It’s a tough test away from home
IF, aged 19, I’d had the same opportunity to join an NRL club like Dominic Young, Bailey Hodgson and Harry Rushton have, I would have taken it.
I’m a big believer in saying ‘yes’ and then working the details out later. Life is a lot more interesting that way.
It’s good for any young player to put themselves in a tough environment that will both forge you as a rugby player but also test your life skills away from home.
I went to Australia in 1998 as a 20-year-old, although it wasn’t to the NRL, it was to play country football in Wollongong, Sydney.
The world was a different place then – it took me about three days to get there, the internet wasn’t really a big thing and my only way of staying in touch with home was by phone calls.
But I got to play under a brilliant old pro in Greg Mackey, who taught me so much about the game and about myself. It was a great experience and I wish Young (above), Hodgson and Rushton heading out there this year well.
Personally, next weekend will see me take on my next challenge – a double marathon.
It set out as an ultra marathon of 45 miles around London, but when we couldn’t quite visit all the landmarks we wanted to, we thought... what’s another seven miles?
We’re doing it for a charity called Greenhouse Sports, which puts sports coaches into socially deprived areas, and we will be running past their projects in the capital as well as two Rugby League World Cup venues in the Copper Box Arena and the Emirates Stadium.
Training has been tough but it’s a very worthwhile cause and any donations would be gratefully accepted: