August 19, 2025 • 18 mins
🎙️ Raider Nick at Night – Savelio Tamale: Gratitude, Growth & the Future
In this episode, Raider Nick sits down with exciting young Raider Savelio Tamale for an open and inspiring conversation. We get to know the man behind the jersey — his journey to the Green Machine, the challenges he’s faced with injury, and the lessons learned during his time in the rehab group.
Savelio shares how being sidelined gave him a fresh perspective on both footy and life, helping him approach the game with gratitude and maturity beyond his years. From his path into the Raiders system, to his resilience in the face of setbacks, to how he now envisions his future on and off the field — this chat offers a real look at a player whose mindset is as strong as his talent.
Whether you’re a Raiders fan or just love stories of resilience and perspective, this episode will leave you inspired.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
He's not here for the clickbait all the count side critics.
It's real and full of deep and meaningfuls with the
Raiders in a circle from laughs to hard truth. He'll
tell you and ditch the negative noise and get behind
the boys. This is Raider Nick. Yeah, how you doing?
(00:23):
Big episode this one as we get down to the
business end of the season, less than a month out
till finals and we're starting to get some troops back
Mattie Nicholson. He'll be making his way back through New
South Wales Cup and of course a man doing the
same winger save to Marley, he'll be back in the
top grade very soon violent New South Wales Cup. But
(00:44):
in this episode we chat to him today save to Marley,
Hello to you.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Mate, Thanks for having me on today.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Mate, No dramas mate. You've snuck off back into the
gong for a while during the by.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, had a few couple of days off at the
back end of the week just to freshion up and
yes for a big week next week which is exciting.
But yeah, it's been good to get away from foot
you for a bit.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
How are you traveling, mate? Do you know the doctors
talking about your progress? When you due back and how's
the leg.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, yeah, the leg has been really good. I've been
seeing some good progress weeks a week. It was a
bit a bit rough for the first couple of weeks
obviously having a big surgery and then you're just managing
that you know period where you can't really do anything,
you're stuck in a brace for you know, three to
four weeks and then getting a bit of movement into
the back end of really hard. But yeah, it's been
(01:34):
traveling well, sam around like, yeah, nearly back to to
full strength with my playing, running and strength like that.
So yeah, it's good, really good week. Next week to
decide if I, you know, play yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Yeah, because I've got the panthers as well in Mudgie.
Would you travel that well, you travel up the mudgy
as well, or you're just you're just hanging out at home.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Ah, yeah, not too sure yet. I think we make
that decision on Wednesday. Legs used to footy again and
getting my catching and you know, contact stuff or right,
so I can make a smooth transition back into an.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
RL, getting a timing right and just getting that running
your leg and getting there, Yeah, getting the juice and
the lungs, mate.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly right.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
It's hard being in the rehab group, isn't it, and
especially when the team's going so well.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, it is hard. But it's good to see, you know,
footy from a different perspective. And I think that's really
grounded me. I've always grounded before, but it's really you know,
nailed it down to me. How lucky we are as
you know, players to do what we do and do
what we love for a living. So yeah, but it's
also really good to see the boys doing really well
and you know, the ladder shows that, and my energy
(02:44):
week in week out also shows up and connected we
are as a group, which is beautiful. It's really cool.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
That's a great stuff that you've come to that. How
old are you without standing rude? Again?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Twenty one in December?
Speaker 1 (02:56):
So wow Christmas, But so being twenty and actually having
that awareness of having that gratitude of where you really
are and taking a step out and seeing it from
a different lens now, like that's huge and when you
come back in that's kind of reset your mindset towards
it and being actually more grateful. Right Yeah, yep, mate,
(03:17):
I'd love to know how it all came about because
we played you guys, you being at the Dragons at
the last end of the season and that was when
we really went on the radar. How did it come
about to the offer to come to the Raiders.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, it was around that mid year mark where you know,
I was obviously an open agent and there was a
couple of clubs interested me, interested in me, and yeah,
that's how it really popped up. And I think me
playing good footy last year really helped that and the
opportunity to come to Raiders and it was too good
to turn down. Obviously, having such a great coaching stuff
(03:53):
that we do now and to see where the boys
are now really shows what we have going on at
the club now, and that's what I want to be
a part of. People that care. And you know, I
invested in developing young players like they do right now.
