200 Speaker 2: like when I was in high school, didn't really have 1119 00:54:57,239 --> 00:54:59,800 Speaker 2: too much interest in the media until I started getting 1120 00:54:59,840 --> 00:55:02,360 Speaker 2: off opportunity and kind of like hop skipped and jumped 1121 00:55:02,560 --> 00:55:04,640 Speaker 2: like the process of getting into the media. So I 1122 00:55:04,719 --> 00:55:07,239 Speaker 2: was really lucky. It was just perfect timing to pick 1123 00:55:07,280 --> 00:55:10,799 Speaker 2: up those opportunities with Fox Sports and the likes of 1124 00:55:10,840 --> 00:55:14,800 Speaker 2: you know, like ABC and yeah, and the commentary. The 1125 00:55:14,840 --> 00:55:19,080 Speaker 2: commentary is probably my favorite part about it. It's the 1126 00:55:19,120 --> 00:55:22,759 Speaker 2: way I describe it is it's like watching video analysis, 1127 00:55:22,760 --> 00:55:25,040 Speaker 2: which we used to do almost every day, and then 1128 00:55:25,080 --> 00:55:28,919 Speaker 2: just verbalizing what you see, like we were critiquing ourselves, 1129 00:55:29,040 --> 00:55:31,399 Speaker 2: but honestly, we were just always critiquing ourselves and looking 1130 00:55:31,400 --> 00:55:33,040 Speaker 2: at where we need to improve, what we did right, 1131 00:55:33,080 --> 00:55:36,080 Speaker 2: what we did wrong, and just breaking the game down 1132 00:55:36,120 --> 00:55:38,920 Speaker 2: from an athlete's perspective. And I find that that's what 1133 00:55:39,400 --> 00:55:42,360 Speaker 2: transitions so well into commentary. And and then it's just 1134 00:55:42,400 --> 00:55:45,200 Speaker 2: being able to choose the right words and not overuse 1135 00:55:45,840 --> 00:55:49,719 Speaker 2: phrases or words. And Sean Maloney helped me a lot there. 1136 00:55:50,400 --> 00:55:52,279 Speaker 2: The first piece of advice that he told me before 1137 00:55:52,320 --> 00:55:55,799 Speaker 2: my first ever commentary gig at Sydney Seven's was come 1138 00:55:55,840 --> 00:55:58,400 Speaker 2: to me with a page full of adjectives and I 1139 00:55:58,480 --> 00:56:00,719 Speaker 2: was like really, and he was like yep, because you 1140 00:56:00,719 --> 00:56:02,719 Speaker 2: don't want to use the same word over and over again. 1141 00:56:02,800 --> 00:56:04,600 Speaker 2: He's like, I don't want to hear you stay brilliant 1142 00:56:04,680 --> 00:56:07,400 Speaker 2: or excellent five hundred times. You're going to have to 1143 00:56:07,400 --> 00:56:09,920 Speaker 2: find a new word for that. So I was like, amazing, 1144 00:56:10,000 --> 00:56:11,520 Speaker 2: Like that was the best bit of advice that I 1145 00:56:11,560 --> 00:56:16,239 Speaker 2: ever got. And now, yeah, I'm lucky enough to be 1146 00:56:16,440 --> 00:56:19,239 Speaker 2: you know, traveling the World series as a commentator and 1147 00:56:19,280 --> 00:56:21,600 Speaker 2: being able to be you know, like still so a 1148 00:56:21,640 --> 00:56:25,200 Speaker 2: part of that rugby world and that seven's world, but 1149 00:56:25,360 --> 00:56:27,959 Speaker 2: just not as an athlete more on the broadcast side 1150 00:56:27,960 --> 00:56:29,520 Speaker 2: of things. I love that for you. 1151 00:56:29,920 --> 00:56:34,080 Speaker 1: It's really interesting as well, seeing you obviously progress in 1152 00:56:34,080 --> 00:56:38,319 Speaker 1: a sporting context, but the visibility element not only as 1153 00:56:38,320 --> 00:56:43,400 Speaker 1: a woman commentating and providing expert opinion in these scenarios, 1154 00:56:43,400 --> 00:56:46,720 Speaker 1: but a woman of color who probably in the past 1155 00:56:46,760 --> 00:56:49,879 Speaker 1: it's been hard for women to get into these roles, right, Like, 1156 00:56:50,120 --> 00:56:52,520 Speaker 1: you're one of the women who are kind of trailblazing 1157 00:56:52,680 --> 00:56:56,000 Speaker 1: in that space. That then can open the door for 1158 00:56:56,040 --> 00:56:58,719 Speaker 1: people who may want to be in a similar role. 1159 00:56:58,800 --> 00:57:01,080 Speaker 1: But similar to the sporting context where we talked about, 1160 00:57:01,120 --> 00:57:04,280 Speaker 1: it's actually just young people seeing you in that space, 1161 00:57:04,480 --> 00:57:06,080 Speaker 1: seeing you occupying that space. 