What a Lad

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What a Lad

What a lad is a podcast by James Marshall who talks to some of the biggest names and best lads in sport.

16/01/2025

We are back! Starting this Sunday What a Lad episodes will be released every fortnight!

Who do you want to hear on Season 6?

15/12/2024

The episode is out now!

Tom Walsh has been one of the best shot-putters in the world for the last decade so it was an honour to get him on What a Lad for this one!
Plenty of people have suggested over the years to get him on and now I can see why! He isn’t just good at what he does but he’s a massive lad with an incredible mindset which has seen him win Gold Medals at the World Champs (outdoor and indoor) and the Commonwealth games, while twice picking up a Bronze at the Olympics.

Some parts that stood out for me were..
How he is sometimes awkwardly mistaken for the great Joe Moody.
Growing up with Dyslexia and the challenges involved
His upbringing in all sports, a rugby no8, cricket wizard and shot put beast.
How he ended up in shot-put and the unique lifestyle of a shot-putter
Why he kept throwing at this years Olympics even with a torn abductor
As well as plenty of great advice for everyone!

As you’ll hear Tom Walsh is a very likeable character, who has had an incredible career to date and the best thing is that it is not over yet. Hearing the mindset that Tom has, I’ve got no doubt there’s more success to come for this great New Zealanders.
If you enjoy this episode please give it a share!

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Graphic and edit done by .jake

08/12/2024

The episode is out now!

Everyone who has played with Brayden Mitchell will testify that he is one of the greatest lads to play the game, he was a champion team mate on and off the field, who loved a good time and could always back it up when on the pitch. Some of the stories and reflections that the man they call Scratcher has in this episode were incredible to hear. He was so honest, held back nothing and can tell a seriously good yarn!

Some bits that stood out for me in this one were...
How hard the struggle of retiring from rugby due to a neck injury was for him
His relationship with gambling throughout his career
Getting his first contract straight out of school.
Dealing with a lack of confidence in himself
His relationship with alcohol during his career and during the transition post footy
Dealing with injuries and his regret in how he attacked his rehab
Becoming the Stags captain and the pressure involved with that
And honestly some of the best behind the scene stories of a professional rugby player you will hear.

I’ve got so much time for Scratcher, just a champion human who played the game for enjoyment and he certainly did that! If you enjoy this episode please give it a share and let me know what stood out for you in the comments.

Graphic by .jake
Recorded in

03/12/2024

To all the comments about moving to the NRL for the money 🙅‍♂️

01/12/2024

The episode is out now!

Mark Nawaqanitawase has had one of the most eventful 12 months in sport! Firstly heading to the Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies before changing code to the 7’s format of the game for the Paris Olympics, where he narrowly missed out on a medal. He then changed codes again, this time to the 13 man game playing NRL for the Sydney Rooster to cap off what was an incredible 12 months.

What stood out for me in this one was..

How his Fijian heritage plays a significant role in his identity and sports career.
He emphasizes the importance of having fun while playing sports.
How his Waratahs debut in Super Rugby was a dream come true for him.
What it was like debuting for the Wallabies.
How his transition to the Aus 7s team was a rewarding challenge for him.
Why he moved to the Roosters.
Adjusting to NRL required learning new rules and strategies.
All the questions you want to know, fastest player, hardest to tackle etc!
And heaps more!

Mark is one of those players who is just a joy to watch whatever game he is playing, the way he can leap in the air, beat defenders and score tries! You’ll also learn in this episode that he is a massive lad, such a likeable character who has a huge future ahead of him.
If you enjoyed this episode let me know what stood out for you in the comments and share the episode if you can.

Graphic by .jake

24/11/2024

The Rob Penney episode is out now!

The life of a head coach can be as brutal at times and it’s fair to say that Rob Penney has been on the receiving end of his fair share of public criticism. However, what I am excited to share with you in this episode is just what a champion man he is. From playing 100 games for Canterbury as a tough loose forward to becoming a Head Coach who has coached all around the world, the Rob Penney journey is a fascinating one!

Some parts that stood out were...

⚫️ Firstly hearing his thoughts on the Crusaders 2024 season and expectations for 2025
🔴 What he remembers about the infamous name calling of the reporter
⚫️ Growing up in Canterbury dreaming of playing for them and then achieving that dream.
🔴 Hearing how hard it was for a young guy coming into those environments back then
⚫️ How he made his transition into coaching
🔴 Hearing all about coaching Canterbury, NZ u20s, Munster, the Waratahs, Shining Arcs.
⚫️His recall on the Simon Zebo phone call with the Lions
🔴How his high optimism has got his through the tough times of head coaching
⚫️And heaps more.