If you look at our whole squad, we have a
pretty young swadon.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
To see you know, us thriving in the NRL competition
is pretty good too.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Now, Ricky's the ultimate salesman, but he's not a bos salesman.
The passion is and when he talks, what he's feeling
is his truth though, and yeah, yeah, what was a
chat with Sticky?
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Like, oh, he was like yeah, it was pretty straightforward.
He said, you come here, will you know make you
a better footballer both on and off the field. And
I could just see the care factor that he and
you know, the coaches had with me, and that's something
that I wanted to be a part of. And I
just think them being so welcoming and you know, taking
(04:48):
me in the way that they have so far, it's
been incredible. And to be honest, Caner does feel like
home and I don't want to go anywhere else, to
be honest.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
With you, that's amazing. Man. You've come from the goal
where there's yeah with his beaches and stuff too, So yeah, yeah,
walking away from that your childhood. And good thing about
Ricky is a lot of people ask me about about
stick and I think I think his best attribute is
you feel seen. With rick he knows who you are
and you'll talk to you like that and you just
feel seen. And when he gets on the phone and
(05:19):
talks to you and you know, recruitment players, you just
feel so seen. And then when you meet him and
then you actually work with him, it's not just a
cheesy sales line, he actually means that.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, he goes through with it. That's what that's what
he's about here. Yeah, yeah, he backs up and but
always he's always keen on improving players and stuff like that.
So that's who he is as a coach and as
a care factor that no other coach has.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Did he promise your first grade early on? Obviously you've
got to earn your earn your spot.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Right, Yes, obviously for round one, I was really fortunate.
I wasn't promised anything. Obviously, you have to work for
work for this spot. Nothing's given to you. So I
was just really fortunate that I had a good off season,
put my head down and a spot I've been up
with me was obviously Hopper having his baby, and I've
taken that opportunity and yeah, haven't looked back.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
So it's been a great year. I mean, they went
against the Warriors in Vegas and then again without embarrassing
your savlock just your kick returns. Did you have you
kind of growing up? Who was you? Some of your
favorite players you looked up to and you were kind
of fan boys too, And do you kind of base
your approach to the game on some of those players
you looked up to.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah, oh, probably my biggest, two biggest ones in probably
Roger and tore both hard working players, always bringing the
ball back strong and just putting their head down and
they're getting to work. And that's what I based my
game off, is just to work off the ball and
work on the ball, just doing team first actions like
yeah know, taking those tough carries and then just yeah,
(06:54):
putting my head down running and doing what we should do.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Absolutely, we'd been doing it so well and I just
just I mean, just having chat sity down now on
our sideline, I just realized again with that embarrassing how
how young you are, and it's just you're in the
kind of start of your career. And it was great
at this. You know. I had Donnie on a few
weeks ago, the week that you signed, but the week
that you signed, and I asked it, congratulations on locking
(07:20):
in save there, and he was so delighted. They were
so delighted to keep you in long term.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Mate. Yeah, yeah, obviously really it's shing stuff. And No,
as soon as that offer that, I was like, yep,
I'm taking that. I want to be here. I want
to be a part of this journey with the club.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
What was your thoughts of Canberra before he came to
the club. That's a strength, the fact that the boys
are closer and without you know, and I'm just going
to say this on the record too, because I know
some players that have played for the Dragons over the
years and whatnot. And an example is I actually use
the Dragons. You've got players that live in Woollongong. You
got players that live in Sydney. Then you've got players
that signed who come from the middle and central Sydney,
(07:59):
and every one's a bit all over the shop and
then so his training's over, you just scatter and yeah,
I've had a player talk about how and it's not
a bad thing. It's not a knock on the dragon.
Id A guys say that I'll be defending in the
line and the guy that I'm defending next to, I
would barely know him. Whereas Yeah, just because of it
lives a part and it's Sydney who as in Canberra. Yeah,
you're just so close to boys. You go to the movies,
(08:19):
you play golf, and all the travel you did at
the first fifteen rounds of the year, all that travel
that just galvanizes is even more so then when you're
running out of the football field, you take that brotherhood
on the football field.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Yeah. I think one of the benefits you know, I
was a quiet lostyle on Camberan there's not much doing
in Canberra, is yeah, that the boys get together, you know,
nearly every day and even though we see each other
you know, quite a bit throughout the week. You know,
some of the boys go play golf for you No,
we're just hanging and that's probably one of the benefits
(08:52):
of having such a quiet lost on Cambrian. As you
said before, with the travel and that people some people,
you know, I might have used it as excuse like
other teams or anything like that, but we've we've had
the most trouble out of all then our old teams,
and not once have I heard one of the boys
complain about that. It's actually been a you know, a
huge boost in our team cohesion and team culture because
(09:15):
we all know each other heaps heaps better than what
we did at the start of pre season and that's
probably one of the things that has helped us get
to where we are today. Too.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
The thing is it's a it takes two to tango.
You go to a city. You need to fill those
gaps with your personality and who you know, it's a
blot on the person saying that as well or saying well,
maybe you're just a boring person too. Then you come
to Canberra and then you can create harmony within your
team with any organization that you do, whether it's you know,
whatever work that you do. And especially when it comes
to sport and such a gladiator game like rugby league,
(09:45):
where it's he's are out there in the trenches together,
you know, especially gold on defense and stuff. It's just perfect.
And so many guys that I've spoken to that have
left the club just go that have played for multiple
clubs for whatever reason and said, out of all the
clubs we play for, Camera was the best. It was
like such a family organizer club. You know, DONNYE and
Ricky looks after you and it's just you were together,
(10:07):
you lived about ten minutes apart, and there was a
certain brotherhood, there a certain comfort with every other.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, you can definitely fill that on the field and
that's where like all those little moments that matter in
the game work because we know each other really well.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
And yeah, what's it like running out to the Viking clap. Mate.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Oh, it's honestly not of the best thing ever. You
probably get a little bit a little bit scared and
nervous because I'm bring such a good atmosphere to the game,
and this year with all the fans listen up and
getting more numbers to the games, it's unreal.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And the fact that footy preparation, because you do get nervous,
that there's nervous energy starts to build, especially when you
get like the you know, the five minutes, the two
minute bill and whatnot, and then it starts to get
really serious. But then when you're running out to war
at home, that Viking clap that must just uplift you.
And I kind of almost think that other clubs are
missing out because they don't have such thing.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah. Yeah, to be honest with you, the Viking crup
sets the tone for the game. It just brings out
that more set of aggression and you know, the switch
and get.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
To work and you're busy. And then when you hear that,
when you have kind of jagged ice to win and
you've kind of clear with a few minutes to go,
and then you hear them starting again, that must feel awesome.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Too. Yeah, it does. That's awesome. I probably don't do
it until like the last two minutes and that's we're
in the clear. So that's a little early congratulations. Cool.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You mentioned that it sets the tone of what they
need to do and then when you hear it like
a few minutes ago, it sets the tone for the
celebration and it SAIDs afterwards.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah, it's it's unreal stuff man, And just.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
It's a perfect formula, isn't it? Moving forward? Man? You
know you can be as blake and as you want
to hear. Mate, you mentioned how he's have all gotten
clos up with all the travel and what you did.
It'd be just perfect to top off with the premiership, mate.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
One hundred. That's been our goal with believe it or not,
since since the start of day one preseason. As soon
as us young lads rocked up to pre season, Sicky,
you know, we wanted to chase that premiership and to
be where we are today. That's that's a testament to
how hard the boys have worked on. You know, we've
created a massive belief system in our group. You know,
(12:29):
believe in each other, backing, backing, what's inside the four
walls of training backing us as a small training group. Yeah,
just not listening to any outside noises. And I think
that's been the key to us sex this year is
just from my head down, not listening to anyone. But
you know each other and stick and our coaching stuff
and medical stuff. It's all put together and that's where
(12:52):
that's how we're going to where we are on the
table today and in the com totally.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And you mentioned Ricky Hunter said to you you come
to Canberra and I'll make you a better play and
a bit of person. Yeah where are you with that?
I mean you're still You're still a baby there sad.
But where do you feel that your game has improved
since joining the Raiders.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Definitely my foot, I c mat. I wasn't really thinking
when I was playing last year, you know, defense wise,
and probably attacked a bit more easier. You just run
the boy and try to play footy with the ball.