1162 00:57:07,360 --> 00:57:10,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, one hundred percent, And that's what like again, 1163 00:57:10,080 --> 00:57:11,960 Speaker 2: I just I feel really lucky to kind of be 1164 00:57:12,120 --> 00:57:14,200 Speaker 2: in that position. Like and I, like I said, with 1165 00:57:14,800 --> 00:57:17,000 Speaker 2: those opportunities that kind of came my way, I was 1166 00:57:17,040 --> 00:57:19,000 Speaker 2: really lucky to have the right people around me at 1167 00:57:19,000 --> 00:57:23,480 Speaker 2: that time, and I really can like can thank the 1168 00:57:23,600 --> 00:57:25,840 Speaker 2: likes of Sean Maloney and like Paul Slater at Fox 1169 00:57:25,880 --> 00:57:28,160 Speaker 2: Sports and those guys that really believed in me and 1170 00:57:28,760 --> 00:57:30,800 Speaker 2: were the ones that kind of like stuck their neck 1171 00:57:30,800 --> 00:57:33,880 Speaker 2: out to give me those opportunities. And then in terms 1172 00:57:33,880 --> 00:57:37,920 Speaker 2: of World rugby, like Steve Jamerson, who's like the director 1173 00:57:38,000 --> 00:57:40,400 Speaker 2: of production when it comes to the World Rugby feed 1174 00:57:41,160 --> 00:57:43,480 Speaker 2: but he's another person that just just backed me. I 1175 00:57:43,560 --> 00:57:45,480 Speaker 2: did have people that doubted me and that were like, 1176 00:57:46,560 --> 00:57:48,440 Speaker 2: you know, like, who's this twenty one year old kid 1177 00:57:48,520 --> 00:57:52,320 Speaker 2: just gonna jump on the cans and talk about rugby sevens? Yeah? Right? Oh, 1178 00:57:52,360 --> 00:57:55,440 Speaker 2: And then I had my first gig and like the 1179 00:57:55,480 --> 00:57:57,520 Speaker 2: same people were like, wow, you did amazing and that 1180 00:57:57,600 --> 00:57:59,160 Speaker 2: was great. Can't wait, you know, I can't wait to 1181 00:57:59,160 --> 00:58:00,880 Speaker 2: hear you on the next game. And it was just 1182 00:58:00,960 --> 00:58:04,320 Speaker 2: kind of defying those odds and just proving those critics 1183 00:58:04,360 --> 00:58:06,520 Speaker 2: wrong that that's where I kind of gained my strength 1184 00:58:07,080 --> 00:58:10,920 Speaker 2: in those roles. But yeah, it's just it's nice, Like 1185 00:58:10,960 --> 00:58:14,200 Speaker 2: it's just nice to see females on TV talking about sport, 1186 00:58:14,320 --> 00:58:16,920 Speaker 2: knowing what they're talking about, being able to articulate it, 1187 00:58:17,240 --> 00:58:20,480 Speaker 2: and you just like by being there and being in 1188 00:58:20,520 --> 00:58:23,040 Speaker 2: front of your face, you change those perceptions. It then 1189 00:58:23,080 --> 00:58:26,960 Speaker 2: becomes normality. You can't really buy into something that you 1190 00:58:27,000 --> 00:58:31,240 Speaker 2: can't see. So I just think it starts internally, you know, 1191 00:58:31,360 --> 00:58:34,640 Speaker 2: getting getting women on TV, getting women in those positions 1192 00:58:34,640 --> 00:58:38,840 Speaker 2: of power and giving them exposure. And it's the same 1193 00:58:38,920 --> 00:58:41,600 Speaker 2: with being athletes. It's the same with the nrl W, 1194 00:58:41,800 --> 00:58:44,439 Speaker 2: the a f l W. It's like, you can't get 1195 00:58:44,520 --> 00:58:47,320 Speaker 