Tana Umaga's TEEM Talk - Ep 24 Ruben Wiki - Kiwi Rugby League Legend, Captained the Kiwi's 18 times, Grand Final winner with the Canberra Raiders, Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit and owner of Wiki Workz gym with wife Santa

Ep 24 Ruben Wiki - Kiwi Rugby League Legend, Captained the Kiwi's 18 times, Grand Final winner with the Canberra Raiders, Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit and owner of Wiki Workz gym with wife Santa

05/12/22 • 81 min

Great to catch up and reminisce about old times with Rugby League Legend Ruben Wiki.
We talk about our early years in playing against each other for our childhood clubs, Ruben with Ōtāhuhu and myself with Wainuiomata and then together with the Junior Kiwis in 1992.
He shares about signing with the Canberra Raiders and learning from some legends and immortals of the game like coach Tim Sheens and players Mal Meninga, Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley, Bradley Clyde, Kevin and Steve Walters, Noa Nadruku, and many more. He speaks of his big brothers over there, Quentin Pongia and Johnny Lomax and how they looked after him and guided him when he was young. And how he had to stand up for himself to earn their respect.
He reminisces about his decision to come home to the Warriors and want to give back to the young players in his home town. And how his leadership style had to change when he became the spokesman for the Māori and Pasifika players as they struggled with the cultural differences with the Australian-born members of the team.
We discus Ruben’s ‘Plan B’, Wiki Workz Gym, that he started with his wife Santa, who’s been alongside him right from the start!! He also tells us about going back to school to get his Diploma in Sports Rec this year.
Ruben opens up about the struggles of COVID and how they had to find other work to keep things going during the lockdowns and how it affected his mental well-being. He’s now creating workshops and programmes through the gym for the youth and adults in his South Auckland community. He also lets us in on how his childhood memories brought him to become an Ambassador for White Ribbon.
An inspirational sharing of this legend's journey that started with the grind on the field and putting in the Mahi, what he had to do to get ahead and then using those same attributes in his working life and educating himself and others to continue to assist his family and his community.
A truly inspiring listen!!

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Previous Episode

undefined - Ep 23 - Saia Fainga'a. Former Wallaby and Rugby World Cup squad member. Super Rugby Champion with the Queensland Reds, Managing Director of 100% indigenous owned and operated companies; Moonyah Services, Moonyah Workforce, and Madji Furniture.

Ep 23 - Saia Fainga'a. Former Wallaby and Rugby World Cup squad member. Super Rugby Champion with the Queensland Reds, Managing Director of 100% indigenous owned and operated companies; Moonyah Services, Moonyah Workforce, and Madji Furniture.

A great story that started at a young age. Saia tells me that he signed with the Brumbies Academy at 14 years and 9 months old and was training with Wallabies greats George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and George Smith.

He lets us know how his Aboriginal mother and Tongan father met and married, then raised 5 boys while living in a pub. He shares about how his mother was their nutritionist, taxi driver, and confidante even to this day and how his father helped the boys into their first investment as 18-year-olds.

Saia shares his thoughts and memories of his time with the Queensland Reds, winning their inaugural Super Rugby title. And playing under Robbie Deans with Wallabies and what he thought about a Kiwi coaching the Australian Rugby team.

Saia and his twin brother Anthony, have founded 100% indigenous-owned and operated companies Moonyah Services, Moonyah Workforce, and Madji Furniture. The Fainga’a twins have a business goal to be one of the first indigenous companies for labour hire traffic control to be listed on the share market. With the passion and hearing their story, I’d bank on them achieving it.

Another awesome conversation with plenty of good learnings.

Make sure you listen to find out what they are.

Next Episode

undefined - Ep 25 Benji Marshall - Captained the Kiwis Rugby League team a record 25 times, 2008 Rugby League World Cup winner, NRL Premiership winner, Golden Boot recipient for Best Player in the World, TV Personality with his own show, West Tigers Ambassador.

Ep 25 Benji Marshall - Captained the Kiwis Rugby League team a record 25 times, 2008 Rugby League World Cup winner, NRL Premiership winner, Golden Boot recipient for Best Player in the World, TV Personality with his own show, West Tigers Ambassador.

Hugely honoured to have the legendary Benji Marshall in his first-time as a guest on any podcast.

You soon see why Benji has turned to Television since retiring from Rugby league in 2021. He is a natural storyteller and it was sound advice from Channel 9 that stopped him finishing his Media Communications Degree because it was changing him into something he wasn't and losing that cheeky personality. He has also recently started on Celebrity Apprentice Australia.

From the from small town of Whakatāne he headed to Australia at 15 years old when he was offered a contract with the West Tigers, with the goal of playing in the NRL so he could buy his mum and brothers a house. All while also being a driving force for his whānau, showing them the path to achieve their dreams.

He tells us about his attitude to not lose his individual flare and who he is. The touch step, the touch long pass and that back flick pass!! While also being told he’s too small, can’t tackle and with 5 shoulder reconstructions. His competitiveness, perseverance and resilience to stick to his dream and continue to be himself on the way.

Benji shares so many lessons he learnt on his way to where he is now.

Make sure you listen in to hear all about them.

A great listen indeed.