But I feel like my foot is really grain in
that despect, these defense aspect, you know, learning the systems
(13:32):
and my tackle techo has definitely improved. That's something that
you know I'm still working on to this day. And
the coaching stuff would really helped me with that.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
And now you got this kind of pathway to follow
now and that knowing that, yeah, you've improved so much
this year and it's only going to get better. Ye
if you don't mind me asking what about any regards
to you, know, your development as a man, as a
young man in the personality. What have you found living
in camera? I mean you've you shared that that introspection
of having a bit more time to think now because
you're in the REH group, Yeah, you can sit back
(14:01):
from a phone and think, well, I'm actually grateful to
play NRL and you're seeing it as Yeah. Where can
you talk a little bit about some of that development,
dare mate?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yeah, I've definitely grown up off the field, you know,
even like little things like recovery and you know, physiotherapy,
getting all that stuff done off the field. I think
that's probably where I've grown as a player, looking after
my body and being a bit more professional with my
diet and eating. And I think that's a part of
maturity because you know, you're not getting take out, you're
not going a fast food restaurant. You're cooking, you know,
(14:32):
home cooked meals that are good for you, and that's
definitely an aspect of my life that I was you know,
definitely growning and yeah, mindset wise too, Like you said,
I've been being more grounded, you know, having a different
perspective on playing footy, you know, obviously watching watching the
(14:52):
boys from from a different point of view. That's definitely
made me feel a bit more grateful for where I am.
And you know, it just makes me makes me more
humble about, you know, how to go about things and
stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
It's crazy. So have you mentioned that the diet, the
whole nutrition side of thing is not a sexy subject, right,
Nutrition not a sexy subject at all, but so crucial,
you know, so crucial, and you know, talking to you
know yourself, when you know you are what you eat
and just talking to Big Red at the start of
the season and he lost a lot of kilos and
he looked tip top and still does. And I asked him,
what's been the change, and he goes, I'm just starting
(15:27):
to eat like an athlete now because I'm off the piss,
so I'm not eating KFC anymore and not there's not
anything wrong with that, but you know, in moderation, but
you know yourself, you can get very easily get into
the kind of cycle of it and take out all
the time and whatnot, and all of a sudden.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
When you're younger. Yeah, well the younger boys, you know,
moving away from home. You know, they don't really have
those tools in their in their basket.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So it's great too. And I remember there was a player,
you know, if he's earlier bjl a lawyer, you know,
he was such a such a talented football especially in
the centers there. It came to a couple a little
bit overweight, and the first thing that Ricky said to
him is like, mae, he sort your diet out and
then you'll you'll lose a bit of weight, you'll feel better,
you'll move better, also feel down. I forget that. It
makes you feel better too. It's not like you're starving yourself.
(16:11):
It's actually benefits. When you're come to eating clean food,
you feel great, you clear, you sleep better, your head's clear,
and then you're going to do life better.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Under all right with that, mate, I've got to I've.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Gotta talk to myself a bit more about that too.
But anyways, as we wrap up, I'll let you know
you're watching your missus playing there. She's playing footy over
there and so she's still based in.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Yeah. So she's based in Wollongong and she plays for
the West Tigers and our w team. She's playing Harvey
this weekend. So just that leak. Yeah, just watching the footy,
which is good. Been doing a lot of footy watching lately. Yeah,
trying to get her down get a contract contract. So okay,
what happens?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
You need to have some conversations with some certain people, mate?
Who who have you tagged along with in regards to
teammates made? Who you're going to warm towards.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
All of them? Mate? Yeah, there's not just one or
two boys that I'm close to. I'm close to all
of them and that just shows how to tight need
we are.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
And when it comes to Canberra and the Raider is
that is so true. It's not a throwaway question. He's
also tight. He's all get along with the big guy,
the younger guys, the older guys. Whatnot. Lastly, Mate, what
what do you like most about Camebra The town? The town?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Yeah, it's really quiet. Some people say they hate the
quiet and they're like they hate like but there's nothing
doing in camera. I absolutely love it. You know, it's
a little peaceful and you can just focus on what
you need to focus on. And right now I'm trying
to take up studying, so it's it's a good little mixup.
I have got down.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Going on down here, and what do you want to study.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
I'm trying to get into the civil engineering. It's a
little degree that I want to get going on the side,
so that you know, you've always got to have a
back up plan if something goes wrong in footy. But yeah,
I just want to tick along that which is which
is good.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Well, save your future forecasting, setting yourself up a bit
of career after football a step you've taken a step back,
and you see on a perspective, how grateful for you
are to play in this competition. And I say this
a lot of the players as well. Just think of
how many kids that want to live that dream to
play a rugby league and there's only like a small
percentage of like five percent out of all the million
(18:17):
kids out there that want to get there that are playing.