2: fans to buy into the game if you're not going 1196 00:58:47,360 --> 00:58:48,760 Speaker 2: to invest in it and put it in front of 1197 00:58:48,800 --> 00:58:52,360 Speaker 2: their faces. And that needs to change internally, Like from 1198 00:58:52,440 --> 00:58:56,120 Speaker 2: that needs to you know, be something inside that's then 1199 00:58:56,160 --> 00:58:58,880 Speaker 2: determined to then project out onto you know, the fans 1200 00:58:58,920 --> 00:59:01,919 Speaker 2: of the game and the viewewers of the game. So yeah, 1201 00:59:02,120 --> 00:59:03,880 Speaker 2: it's all really similar. It's all hand in hand, and 1202 00:59:03,960 --> 00:59:06,040 Speaker 2: it's just it's nice. Nice to be part of that 1203 00:59:06,120 --> 00:59:09,240 Speaker 2: conversation and to be someone that's I guess contributing to 1204 00:59:09,280 --> 00:59:11,200 Speaker 2: the change. Yeah. I love that chat. 1205 00:59:11,240 --> 00:59:13,320 Speaker 1: It's really cool, And I think what you're saying there 1206 00:59:13,360 --> 00:59:16,640 Speaker 1: is is so important around putting it in people, in 1207 00:59:16,680 --> 00:59:19,720 Speaker 1: front of people's faces, to create change. 1208 00:59:19,600 --> 00:59:21,800 Speaker 2: To finish off before we do the would you. 1209 00:59:21,880 --> 00:59:25,360 Speaker 1: Rather that I finish with every episode you're going to play. 1210 00:59:25,400 --> 00:59:27,640 Speaker 1: You guys are going to play two seasons of NLW 1211 00:59:27,760 --> 00:59:29,600 Speaker 1: this year because of the COVID delays and the fact 1212 00:59:29,600 --> 00:59:30,560 Speaker 1: that it was pushed back. 1213 00:59:31,480 --> 00:59:32,240 Speaker 2: What has that. 1214 00:59:32,120 --> 00:59:35,000 Speaker 1: Process been like kind of reverting to being a part 1215 00:59:35,000 --> 00:59:37,240 Speaker 1: time athlete again. We've seen a lot in the media 1216 00:59:37,240 --> 00:59:40,840 Speaker 1: around the NRLW competition, the way that the players are 1217 00:59:40,880 --> 00:59:44,360 Speaker 1: paid and treated. We've seen Queensland coming out and saying 1218 00:59:44,360 --> 00:59:45,720 Speaker 1: there's going to be equal pay for the set of 1219 00:59:45,800 --> 00:59:48,520 Speaker 1: origin girls, not yet the same for New South Wales. 1220 00:59:48,520 --> 00:59:53,200 Speaker 1: From what I understand, what is the ideal What does 1221 00:59:53,240 --> 00:59:55,480 Speaker 1: the ideal scenario look like for you in that case? 1222 00:59:57,800 --> 01:00:01,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's really tough to dissect, to be honest. I mean, 1223 01:00:02,080 --> 01:00:05,400 Speaker 2: in a perfect world, ed it be like give us 1224 01:00:05,400 --> 01:00:07,800 Speaker 2: a full season, put us on a full time wage, 1225 01:00:08,440 --> 01:00:11,040 Speaker 2: and everyone lives happily ever after, But in reality, it 1226 01:00:11,120 --> 01:00:14,840 Speaker 2: just doesn't work that way. I think it was Obviously 1227 01:00:14,880 --> 01:00:17,480 Speaker 2: there was a bit of backlash in terms of how 1228 01:00:17,520 --> 01:00:21,440 Speaker 2: our season was abruptly postponed from last year to this 1229 01:00:21,520 --> 01:00:24,360 Speaker 2: year the NRLW twenty twenty one, so there's a bit 1230 01:00:24,360 --> 01:00:26,760 Speaker 2: of backlash from the playing group there. I think we've 1231 01:00:26,840 --> 01:00:28,680 Speaker 2: kind of like just overcome that We've got a lot 1232 01:00:28,680 --> 01:00:31,400 Speaker 2: to focus on this year. Don't want to really buy 1233 01:00:31,440 --> 01:00:35,480 Speaker 2: in too much to that outside noise, but the reality is, 1234 01:00:35,520 --> 01:00:38,760 Speaker 2: like we are full time athletes. I mean, I'm working 1235 01:00:38,880 --> 01:00:41,880 Speaker 2: full time and when I'm not working, I'm training and 1236 01:00:41,880 --> 01:00:44,440 Speaker 2: getting home at like ten o'clock at night only to 1237 01:00:44,480 --> 01:00:46,240 Speaker 2: get up early the next day to go to work 1238 01:00:46,360 --> 01:00:48,800 Speaker 2: to then go back to training. So it is tough. 