What a Lad

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.

The lad is certainly making it count 🔥
24/03/2025

The lad is certainly making it count 🔥

The episode is out now! Harry Wilson in 2023 missed out on the Wallabies RWC squad and was even struggling to make the ...
16/03/2025

The episode is out now!

Harry Wilson in 2023 missed out on the Wallabies RWC squad and was even struggling to make the Australia A side! Fast forward to 2024 and he is not just in the Wallabies but he’s captaining his country to some of the best form they have been in for a long time. For the last 5 years Harry has been one of the best loose forwards in Super Rugby, where his work rate and collisions are up there with the best in the world! At only 25 years old, he’s got a massive future still ahead of him!

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

His mindset off a goal line dropout
Hearing his pathway to the Wallabies through Brothers Rugby Club and the Reds
Why he choose rugby over cricket
How he dealt with being in and out of the Wallabies for several years
Where he feels Australia Rugby is at right now
Why he decided to stay in Australia for 4 more years
And all of your questions!

As you’ll hear Harry is the ultimate lad, just a good human who loves his footy and a good time. He’s the type of guy you’d love to follow into a battle!

Graphic by .jake
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The episode is out now! Kyle Preston is someone who deserves every bit of success he gets. His work ethic is unmatched ...
02/03/2025

The episode is out now!

Kyle Preston is someone who deserves every bit of success he gets. His work ethic is unmatched and to hear his journey and how he has stuck to the plan even when he wasn’t getting the rewards was truely inspiring. Having had one of the all time great Super Rugby debuts a few weeks ago scoring 3 tries, it was an opportunity for Kyle to show the world he was as ready as he knew he was. Whether it was doing body weight exercises till tears, kicking and passing at the park by himself for 2-3 a day or avoiding all junk food from a young age, Kyle has definitely made plenty of sacrifices to get his opportunity.

Some other parts that stood out for me were..

⚫️ Where this drive for Kyle to train like he does come from
🔴 How he handled non selection for being “too small”
⚫️ How hard the juggling of roofing and chasing the professional rugby dream is
🔴 Why he decided to move to the Crusaders over his hometown Hurricanes
⚫️ Kyle clears the air on who is dad really is
🔴 And heaps more!

As you’ll hear Kyle is committed to being the best player he can be and its clear that he has a huge future ahead of him. I hope you enjoy the episode and if you do please give it a share.

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When you love what you do then the grind doesn’t feel like a grind! So much good stuff in this one with the lad 🦷🏉
18/02/2025

When you love what you do then the grind doesn’t feel like a grind!

So much good stuff in this one with the lad 🦷🏉

The episode is out now! The fact that Christian Lio-Willie is a qualified dentist still blows my mind! Almost every pla...
16/02/2025

The episode is out now!

The fact that Christian Lio-Willie is a qualified dentist still blows my mind! Almost every player I have spoken to has said it’s too hard to juggle both but this man has done it! How he has got to this point has been some effort, juggling huge days of study while playing professional rugby, he mentions he had to plan every minute of the day.

Having focused on his study straight out of school after a recommendation from his mum, Christian felt like he may have missed the boat on his rugby career as his peers all started making the teams. After an outstanding club season and then a very impressive debut for Otago, he’d done enough to impressed Razor to get him up to the Crusaders. A few years later after a couple of outstanding seasons for the Crusaders he was called up as an injury replacement into the All Blacks.

This episode was inspiring hearing how hard Christian hustled to set himself up to succeed not just on the field but off it. He speaks openly about the struggles and has plenty of good yarns. If you enjoy this episode or there is a young player out there trying to juggle sport and study, please share it on to them.

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Imagine one day your hearing is just fully gone…It’s incredible what this man has gone on to do! what a lad!
10/02/2025

Imagine one day your hearing is just fully gone…
It’s incredible what this man has gone on to do! what a lad!

The is out now!Get ready for one of the most inspiring episodes yet with the legendary lad Morgan Mitchell. Born deaf, ...
02/02/2025

The is out now!