You're there, you live in the dream. You're right there now.
Literally all the best without injury, mate, and all the
best and come back and Mate will be there partying
at the end of the year mate, and hopefully with
some silverware it's going to be a great end of
the year mate.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, thank you, thanks for having me on. I really
appreciate talking about you know, life and things off the field,
not just footy, so it's good to have you and
thank you for everything.
He's not here for the clickbait all the count side critics.
It's real and full of deep and meaningfuls with the
Raiders in a circle from laughs to hard truth. He'll
tell you and ditch the negative noise and get behind
the boys. This is Raider Nick. Yeah, how you doing?
(00:23):
Big episode this one as we get down to the
business end of the season, less than a month out
till finals and we're starting to get some troops back
Mattie Nicholson. He'll be making his way back through New
South Wales Cup and of course a man doing the
same winger save to Marley, he'll be back in the
top grade very soon violent New South Wales Cup. But
(00:44):
in this episode we chat to him today save to Marley,
Hello to you.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Mate, Thanks for having me on today.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Mate, No dramas mate. You've snuck off back into the
gong for a while during the by.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, had a few couple of days off at the
back end of the week just to freshion up and
yes for a big week next week which is exciting.
But yeah, it's been good to get away from foot
you for a bit.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
How are you traveling, mate? Do you know the doctors
talking about your progress? When you due back and how's
the leg.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, yeah, the leg has been really good. I've been
seeing some good progress weeks a week. It was a
bit a bit rough for the first couple of weeks
obviously having a big surgery and then you're just managing
that you know period where you can't really do anything,
you're stuck in a brace for you know, three to
four weeks and then getting a bit of movement into
the back end of really hard. But yeah, it's been
(01:34):
traveling well, sam around like, yeah, nearly back to to
full strength with my playing, running and strength like that.
So yeah, it's good, really good week. Next week to
decide if I, you know, play yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Yeah, because I've got the panthers as well in Mudgie.
Would you travel that well, you travel up the mudgy
as well, or you're just you're just hanging out at home.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Ah, yeah, not too sure yet. I think we make
that decision on Wednesday. Legs used to footy again and
getting my catching and you know, contact stuff or right,
so I can make a smooth transition back into an.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
RL, getting a timing right and just getting that running
your leg and getting there, Yeah, getting the juice and
the lungs, mate.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly right.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
It's hard being in the rehab group, isn't it, and
especially when the team's going so well.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, it is hard. But it's good to see, you know,
footy from a different perspective. And I think that's really
grounded me. I've always grounded before, but it's really you know,
nailed it down to me. How lucky we are as
you know, players to do what we do and do
what we love for a living. So yeah, but it's
also really good to see the boys doing really well
and you know, the ladder shows that, and my energy
(02:44):
week in week out also shows up and connected we
are as a group, which is beautiful. It's really cool.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
That's a great stuff that you've come to that. How
old are you without standing rude? Again?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Twenty one in December?
Speaker 1 (02:56):
So wow Christmas, But so being twenty and actually having
that awareness of having that gratitude of where you really
are and taking a step out and seeing it from
a different lens now, like that's huge and when you
come back in that's kind of reset your mindset towards
it and being actually more grateful. Right Yeah, yep, mate,
(03:17):
I'd love to know how it all came about because
we played you guys, you being at the Dragons at
the last end of the season and that was when
we really went on the radar. How did it come
about to the offer to come to the Raiders.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, it was around that mid year mark where you know,
I was obviously an open agent and there was a
couple of clubs interested me, interested in me, and yeah,
that's how it really popped up. And I think me
playing good footy last year really helped that and the
opportunity to come to Raiders and it was too good
to turn down. Obviously, having such a great coaching stuff
(03:53):
that we do now and to see where the boys
are now really shows what we have going on at
the club now, and that's what I want to be
a part of. People that care. And you know, I
invested in developing young players like they do right now.
If you look at our whole squad, we have a
pretty young swadon.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
To see you know, us thriving in the NRL competition
is pretty good too.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Now, Ricky's the ultimate salesman, but he's not a bos salesman.
The passion is and when he talks, what he's feeling
is his truth though, and yeah, yeah, what was a
chat with Sticky?
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Like, oh, he was like yeah, it was pretty straightforward.