1239 01:00:48,880 --> 01:00:52,439 Speaker 2: And I'm someone that's like that's got full support from 1240 01:00:52,480 --> 01:00:54,800 Speaker 2: a partner that works, so I don't have the full 1241 01:00:54,840 --> 01:00:57,240 Speaker 2: brunt of like paying rent and paying bills and all 1242 01:00:57,280 --> 01:00:59,640 Speaker 2: of that. Like I'm supported and much like a lot 1243 01:00:59,680 --> 01:01:01,360 Speaker 2: of other girls are. But there's some girls that are 1244 01:01:01,440 --> 01:01:04,640 Speaker 2: reload that have had to relocate, have lost their jobs. 1245 01:01:04,640 --> 01:01:08,000 Speaker 2: There's girls that have there's women that have kids, one, two, 1246 01:01:08,200 --> 01:01:10,520 Speaker 2: three kids that are trying to juggle this as well 1247 01:01:10,520 --> 01:01:13,200 Speaker 2: as work as well as being an athlete. So I 1248 01:01:13,240 --> 01:01:16,920 Speaker 2: just think when there's the expectation that put on the 1249 01:01:16,960 --> 01:01:19,120 Speaker 2: playing group's shoulders that they need to grow the game, 1250 01:01:19,160 --> 01:01:20,800 Speaker 2: of which I think we're doing a great job at, 1251 01:01:21,080 --> 01:01:23,600 Speaker 2: I just think like there needs to be some leniency 1252 01:01:23,680 --> 01:01:26,840 Speaker 2: and some backing as well to kind of allow us 1253 01:01:26,840 --> 01:01:29,640 Speaker 2: to grow and flourish and take one of those pressures off, 1254 01:01:29,640 --> 01:01:32,320 Speaker 2: whether it be the financial pressure or the pressure of time, 1255 01:01:32,440 --> 01:01:35,840 Speaker 2: but like financial pressure is the one that's leading at 1256 01:01:35,840 --> 01:01:38,480 Speaker 2: the moment because you've got we don't have enough time 1257 01:01:38,920 --> 01:01:40,560 Speaker 2: to be putting in the hours to be a full 1258 01:01:40,600 --> 01:01:42,720 Speaker 2: time athlete to be able to get that game to 1259 01:01:42,800 --> 01:01:44,640 Speaker 2: just keep growing and be better. And we saw that 1260 01:01:44,720 --> 01:01:48,920 Speaker 2: a dividends when you talk about the Sevens centralizing. The 1261 01:01:48,920 --> 01:01:51,520 Speaker 2: moment we centralized, we became the best team in the world. 1262 01:01:51,880 --> 01:01:54,320 Speaker 2: And that's fact. And I just think, like i'd say that, 1263 01:01:54,360 --> 01:01:56,120 Speaker 2: and I always touch on sevens. I know it's a 1264 01:01:56,120 --> 01:01:58,320 Speaker 2: different code, but I just it's the principle. I always 1265 01:01:58,400 --> 01:02:01,640 Speaker 2: touch on that, saying, Mike, just look at even even 1266 01:02:01,640 --> 01:02:05,320 Speaker 2: the girls that came and played NROLW last year in 1267 01:02:05,360 --> 01:02:08,120 Speaker 2: the twenty sorry the year before in the twenty twenty season, 1268 01:02:08,760 --> 01:02:11,240 Speaker 2: and you look at how like just the level of 1269 01:02:11,280 --> 01:02:13,640 Speaker 2: athleticism that they brought to the game, and I'm like, 1270 01:02:14,000 --> 01:02:16,480 Speaker 2: it's a no brainer, Like these are full time athletes 1271 01:02:16,520 --> 01:02:19,520 Speaker 2: that have investment that are just completely invested in. They 1272 01:02:19,520 --> 01:02:21,160 Speaker 2: don't have the stress of having to go and get 1273 01:02:21,160 --> 01:02:23,120 Speaker 2: a part time job or a full time job to 1274 01:02:23,160 --> 01:02:27,240 Speaker 2: make to pay the bills. They solely focus on performance. 