Episode
In episode 103 of The Physical Performance Show Brad Beer has a conversation with Nathan Friend – 242 Games NRL Player.
Nathan Friend is a former Australian professional Rugby League Footballer who played for the Gold Coast Titans, the Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Storm, and also the New Zealand Warriors. Nathan’s position was a hooker, Nathan was born and raised in Toowoomba and “Friendy” as he is affectionately known started playing rugby league at the tender age of just 5 years. Nathan joined the Melbourne Storm in 2003 and then in 2005 he announced that he would be one of the founding members of the Gold Coast Titans in 2007. Nathan went on to play a remarkable 100 games with the Gold Coast Titans before he headed across the ditch to New Zealand to join the New Zealand Warriors from 2012 – 2015 season. Nathan then returned to see out his professional rugby league career at the Gold Coast Titans playing a further 21 games in the year 2016.
It’s a remarkable career and in this episode Nathan shares around the highs, the lows and of course the learnings from his incredible career to date. We talk about longevity, we talk about food intake, we talk about some funny stories from the playing shed, from the field and also some memorable moments that really defines Nathan’s career to date. So let’s take to the field with Nathan “Friendy” Friend talking us through his remarkable career of 242 NRL first grade games.
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“I’m pretty strong minded and still am.”
“It requires time and commitment.”
“When you think you’ve got no more, you’ve got plenty more.”
“Your performance is only as good as what you do off the field.”
“Diet plays a major part in an athletes performance.”
“Lead by example and they will follow.”
“Take in the environment and enjoy it for what it is.” – Mantra
“When you can play the game back in your head easily.” – Being in the zone
“Have physical markers that you can tick off and improve on.” – Best Training Advice
[vc_video title=”” link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEorIWAGos0″]
0:00 Start
1:00 Introduction to Nathan Friend
4:00 Growing up in Toowoomba
6:10 Junior Development in Rugby
10:30 Early recollections of Wayne Bennett
14:00 Moving from Brisbane to Melbourne
22:20 Becoming a founding member of the Titans
26:30 Round 1 clashes
28:00 Being well conditioned and committed
31:00 Completing a Nutritional Course
33:00 Suffering from Injury
35:30 Technique and Muscle Memory
37:00 Reason for wearing the head gear
39:00 Moving to NZ
42:00 Not being renewed for another contract/season
47:00 Stepping back into the Titans
49:50 Moving from professional sport back into a trade
52:00 Moving into Finance Brokering
53:00 Imperfections business idea
56:50 Performance Round Questions
1:00:30 Who Nathan Most admires
1:04:00 Worst Injury
1:07:30 Best Training Advice – Have physical markers that you can tick off and improve on
1:11:20 Physical Challenge – Improve on Chin ups
1:13:40 Funny moment at training
1:14:40 Who would Nathan like to hear on the show
1:22:47 Finish
Send to the show host @Brad_Beer (Twitter)