He said, you come here, will you know make you
a better footballer both on and off the field. And
I could just see the care factor that he and
you know, the coaches had with me, and that's something
that I wanted to be a part of. And I
just think them being so welcoming and you know, taking
(04:48):
me in the way that they have so far, it's
been incredible. And to be honest, Caner does feel like
home and I don't want to go anywhere else, to
be honest.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
With you, that's amazing. Man. You've come from the goal
where there's yeah with his beaches and stuff too, So yeah, yeah,
walking away from that your childhood. And good thing about
Ricky is a lot of people ask me about about
stick and I think I think his best attribute is
you feel seen. With rick he knows who you are
and you'll talk to you like that and you just
feel seen. And when he gets on the phone and
(05:19):
talks to you and you know, recruitment players, you just
feel so seen. And then when you meet him and
then you actually work with him, it's not just a
cheesy sales line, he actually means that.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, he goes through with it. That's what that's what
he's about here. Yeah, yeah, he backs up and but
always he's always keen on improving players and stuff like that.
So that's who he is as a coach and as
a care factor that no other coach has.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Did he promise your first grade early on? Obviously you've
got to earn your earn your spot.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Right, Yes, obviously for round one, I was really fortunate.
I wasn't promised anything. Obviously, you have to work for
work for this spot. Nothing's given to you. So I
was just really fortunate that I had a good off season,
put my head down and a spot I've been up
with me was obviously Hopper having his baby, and I've
taken that opportunity and yeah, haven't looked back.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
So it's been a great year. I mean, they went
against the Warriors in Vegas and then again without embarrassing
your savlock just your kick returns. Did you have you
kind of growing up? Who was you? Some of your
favorite players you looked up to and you were kind
of fan boys too, And do you kind of base
your approach to the game on some of those players
you looked up to.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah, oh, probably my biggest, two biggest ones in probably
Roger and tore both hard working players, always bringing the
ball back strong and just putting their head down and
they're getting to work. And that's what I based my
game off, is just to work off the ball and
work on the ball, just doing team first actions like
yeah know, taking those tough carries and then just yeah,
(06:54):
putting my head down running and doing what we should do.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Absolutely, we'd been doing it so well and I just
just I mean, just having chat sity down now on
our sideline, I just realized again with that embarrassing how
how young you are, and it's just you're in the
kind of start of your career. And it was great
at this. You know. I had Donnie on a few
weeks ago, the week that you signed, but the week
that you signed, and I asked it, congratulations on locking
(07:20):
in save there, and he was so delighted. They were
so delighted to keep you in long term.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Mate. Yeah, yeah, obviously really it's shing stuff. And No,
as soon as that offer that, I was like, yep,
I'm taking that. I want to be here. I want
to be a part of this journey with the club.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
What was your thoughts of Canberra before he came to
the club. That's a strength, the fact that the boys
are closer and without you know, and I'm just going
to say this on the record too, because I know
some players that have played for the Dragons over the
years and whatnot. And an example is I actually use
the Dragons. You've got players that live in Woollongong. You
got players that live in Sydney. Then you've got players
that signed who come from the middle and central Sydney,
(07:59):
and every one's a bit all over the shop and
then so his training's over, you just scatter and yeah,
I've had a player talk about how and it's not
a bad thing. It's not a knock on the dragon.
Id A guys say that I'll be defending in the
line and the guy that I'm defending next to, I
would barely know him. Whereas Yeah, just because of it
lives a part and it's Sydney who as in Canberra. Yeah,
you're just so close to boys. You go to the movies,
(08:19):
you play golf, and all the travel you did at
the first fifteen rounds of the year, all that travel
that just galvanizes is even more so then when you're
running out of the football field, you take that brotherhood
on the football field.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Yeah. I think one of the benefits you know, I
was a quiet lostyle on Camberan there's not much doing
in Canberra, is yeah, that the boys get together, you know,
nearly every day and even though we see each other
you know, quite a bit throughout the week. You know,
some of the boys go play golf for you No,
we're just hanging and that's probably one of the benefits
(08:52):
of having such a quiet lost on Cambrian. As you
said before, with the travel and that people some people,
you know, I might have used it as excuse like
other teams or anything like that, but we've we've had
the most trouble out of all then our old teams,
and not once have I heard one of the boys
complain about that. It's actually been a you know, a
huge boost in our team cohesion and team culture because
(09:15):
we all know each other heaps heaps better than what
we did at the start of pre season and that's
probably one of the things that has helped us get
to where we are today. Too.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
The thing is it's a it takes two to tango.