1275 01:02:28,000 --> 01:02:30,680 Speaker 2: That's their role, and they're surrounded by a team that 1276 01:02:30,720 --> 01:02:33,960 Speaker 2: all have their own roles, whether it be nutrition, sports 1277 01:02:34,000 --> 01:02:36,480 Speaker 2: and exercise science, like all of everyone plays their role 1278 01:02:36,520 --> 01:02:39,040 Speaker 2: in that program and I just think that's where the 1279 01:02:39,240 --> 01:02:42,800 Speaker 2: NROLW are pushing towards. They're definitely pushing towards that. It's 1280 01:02:42,840 --> 01:02:46,240 Speaker 2: just finding the money. So I'm sick of the money 1281 01:02:46,280 --> 01:02:50,120 Speaker 2: conversation honestly, but it's frustrating. But I just think if 1282 01:02:50,120 --> 01:02:51,840 Speaker 2: we're going to move in the right direction, that's where 1283 01:02:51,840 --> 01:02:54,560 Speaker 2: it needs to go. And having like a broken season 1284 01:02:54,640 --> 01:02:57,880 Speaker 2: like one like a few months of NROLW in the 1285 01:02:57,920 --> 01:02:59,560 Speaker 2: beginning of the year, we then go back to in 1286 01:02:59,600 --> 01:03:02,600 Speaker 2: New Stuff Wales to play Harvey Norman Women's Premiership, which 1287 01:03:02,640 --> 01:03:04,920 Speaker 2: is which takes the middle of the year, and then 1288 01:03:04,920 --> 01:03:07,080 Speaker 2: we then go back into another pre season to play 1289 01:03:07,520 --> 01:03:11,480 Speaker 2: the WNRL. They just eventually needs to be we need 1290 01:03:11,560 --> 01:03:15,440 Speaker 2: to grow to like one standalone competition and then you've 1291 01:03:15,680 --> 01:03:17,160 Speaker 2: you've got the likes of State of Origin in there, 1292 01:03:17,200 --> 01:03:18,640 Speaker 2: you've got a World Cup. At the end of the year. 1293 01:03:18,720 --> 01:03:21,439 Speaker 2: It is a full year of football, regardless of whether 1294 01:03:21,480 --> 01:03:24,200 Speaker 2: it's one consistent season or not. We're playing full time 1295 01:03:24,720 --> 01:03:26,720 Speaker 2: and that's the commitment that we're giving to the game, 1296 01:03:26,800 --> 01:03:29,840 Speaker 2: and there's got to become a point where we need 1297 01:03:29,880 --> 01:03:33,160 Speaker 2: the same commitment back. And I just think that the 1298 01:03:33,280 --> 01:03:34,880 Speaker 2: more we put it out there, the more we have 1299 01:03:34,960 --> 01:03:39,040 Speaker 2: these conversations, conversations initiate change. So I think it's we're 1300 01:03:39,080 --> 01:03:41,280 Speaker 2: in that kind of that transition period where it's a 1301 01:03:41,320 --> 01:03:44,479 Speaker 2: little bit ugly, there's teething issues, but we're definitely moving 1302 01:03:44,480 --> 01:03:46,960 Speaker 2: in the right direction as long as we keep just 1303 01:03:47,040 --> 01:03:50,680 Speaker 2: kind of like badgering the right people and having these conversations. 1304 01:03:51,440 --> 01:03:53,240 Speaker 2: People listening can't see me. 1305 01:03:53,400 --> 01:03:55,720 Speaker 1: Sometimes we put video content up, but every single thing 1306 01:03:55,760 --> 01:04:02,400 Speaker 1: you're saying, I'm just nodding away. I'm like, yes, yes, yes, yes, 1307 01:04:02,640 --> 01:04:05,800 Speaker 1: everything you just said. I think you've articulated that so well. 1308 01:04:05,840 --> 01:04:08,160 Speaker 1: And it's a struggle across multiple sports at the moment 1309 01:04:08,200 --> 01:04:10,280 Speaker 1: that we're seeing I know, particularly for me in the AFLW, 1310 01:04:10,480 --> 01:04:12,160 Speaker 1: so many things you just touched on we're a part 1311 01:04:12,200 --> 01:04:17,520 Speaker 1: time sport as well, like so many similar experiences and yeah, yeah, yeah, 1312 