Get ready for one of the most inspiring episodes yet with the legendary lad Morgan Mitchell. Born deaf, Morgan’s journey to becoming a professional rugby player was never going to be easy. Although he was an absolute beast on the rugby field from a young age, he was always told that he would never be able to play professional rugby. Thankfully the man who is known for his stubbornness was not having a bar of it and did manage to debut for his beloved Southland stags in 2014. He has since gone on to play over 50 games for the Stags as well as playing overseas with the Toronto Arrows
Kamaishi Seawaves and Houston SaberCats.

This story is a great one about never giving up on your dreams and a great reminder of some of the obstacles you can overcome when you put your mind to it. Morgy is such a champion, a very funny man and like his brother Brayden can tell a hell of a yarn. It was an honour to be the first podcast to share Morgans journey and if you enjoy this episode then I ask if you could please like the video and let me know what you enjoyed about this one in the comments.

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/whatalad Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

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I’m getting plenty of messages everyday about when this fantasy rugby app is out so I’ve messaged Jack Mesley and hopefu...
02/02/2025

I’m getting plenty of messages everyday about when this fantasy rugby app is out so I’ve messaged Jack Mesley and hopefully this helps.

Next week surely 🙏

The Jack Mesley episode is out now!With Super Rugby just around the corner, who better to talk to than the Super Rugby C...
19/01/2025

The Jack Mesley episode is out now!

With Super Rugby just around the corner, who better to talk to than the Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley. The fact that Jack was keen to come on What a Lad and share his very honest thoughts on the game and where it is heading is proof that this man will do what he can to grow the game.

Transparency was a bit part of what Jack wants to see going forward and he certainly lead the way with how open he was around the challenges Super Rugby is facing but also some great ideas he has around the opportunities around also. We speak about the highly anticipated fantasy rugby game that was be live for the 2025 Super Rugby season which will be a game changer.

I left this conversation very exciting about the 2025 Super Rugby season, I do believe it will be one of the best yet and I was also left excited about where the competition and the game is heading. Jack will be an outstanding addition to the competition and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this insight.

Graphic by .jake

We are back! Starting this Sunday What a Lad episodes will be released every fortnight! Who do you want to hear on Seaso...
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?

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 ho...
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!

This episode was brought to you by Nord VPN!
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Graphic and edit done by .jake

The episode is out now!Everyone who has played with Brayden Mitchell will testify that he is one of the greatest lads t...
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
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To all the comments about moving to the NRL for the money 🙅‍♂️
03/12/2024

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

The episode is out now!Mark Nawaqanitawase has had one of the most eventful 12 months in sport! Firstly heading to the ...
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

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 Penne...
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.

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 refle...
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 👍

Who should it be??So good to hear Super Rugby will have a proper Fantasy Rugby set up this season! Looking forward to se...
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!

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 Aust...
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 🧙‍♂️

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😂😂😂! Sadly all ‘What a Lad’ owners can relate to this one 🥹#harrywilson #whatalad #horseracing #champion

It looks like he’s got the skills to me 👀 How good would it be to see @jimtavatavanawai at 7!?#tavatavanawi #whatalad #superrugby #7 #highlanders #superrugbypacific

Some leader! #harrywilson #whatalad #wallabies

One of the great sights in rugby! Big Harry Wilson off the back fence ! #harrywilson #whatalad #backfence #runitstraight

The great Harry Wilson on What a Lad! What a champion man with an inspiring story, he went from playing Club footy to Wallabies captain in under a year!#harrywilson #whatalad

Back yourself 👊 #kylepreston #whatalad

😂😂 @kp_reston has one friendship requirement, you’ve gotta like having kicks! #kylepreston #whatalad

Get ready for this one! The inspiring Kyle Preston is one of the greats! #kylepreston #whatalad #rugby #superrugby

On the 14th of March I’ll be disappointed if the zoo isn’t singing the Tavatavanawi song…🎶 Taaaaaa- Vaataavaa- naaawai🎶 #tavatavanawi #whatalad #thedifference #highlanders #superrugby

Pulling his own teeth out with pliers 😳 #christianliowillie #whatalad #dentist

Christian Lio-Willie on What a Lad! The inspiring story to become a qualified dentist and chase the rugby dream is impressive! #christianliowillie #whatalad

😂😂😂 #morganmitchell #whatalad

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