You go to a city. You need to fill those
gaps with your personality and who you know, it's a
blot on the person saying that as well or saying well,
maybe you're just a boring person too. Then you come
to Canberra and then you can create harmony within your
team with any organization that you do, whether it's you know,
whatever work that you do. And especially when it comes
to sport and such a gladiator game like rugby league,
(09:45):
where it's he's are out there in the trenches together,
you know, especially gold on defense and stuff. It's just perfect.
And so many guys that I've spoken to that have
left the club just go that have played for multiple
clubs for whatever reason and said, out of all the
clubs we play for, Camera was the best. It was
like such a family organizer club. You know, DONNYE and
Ricky looks after you and it's just you were together,
(10:07):
you lived about ten minutes apart, and there was a
certain brotherhood, there a certain comfort with every other.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, you can definitely fill that on the field and
that's where like all those little moments that matter in
the game work because we know each other really well.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
And yeah, what's it like running out to the Viking clap. Mate.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Oh, it's honestly not of the best thing ever. You
probably get a little bit a little bit scared and
nervous because I'm bring such a good atmosphere to the game,
and this year with all the fans listen up and
getting more numbers to the games, it's unreal.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And the fact that footy preparation, because you do get nervous,
that there's nervous energy starts to build, especially when you
get like the you know, the five minutes, the two
minute bill and whatnot, and then it starts to get
really serious. But then when you're running out to war
at home, that Viking clap that must just uplift you.
And I kind of almost think that other clubs are
missing out because they don't have such thing.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah. Yeah, to be honest with you, the Viking crup
sets the tone for the game. It just brings out
that more set of aggression and you know, the switch
and get.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
To work and you're busy. And then when you hear that,
when you have kind of jagged ice to win and
you've kind of clear with a few minutes to go,
and then you hear them starting again, that must feel awesome.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Too. Yeah, it does. That's awesome. I probably don't do
it until like the last two minutes and that's we're
in the clear. So that's a little early congratulations. Cool.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You mentioned that it sets the tone of what they
need to do and then when you hear it like
a few minutes ago, it sets the tone for the
celebration and it SAIDs afterwards.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah, it's it's unreal stuff man, And just.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
It's a perfect formula, isn't it? Moving forward? Man? You
know you can be as blake and as you want
to hear. Mate, you mentioned how he's have all gotten
clos up with all the travel and what you did.
It'd be just perfect to top off with the premiership, mate.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
One hundred. That's been our goal with believe it or not,
since since the start of day one preseason. As soon
as us young lads rocked up to pre season, Sicky,
you know, we wanted to chase that premiership and to
be where we are today. That's that's a testament to
how hard the boys have worked on. You know, we've
created a massive belief system in our group. You know,
(12:29):
believe in each other, backing, backing, what's inside the four
walls of training backing us as a small training group. Yeah,
just not listening to any outside noises. And I think
that's been the key to us sex this year is
just from my head down, not listening to anyone. But
you know each other and stick and our coaching stuff
and medical stuff. It's all put together and that's where
(12:52):
that's how we're going to where we are on the
table today and in the com totally.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And you mentioned Ricky Hunter said to you you come
to Canberra and I'll make you a better play and
a bit of person. Yeah where are you with that?
I mean you're still You're still a baby there sad.
But where do you feel that your game has improved
since joining the Raiders.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Definitely my foot, I c mat. I wasn't really thinking
when I was playing last year, you know, defense wise,
and probably attacked a bit more easier. You just run
the boy and try to play footy with the ball.
But I feel like my foot is really grain in
that despect, these defense aspect, you know, learning the systems
(13:32):
and my tackle techo has definitely improved. That's something that
you know I'm still working on to this day. And
the coaching stuff would really helped me with that.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
And now you got this kind of pathway to follow
now and that knowing that, yeah, you've improved so much
this year and it's only going to get better. Ye
if you don't mind me asking what about any regards
to you, know, your development as a man, as a
young man in the personality. What have you found living
in camera? I mean you've you shared that that introspection
of having a bit more time to think now because
you're in the REH group, Yeah, you can sit back
(14:01):
from a phone and think, well, I'm actually grateful to
play NRL and you're seeing it as Yeah. Where can
you talk a little bit about some of that development,
dare mate?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yeah, I've definitely grown up off the field, you know,
even like little things like recovery and you know, physiotherapy,
getting all that stuff done off the field. I think
that's probably where I've grown as a player, looking after
my body and being a bit more professional with my
diet and eating. And I think that's a part of
maturity because you know, you're not getting take out, you're
not going a fast food restaurant. You're cooking, you know,
(14:32):
home cooked meals that are good for you, and that's
definitely an aspect of my life that I was you know,
definitely growning and yeah, mindset wise too, Like you said,
I've been being more grounded, you know, having a different
perspective on playing footy, you know, obviously watching watching the
(14:52):
boys from from a different point of view. That's definitely
made me feel a bit more grateful for where I am.
