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.
05/26/22 • 62 min
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.
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.
Previous Episode
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
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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Next Episode
Ep 26 Keven Mealamu - 2 time Rugby World Cup Winner, 132 Test All Black, 164 Games for the Blues - winning a Super Rugby title in 2003, Co-owner of FIT60 gym with wife Latai, Budding Professional Boxer plus much more.
Great to chat with an old friend - it’s been a while.
Kevie let us in on his motivation for the next stage of his life. He’s getting into the ring for the first time. Something he’s wanted to do for a long time and something he “didn’t want to die wondering about” or have any regrets about.
We chat about the feelings he went through of being named in the All Blacks for the first time and where he was at the moment his name was announced.
We discuss some moments we shared while being a part of the All Blacks, including our connection with Brian O'Driscoll and he also shares some of the learnings he and the team were able to pick up from the 4 World Cups he attended.
He shares a lot of learnings and experiences that he has been able to pick up in his life and some great insights into his journey. He talked about what success looks like and how medals and winning championships don’t define you, the little successes along your path are just as important.
He also shares what he’s doing now with his involvement as a business owner, a member of local body communities where he wants to make a difference in his community and, also as a board member on Auckland Rugby where he gives back to the game and community that gave him so much.
A very insightful episode and one that I really enjoyed. I’m sure you will too.
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