Raiders star reveals ‘whisperer’ plays big role

UNLIKE the Queensland coach ‘whisperer’, Andrew Mcfadden does not charge $10,000 per hour.

But his value to dynamic Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-klokstad? Priceless.

In a year where coaching advisers, or ‘whisperers’, have been in the headlines — most notably Joe Wehbe and Bradley Charles Stubbs — it now appears Mcfadden, the largely anonymous Raiders assistant coach, could prove the most important motivator of the 2019 NRL grand final.

Nicoll-klokstad (pictured) this week revealed the former Raiders halfback wasn’t only responsible for getting him into lime green, but also now acts as “mentor” to the 24year-old.

All of which continues a longstanding relationship between the pair, given it was ‘Cappy’ who, several years back, signed the Auckland youngster to his first

NRL contract when employed as head coach of the Warriors.

Yet before the promising Kiwi had made his debut, Mcfadden was punted prior to the 2017 season and then, within a year, was back home at his old club assisting head coach Ricky Stuart Stuart.

And guess who his first recruiting suggestion was?

“So now he’s got me not one, but two jobs,” NicollKlokstad said. “Although Andrew means a whole lot more to me than that.

“Obviously over at the Warriors, he started out as my coach. But then late last year, after he brought me across to Canberra, I asked if he would become my mentor too.

“And the help he’s given me since — just dealing with the mental side of some things — it really is incredible.

“He’s my role model. I owe him so much.”

So too, the Raiders.

Despite arriving at Canberra this year boasting just seven NRL appearances, NicollKlokstad has since exploded into one of the game’s most exciting young prospects.

Asked how Mcfadden had helped improve him this year, the fullback continued: “There’s a heap of stuff ‘up top’ that he has helped with.

“It’s about teaching me how to deal with things mentally, which has been a massive help.”