01:04:17,520 --> 01:04:19,960 Speaker 1: I totally agree with with everything you've said, and that's 1313 01:04:19,960 --> 01:04:21,560 Speaker 1: part of what we're we're trying to do here at 1314 01:04:21,560 --> 01:04:24,800 Speaker 1: the Female Athlete Project is sharing these stories and creating 1315 01:04:24,800 --> 01:04:27,120 Speaker 1: the spaces for people like you to be able to 1316 01:04:27,160 --> 01:04:29,960 Speaker 1: share your story and the struggles of what you go 1317 01:04:30,040 --> 01:04:30,600 Speaker 1: through as well. 1318 01:04:31,520 --> 01:04:33,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent. And I like, like I said, 1319 01:04:33,600 --> 01:04:35,680 Speaker 2: I love what you're doing, Like you've you've gained so 1320 01:04:35,760 --> 01:04:38,480 Speaker 2: much traction and such a following because people resonate with you, 1321 01:04:38,560 --> 01:04:40,760 Speaker 2: and there are so many people out there that resonate 1322 01:04:40,800 --> 01:04:43,800 Speaker 2: with these stories and that genuinely have an interest in 1323 01:04:43,840 --> 01:04:46,800 Speaker 2: hearing what we have to say. And I just think, Yeah, 1324 01:04:46,840 --> 01:04:49,000 Speaker 2: we're at that point now, Like regardless of what code 1325 01:04:49,000 --> 01:04:51,280 Speaker 2: it is, whether it's netball, whether it's AFL, whether it's 1326 01:04:51,320 --> 01:04:54,240 Speaker 2: an RLW, like it doesn't matter. Like there's just going 1327 01:04:54,280 --> 01:04:57,640 Speaker 2: to become a time where you're like, you need to 1328 01:04:57,680 --> 01:05:00,200 Speaker 2: see it as a long term investment, Like you can't 1329 01:05:00,480 --> 01:05:04,000 Speaker 2: that Like the whole conversation about like if you bring 1330 01:05:04,040 --> 01:05:06,000 Speaker 2: in the revenue, then you get equal pay, Like that's 1331 01:05:06,040 --> 01:05:08,600 Speaker 2: just such a an outdated conversation. I'm like, you don't. 1332 01:05:08,920 --> 01:05:11,560 Speaker 2: You don't say that about elite pathways because at the 1333 01:05:11,640 --> 01:05:14,240 Speaker 2: end of the day, grassroots footy doesn't make any money, 1334 01:05:14,520 --> 01:05:17,120 Speaker 2: but there's investment in there. Because you're growing the next 1335 01:05:17,160 --> 01:05:21,800 Speaker 2: generation of superstars, Like you're investing in that long term outcome, 1336 01:05:22,080 --> 01:05:24,800 Speaker 2: and the same same thing needs to happen with, you know, 1337 01:05:24,880 --> 01:05:27,160 Speaker 2: with the women's game, and we're not asking for a lot, 1338 01:05:27,200 --> 01:05:29,440 Speaker 2: we're actually asking for the bare minimum in order to grow. 1339 01:05:29,840 --> 01:05:33,240 Speaker 2: We help help us, help you that kind of thing. Yeah, 1340 01:05:33,320 --> 01:05:34,919 Speaker 2: because we're at a point now where it's like there's 1341 01:05:34,920 --> 01:05:37,040 Speaker 2: only so much you can do as a part time athlete, 1342 01:05:37,200 --> 01:05:39,560 Speaker 2: Like you need those extra hours, you need that extra 1343 01:05:39,640 --> 01:05:43,480 Speaker 2: support of you know, having a performance staff around you 1344 01:05:43,520 --> 01:05:45,280 Speaker 2: to be able to have that edge to then make 1345 01:05:45,320 --> 01:05:47,720 Speaker 2: the game even better, to grow it, to be able 1346 01:05:47,720 --> 01:05:49,720 Speaker 2: to get more fans in because the game is just 1347 01:05:50,160 --> 01:05:52,160 Speaker 2: you want to watch it. It's at that quality where 1348 01:05:52,160 --> 01:05:55,800 Speaker 2: it's just constantly improving and getting better. So yeah, like 1349 01:05:55,840 --> 01:05:58,760 Speaker 2: I said, we are at that kind of transition period 1350 01:05:59,200 --> 01:06:00,800 Speaker 2: and it just feels a little bit clunky and a bit 1351 01:06:00,920 --> 01:06:04,320 Speaker 2: ugly sometimes, but hopefully, you know, we leave our sports 1352 01:06:05,040 --> 01:06:08,200 Speaker 2: in a better way than we found it and leave 1353 01:06:08,200 --> 01:06:10,440 Speaker 2: a legacy for the next gen to come through and 1354 01:06:10,560 --> 01:06:11,600 Speaker 2: keep pushing change. 