As you’ll hear Rob Penney has so much wisdom, he has had so many highs and lows in the game so he was able to share plenty of gold advice from his experiences. If you enjoy this episode please give it a share and I will promise to keep bringing you more great guests like Rob Penney.

20/11/2024

I’ve had heaps of messages about the graph that and I talk about in the latest episode so here it is.
It’s a self reflection of his career using the 4 key pillars which I found really interesting.
Check out the episode to hear more about it 👍

19/11/2024

Who should it be??

So good to hear Super Rugby will have a proper Fantasy Rugby set up this season! Looking forward to seeing what price tags they start with!

17/11/2024

The episode is out now!

This week on What a Lad we are joined by Hugh Pyle who in my opinion is one of the greatest Australian rugby player never to be capped by the Wallabies. Standing at over 2 meters tall, Hugh’s combination of skillset and workrate has seen him have a remarkable career firstly in Australia with the Rebels before moving to France, where he became a centurion with Stade Français. He finished off in Japan with Toshiba before calling time on his Rugby career.

In his podcast debut, Hugh shares candid insights about his life post-rugby, including his transition to a career as a mortgage broker. He dives into his unique method of reflecting on his career through four key pillars: enjoyment, playing form, salary, and game time, revealing the lessons he learned along the way.

Hugh also talks about plenty of challenges he faced while playing which included battling with dodgy knees, adjusting to life in different parts of the world and even dealing with a serious brain injury.

As you’ll hear, Hugh is a massive lad, someone who’s reflective personality makes for thought provocative content, he also has a great sense of humor, and can tell a yarn. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one and if you do please give it a share so I can keep bringing you great guest like Hugh.

Filmed in 🔥
Graphic by .jake 🧙‍♂️

09/11/2024

The episode is out now!

Hamish Kerr is officially the best High Jumper in the world having recently won Gold at the Paris Olympics. However, what you’re about to hear in this episode is an insight into the mind of the Olympic champion and you’ll be amazed at how close he came to bowing out in the Qualifiers. Incredibly in his mind this would have meant retirement. The pressure that come on one single jump is insane and when you need to be relaxed and in flow when jumping how you handle that pressure is the difference.

Some other cool parts of this episode that should out for me was..

Growing up playing lot’s of sports, playing on the wing in rugby
How at the age of 11 he was arguably faster than Rieko Ioane
His journey into High Jump and why he quit after school
An insight in to the training schedule of an individual athlete
How important your mindset in as a world class athlete
Why he wasn’t keen to settle on the split gold medal
What made him take off to the middle of the Javelin field once he had won the gold
And heaps more!

As you’ll hear Hamish is a very smart, open and honest man who gives so much gold (excuse the pun) in this episode. What he has done for High Jump and Athletics in this country has been massively and he is such a champion! If you enjoyed this episode please give it share and I will continue to bring you more great guests like Hamish.

Filmed in 👊
Graphic by .jake 🔥
Clothing by 😂

01/11/2024

The episode is out now!

Christian Cullen is a legend. You only have to watch a few minutes of his highlights package to remind yourself how good he really was. The speed and agility, his ability to change direction at full pace, his deceptive strength, add on top his attacking mindset and his braveness in defence! He was an absolute joy to watch. He’s also such a champion man who prefers to keep to himself so I am super grateful to get him on and be able to share this conversation.

In this whopping 2 hour episode some parts that stood out for me...

How working the milk run growing up helped his rugby.
Debuting for Horowhenua straight out of school against Jonah.
Making the NZ 7’s sides with Titch and stories from Hong Kong and the Commonwealth games.
The old school nature of the All Black environment he went in to.
I loved hearing about some of the greatest tries ever scored.
How he ended up at 13 for a RWC.
His relationship with John Mitchell.
Why he left to Munster and his time playing over there.
Why he hated warming up.
And heaps heaps more!

Growing up Christian Cullen was my absolute hero, he inspired me to play the game so to sit down with him and have this conversation was truely incredible. What I’m sure will stand out for you is how humble and down to earth he is, you certainly wouldn’t think I’m talking to one of the greatest to ever play the game listening to this. If you enjoy this one, please give it a share and I will continue to bring you the big guest like Christian Cullen.

Special mention to the for allowing me to record this episode in their Clubrooms.

Graphic by 🔥

#🐐

29/10/2024

The clearer the vision the easier the path!

Love this from the latest episode 🔥

26/10/2024

The episode is out now!