And you know, it just makes me makes me more
humble about, you know, how to go about things and
stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
It's crazy. So have you mentioned that the diet, the
whole nutrition side of thing is not a sexy subject, right,
Nutrition not a sexy subject at all, but so crucial,
you know, so crucial, and you know, talking to you
know yourself, when you know you are what you eat
and just talking to Big Red at the start of
the season and he lost a lot of kilos and
he looked tip top and still does. And I asked him,
what's been the change, and he goes, I'm just starting
(15:27):
to eat like an athlete now because I'm off the piss,
so I'm not eating KFC anymore and not there's not
anything wrong with that, but you know, in moderation, but
you know yourself, you can get very easily get into
the kind of cycle of it and take out all
the time and whatnot, and all of a sudden.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
When you're younger. Yeah, well the younger boys, you know,
moving away from home. You know, they don't really have
those tools in their in their basket.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So it's great too. And I remember there was a player,
you know, if he's earlier bjl a lawyer, you know,
he was such a such a talented football especially in
the centers there. It came to a couple a little
bit overweight, and the first thing that Ricky said to
him is like, mae, he sort your diet out and
then you'll you'll lose a bit of weight, you'll feel better,
you'll move better, also feel down. I forget that. It
makes you feel better too. It's not like you're starving yourself.
(16:11):
It's actually benefits. When you're come to eating clean food,
you feel great, you clear, you sleep better, your head's clear,
and then you're going to do life better.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Under all right with that, mate, I've got to I've.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Gotta talk to myself a bit more about that too.
But anyways, as we wrap up, I'll let you know
you're watching your missus playing there. She's playing footy over
there and so she's still based in.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Yeah. So she's based in Wollongong and she plays for
the West Tigers and our w team. She's playing Harvey
this weekend. So just that leak. Yeah, just watching the footy,
which is good. Been doing a lot of footy watching lately. Yeah,
trying to get her down get a contract contract. So okay,
what happens?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
You need to have some conversations with some certain people, mate?
Who who have you tagged along with in regards to
teammates made? Who you're going to warm towards.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
All of them? Mate? Yeah, there's not just one or
two boys that I'm close to. I'm close to all
of them and that just shows how to tight need
we are.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
And when it comes to Canberra and the Raider is
that is so true. It's not a throwaway question. He's
also tight. He's all get along with the big guy,
the younger guys, the older guys. Whatnot. Lastly, Mate, what
what do you like most about Camebra The town? The town?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Yeah, it's really quiet. Some people say they hate the
quiet and they're like they hate like but there's nothing
doing in camera. I absolutely love it. You know, it's
a little peaceful and you can just focus on what
you need to focus on. And right now I'm trying
to take up studying, so it's it's a good little mixup.
I have got down.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Going on down here, and what do you want to study.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
I'm trying to get into the civil engineering. It's a
little degree that I want to get going on the side,
so that you know, you've always got to have a
back up plan if something goes wrong in footy. But yeah,
I just want to tick along that which is which
is good.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Well, save your future forecasting, setting yourself up a bit
of career after football a step you've taken a step back,
and you see on a perspective, how grateful for you
are to play in this competition. And I say this
a lot of the players as well. Just think of
how many kids that want to live that dream to
play a rugby league and there's only like a small
percentage of like five percent out of all the million
(18:17):
kids out there that want to get there that are playing.
You're there, you live in the dream. You're right there now.
Literally all the best without injury, mate, and all the
best and come back and Mate will be there partying
at the end of the year mate, and hopefully with
some silverware it's going to be a great end of
the year mate.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, thank you, thanks for having me on. I really
appreciate talking about you know, life and things off the field,
not just footy, so it's good to have you and
thank you for everything.
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