1355 01:06:11,840 --> 01:06:15,360 Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely, And I love that idea around investing in 1356 01:06:15,400 --> 01:06:19,520 Speaker 1: it and the investment creates success and it continues to 1357 01:06:19,560 --> 01:06:21,200 Speaker 1: go from there, and you and I have both been 1358 01:06:21,200 --> 01:06:23,000 Speaker 1: a part of a program that has done exactly that. 1359 01:06:23,160 --> 01:06:25,720 Speaker 1: So yeah, yeah, I think a great example and hopefully 1360 01:06:26,200 --> 01:06:26,760 Speaker 1: they keep. 1361 01:06:26,600 --> 01:06:27,360 Speaker 2: Getting on board. 1362 01:06:28,000 --> 01:06:31,320 Speaker 1: Let's finish off with these three would you rather questions? 1363 01:06:32,160 --> 01:06:33,120 Speaker 2: No Number one? 1364 01:06:34,840 --> 01:06:39,919 Speaker 1: Number one, would you rather, in state of origin, make 1365 01:06:40,960 --> 01:06:44,280 Speaker 1: the game saving tackle or score the game winning try? 1366 01:06:45,120 --> 01:06:50,400 Speaker 2: Honestly, I would rather make the game saving tackle because, like, 1367 01:06:50,920 --> 01:06:52,320 Speaker 2: you know, you can score the game when you try, 1368 01:06:52,320 --> 01:06:54,840 Speaker 2: and that's all exciting. But I just think, like it's 1369 01:06:54,880 --> 01:06:57,000 Speaker 2: just so cool when you make a game saving tackle. 1370 01:06:57,160 --> 01:06:58,120 Speaker 1: I like that, all right. 1371 01:06:58,240 --> 01:06:58,720 Speaker 2: Number two? 1372 01:06:59,240 --> 01:07:05,320 Speaker 1: Would you rather win an nrl W Premiership or win 1373 01:07:05,360 --> 01:07:07,280 Speaker 1: the World Cup with Australia. 1374 01:07:08,080 --> 01:07:14,560 Speaker 2: Oh that's so hod oh my god, oh my god. 1375 01:07:15,280 --> 01:07:22,200 Speaker 2: Why do you have to do it so much anxiety? Okay? 1376 01:07:22,400 --> 01:07:31,880 Speaker 2: So I you know every like you are, you are 1377 01:07:31,920 --> 01:07:36,040 Speaker 2: getting a pro comp list. I have so much respect 1378 01:07:36,120 --> 01:07:39,800 Speaker 2: for like the Australian jersey, and like winning a World 1379 01:07:39,840 --> 01:07:42,960 Speaker 2: Cup ideally that's like the pinnacle of the sport, right, 1380 01:07:43,320 --> 01:07:47,840 Speaker 2: But just knowing how like how much rivalry there is 1381 01:07:47,880 --> 01:07:52,000 Speaker 2: internally between clubs and like just the way the NRL is, 1382 01:07:52,600 --> 01:07:54,960 Speaker 2: I feel like right now where I'm at right now, 1383 01:07:55,040 --> 01:07:58,120 Speaker 2: I'm in this month of the year. I would rather 1384 01:07:58,160 --> 01:07:58,920 Speaker 2: win a premiership. 1385 01:07:59,400 --> 01:08:02,080 Speaker 1: That was my That's why I would that was my pick. 1386 01:08:02,120 --> 01:08:03,480 Speaker 1: I don't play, but that would be my book. 1387 01:08:03,560 --> 01:08:04,000 Speaker 2: I agree. 