Casey Laulala is one of the most likeable characters you’ll meet, with an inspiring story from growing up in Samoa to becoming an All Black. This conversation gives an awesome insight into some of the pressures and challenges young islanders face coming to NZ in their teens. Casey shares so openly and I’m sure will inspire many.

Some bits that stood out for me in this one were..

- What life was like growing up in Samoa with 6 siblings including All Black
- The pressure Casey put on him self to impress his dad and make him proud
- How he focused his mindset was to achieve his goals
- His memories playing with and against some of the greats of the game
- Why he moved overseas and how he ended up at Cardiff, Munster and Racing Metro
- The transition in to coaching and why that wasn’t for him
- The career change into Real Estate
- And he’s more classic stories.

As you’ll hear Casey is a very well spoken and honest man who shares some great insights and advice from his journey to the top. If you enjoyed this episode please give it and I will continue to bring you more great guest like this!

Graphic by .jake 🔥

19/10/2024

The episode is out now!

Ross Filipo is one of the greatest lads in our game, whose journey through rugby has been nothing short of fascinating. Starting his rugby journey at 15, Ross shares his evolution from a talented but hesitant first five who could goal kick off both feet, to becoming the skilful and physical lock forward we knew him as.

In this episode we explore key moments throughout his career, including:

Early Years: Ross always had the talent however he was naturally inclined to just cruise before a change of mindset saw a change in outcomes.

Becoming a Pro: The challenges that came with the transition into professionalism and how a move down to the Crusaders shaped him as a person.

Becoming an All Black: The pressures and challenges of international rugby and what stopped him from having more games

Injuries and Comebacks: Ross opens up about significant injuries, including a neck injury and how he returned from shoulder surgery in record time.

Life Abroad: His overseas adventures, from playing in France to coaching in Japan and the struggles that come with living in a foreign country without your family.

Personal Growth: Ross’s candid reflections on mental health, life changing decisions he has made , and how it transformed his life as a father and a coach.

As you’ll hear in this one, Ross is a such a genuine human being who has plenty of wisdom and shares plenty of classic stories throughout. If you enjoy this one which I’m sure you will make sure you give it a share and I will continue to bring more great guests like this.

Graphic by .jake 🔥
Clip added in this episode is from the with

12/10/2024

The episode is out now!

When we talk about the greatest rugby family ever in this country, it’s almost impossible to go past the Barretts. Kevin ‘Smylie’ Barrett was a Taranaki legend who also played for the Hurricanes, is a 100 game All Black, RWC winner and 2 x World Player of the year, has captained the Crusaders to 4 Super Rugby titles and is the current Captain of the All Blacks, at just 27 has racked up over 50 games for the All Blacks and dominated where ever he plays. While Kane he was tracking the same path before 2 significant head injuries forced him to retire at just 22 years old!

It was awesome to sit down with Kane and talk through where he is at now and how he looks back on his career. Some bits that stood out for me were..

-The battle between the Barrett brothers to be the Alpha growing up
-How Kane would fire up the Francis Douglas 1st XV side, once resulting in a yellow card
-The time Kane picked up his coach Neil Barns as a 16yo and dropped him on his head
-His pathway into NZ Schools for 2 years, Taranaki and the Blues
-What forced Kane into retirement and how hard that was to deal with
-How he looks at his brothers successful careers
-His new life of the farm
-And heaps more!

This was such an incredible insight from such a champion lad, you can only admire the way Kane has gone about his life post footy and it was so cool to hear about his journey. If you enjoyed the episode please give it a share and I’ll keep bringing you great guests like Kane 🤝

Graphic by .jake 🔥
Recorded at the .wasley mancave 🔥

06/10/2024

The Aaron Mauger episode is out now!

Aaron Mauger loves rugby, he’s so passionate about the game, he is so grateful for his involvement in the game and he’s certainly been involved!

From playing for Canterbury straight out of school, to becoming a Crusader and All Black not long after. He then moved to Leicester were he won premierships over there, before injuries forced him to retire at just 30. Post playing he was always going to stay in the game and with his incredible rugby knowledge has gone on to become a great coach!

Some bit’s that stood out for me were...

His relationship with his brother Nathan and their mindset playing together
How hard it can be for a young 10 to come in boss the team around especially when one was your teacher the year before
The massive influence Andrew Mertens had on him
The night of the 96-12 win over the Waratahs and the story behind the front flip
The 2003 and 2007 RWC experiences
The struggle of wanting to keep playing when the body is breaking down
The reality of the life as a coach and the impact that can have on your family
And heaps more

I loved hearing about Azza’s mindset on how he approaches life, he’s very grateful for every thing and he has a real passion for the game of rugby. It made me realise how good this game is, so many great people involved in the game and Aaron Mauger is certianly one of those!

The episode was recorded in which as you’ll see/hear takes What a Lad to a new level.

Graphic by 🔥

29/09/2024

The episode is out now!

Everyone loves a battler and when it comes to one of the greatest battlers to ever play the game the great Laurence Corlett has to be up there. The man who debuted for the Hurricanes 10 years after his first class debut for Canterbury, Laurence put in a 7 minute shift that will never be forgotten at the Hurricanes.
The story of Laurence Corlett is one that has so many layers, he’s a true yes man who put himself out there and he can tell one heck of a story.

Some bits that stood out for me in this one were...

- How Dane Coles gave him the opportunity to get a Super Rugby cap
- Why he had to keep his beanie on during his first meeting with Steve Hansen
- His battles with throwing as a ho**er throughout his career
- How he ended up at a student flat after signing his first Super Rugby contract
- Becoming the Taranaki CEO and the struggles involved with that role
- Surviving a Heart Attack!
- His time on My Kitchen Rules the reality TV show
- Plenty of yellow card stories including his fight with Liam Messam
- And heaps more

Lads don’t get much better than the man known as Frank, such a genuine guy, he has great energy and great yarns. I know you’ll enjoy this one and when you do please give it a share and I will keep bringing you the great guests like Frank.

Graphic by .jake 🔥

22/09/2024

The Colin Cooper Episode is out now!

Colin Cooper is one of the great human beings, he’s one of the wisest souls on the planet. A true legend of rugby in New Zealand with an incredible career spanning over four decades!

Some bits that stood out for me in this one..

- Hearing how he left school young to work at the meat works and how quickly he had to grow up
- His relationship with alcohol through his life
- The challenges that rugby players faced back then
- The injury that cut his career short
- The struggle post rugby and the transition into Coaching.
- An insight into coaching some of the best players the game has seen
- Plenty of gold coaching advice
And heaps more!

Beyond his impressive accolades, anyone who has worked with Colin will know that he is one kindest and most genuine people you’ll ever meet. I’ve got so much respect for Colin and learnt plenty in this episode! I know you will enjoy this one and if you do please give it a share as Coops doesn’t have social media.

Graphic by .jake

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Videos

That’s it for Season 5! What was your favourite episode? Geez tough picking with some incredible guests and some unreal stories! Appreciate all the massive Lads for coming on and thanks to everyone who tuned in to one or all of the episodes this season🙏 Bring on Season 6 bigger and better than ever 🙌#whatalad

It’s so good how often Tom Walsh and Joe Moody are mistaken for one another! #tomwalsh #whatalad #joemoody

For the last episode of season 5, I bring you the champion lad Tom Walsh for a very inspiring yarn!Episode out tonight at 7pm (NZT) 🍿🔥 #tomwalsh #whatalad #shotput #shotputter #podcast #lad

There’s no such thing as free stuff from gambling companies, you’re 100% paying for it with your loses! #braydenmitchell #whatalad

Thats commitment to your initiation! Practicing jug skulls 😂 #whatalad

Pretending you’re listening to music pre game winding home a winner 🤣 Some of the great podcast judges have spoken on this one and have it up there with the all time greats 🙌 #braydenmitchell #whatalad #scratcher #rugby #punting #gambling #☠

One of the all time great lads Brayden Mitchell! Get ready for this episode, funny, raw with some classic yarns! #braydenmitchell #whatalad #southlandstags #rugby

Which Wallaby do you think would go well at league? Mark Nawaqanitawase is picking the gun Angus Bell and it’s hard to argue with that! The man’s a beast!#marknawaqanitawase #whatalad #rugbyleague #rugby #angusbell #nrl

Thats your 5th tackle option right there! How good is @marknawaqa in the air 🔥 Lots of good feedback from this episode with the great man!#marknawaqanitawase #whatalad #roosters #nrl #tryscorer

This Sundays episode is with the great lad Mark Nawaqanitawase who has done more in the last 12months than most do in their career! #marknawaqanitawase #whatalad #rugby #rugbyleague #7s #rwc2024 #olympics2024 #NRL #lad

A young Richie McCaw was always going to become a great!#robpenney #whatalad #richiemccaw

Rob Penney on that classic phone call from Simon Zebo 🤣#robpenney #whatalad #simonzebo #prank #prankcall #britishandirishlions

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