1388 01:08:04,040 --> 01:08:06,600 Speaker 1: I think that rivalry is real strong, isn't it. 1389 01:08:06,600 --> 01:08:09,120 Speaker 2: It's so strong, and it's just kind of like the 1390 01:08:09,120 --> 01:08:12,240 Speaker 2: Broncos have won every single damn season and to be 1391 01:08:12,320 --> 01:08:14,800 Speaker 2: able to change that and just shift that and just 1392 01:08:14,800 --> 01:08:18,439 Speaker 2: get one of those sick like blingling rings. Yes, please, 1393 01:08:18,479 --> 01:08:20,679 Speaker 2: all right, I like it. Final one. 1394 01:08:21,040 --> 01:08:24,800 Speaker 1: Would you rather do a Yoyo test every day for 1395 01:08:24,880 --> 01:08:25,880 Speaker 1: a week or. 1396 01:08:26,720 --> 01:08:32,439 Speaker 2: Run a marathon? I'd rather run a marathon. I hate 1397 01:08:32,439 --> 01:08:37,320 Speaker 2: the PTSD from the Yogo test. I remember I had 1398 01:08:37,360 --> 01:08:40,080 Speaker 2: to do it like twice a week for like three 1399 01:08:40,080 --> 01:08:42,880 Speaker 2: weeks because I couldn't get one level. I couldn't just 1400 01:08:42,920 --> 01:08:45,360 Speaker 2: get that one extra level. Like my legs just died 1401 01:08:45,400 --> 01:08:47,920 Speaker 2: out on me. My tongue in power, legs just could 1402 01:08:47,960 --> 01:08:52,320 Speaker 2: not do not get me to one extra level. So 1403 01:08:52,400 --> 01:08:56,519 Speaker 2: I was like, I literally probably have PTSD. That's fair. 1404 01:08:56,640 --> 01:08:58,639 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you that. The trauma from those things 1405 01:08:58,760 --> 01:09:02,160 Speaker 1: is a lot. Thank you so much for coming on 1406 01:09:02,240 --> 01:09:04,479 Speaker 1: for a chat today. I've spent way too much of 1407 01:09:04,520 --> 01:09:06,920 Speaker 1: your time chatting because I love I've known you for 1408 01:09:06,960 --> 01:09:09,040 Speaker 1: such a long time, but it's really cool just sitting 1409 01:09:09,080 --> 01:09:12,000 Speaker 1: down and chatting through your incredible story, the things that 1410 01:09:12,040 --> 01:09:14,639 Speaker 1: you've learned along the way, and things that have really 1411 01:09:14,680 --> 01:09:17,559 Speaker 1: developed your character. I know you've got an incredible family 1412 01:09:17,560 --> 01:09:20,320 Speaker 1: around you, You've got an amazing mum, an incredibly wise 1413 01:09:20,360 --> 01:09:23,360 Speaker 1: mother who's taught you a lot. But it's really cool 1414 01:09:23,400 --> 01:09:26,920 Speaker 1: to see the way that you continue to break barriers 1415 01:09:26,680 --> 01:09:29,839 Speaker 1: in sport and off field as well. It's really special. 1416 01:09:29,920 --> 01:09:31,400 Speaker 1: So thank you so much for your time today to 1417 01:09:31,520 --> 01:09:32,519 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. 1418 01:09:33,000 --> 01:09:34,960 Speaker 2: No, thank you so much, Cloe. It's been a long 1419 01:09:35,000 --> 01:09:38,840 Speaker 2: time coming. Yeah between catch ups, and I'm grateful to 1420 01:09:38,880 --> 01:09:41,719 Speaker 2: be part of this, this little movement that you've got going. 1421 01:09:41,760 --> 01:09:44,160 Speaker 2: And yeah, thanks for having me on and helping me 1422 01:09:44,439 --> 01:09:45,639 Speaker 2: or letting me cheer your ear off. 1423 01:09:45,680 --> 01:09:46,480 Speaker 1: I guess. 1424 01:09:47,720 --> 01:09:48,360 Speaker 2: Amazing. 1425 01:09:48,479 --> 01:09:54,200 Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Thanks close, Thanks so much for listening. 1426 01:09:54,479 --> 01:09:56,519 Speaker 1: If you got something out of this episode, I would 1427 01:09:56,560 --> 01:09:58,680 Speaker 1: absolutely love it if you could send it on to 1428 01:09:58,760 --> 01:10:02,720 Speaker 1: one person who you think might enjoy it. Otherwise, subscribe, 1429 01:10:02,880 --> 01:10:04,840 Speaker 1: give us a review, and make sure you follow us 1430 01:10:04,840 --> 01:10:07,680 Speaker 1: on Instagram at the Female Athlete Project to stay up 1431 01:10:07,720 --> 01:10:10,920 Speaker 1: to date with podcast episodes, merch drops, and of course 1432 01:10:11,360 --> 01:10:14,040 Speaker 1: news and stories about epic female athletes.