What a Lad

Round 8 of Super Rugby brings not only another great round of games to look forward to but also another great Super Rugby Review/ Preview show. This time we have convinced the great Marty Banks to join us and share his insight. Also as always we are joined by arguably one of the best tipsters on the planet Searley from Searley Talks Sport. In this episode we review last weeks games and picks, incl...

At just 25 years old, Brett Cameron has had a truely unique career to date. He's won almost everything there is to win in NZ Rugby with Canterbury and the Crusaders. He's even achieved what every NZ player aspires to and has become an All Black. However, even with all that, there is still the feeling that we haven't seen the best of Brett Cameron just yet. Brett has obviously spent a large amount...

Another ripper round of Super Rugby ahead for round 7, with plenty of juicy match ups to preview. As always I'm joined by the lad, co-host Searley from searley talks sport. We are even joined for the preview part of the show by a very special guest in Jeremy Drake, who is loves a stat! We start this episode with a bit of self reflection after last weeks shocking round of picks, however, we have pi...

Conor Gilsenan, the London Irish legend, the reality TV star and one of the biggest lads you'll meet joins me this week on What a Lad. Gilly is a man who has popped up in plenty of other episodes already and with his recent appearance on the UK hit reality TV show 'The Apprentice' now was the perfect time to get him on. However there is a lot more to this mans story than a few weeks on the Apprent...

We have a full round of Super Rugby again this week and crowds are back! How good! I'm pumped to see crowds back and I'm sure the players will be too as it brings more intensity to a game so I'm expecting a very exciting round of footy! In this episode you'll hear Searley from Searley talks sport and I review our picks from last week, preview all the games this week (including a player to look out...

Tom Robinson is one of the real characters in NZ Rugby, so it was awesome to get him on What a Lad and hear some of his classic yarns! Big Tom has had a different pathway to the top to most these days, not playing NZ age group but after going on a serious bulking diet things started to happen pretty quickly. He became an instant legend at the Northland Taniwha and then was picked up by the Blues w...

What a shambles round 5 has turned out to be with Covid taking a massive toll on the NZ teams, leaving us with just 4 games for us to preview this week.  Unfortunately due to surgery on the lefty, Tom couldn't join us this week. However, the lad and on fire tipster, Searley from Searley talks Sport does and as always brings some great energy and insight. We look back and review what was an outstan...

Stephen Donald has one of the greatest stories in sport. From a man who copped so much public criticism, he couldn’t even go to the supermarket without hiding his identity. To becoming literally the hero of a nation after kicking the penalty to win the 2011 RWC! The story has been told through the blockbuster movie, ‘The Kick’, which was all based around the famous call up to the All Blacks leadin...

For this weeks Swysh Super Rugby Preview, we are lucky enough to be joined by the man who tipped out the Drua last week Searley, from award winning podcast Searley talks sport. He joins our usual co-host Tom Marshall as we look back to last weeks round and look ahead to what's to come. Some good match ups this weekend and we we're all pretty similar in what we are thinking. As usual we have highli...

Richie Mo'unga is without a doubt one of the best players in the game and somehow even a better lad! It was awesome to get one of the greats on the Swysh What a Lad podcast and go through his journey. From a young kid who always believed he would get to where he is, I loved hearing the mindset that Richie has had on his way to the very top. After missing out on the NZ schools team, a set back he s...

For this weeks Swysh Super Rugby Preview, we have a very special guest in podcast guru Searley, from award winning podcast Searley talks sport. He joins our usual co-host Tom Marshall as we look ahead to this weeks round and make some very educated picks. Barring Tom's Reece Hodge fantasy pick, it's fair to say the picks have been on absolute fire and hopefully we can keep that up for you all over...

Ben May is officially the oldest player to ever play Super Rugby and unofficially he is one of the most entertaining lads you will meet. The man affectively known as Old Dad to his team mates, has shown incredible durability in his 19 year rugby career. Which has seen him play for 11 different teams, including over 100 for the Hurricanes! With a career like that, there was certainly plenty to talk...

Another round of Super Rugby and another What a Lad preview! As you may have heard last week, Tom Marshall has kindly offered to join the panel every week and has watched all last weeks footy to give us an insight. In this episode we recap the teams and players that stood out from last week. We preview and predict the games, as well as find some juicy match ups or players to look out for. We finis...

The life after sport transition is something that plays on all athletes minds. It's hard to prepare for and you don't really know what you're in for until you're in it. For Filipo Levi he has gone through his transition and he has put all the valuable knowledge from his experience in to the recently published book, called "Tackle your Success".  In this episode, Filipo shares some tips on how to h...

We're trying something a bit different with this one and giving you a Marshall brother preview Super Rugby Pacific. We preview the games and highlight a key member from each team. We also give our predictions for top try scorer, niggle goat and Lad of the year. On top of that we also talk about our fantasy rugby sides and why we have picked up who we have and if you are keen to join the What a Lad...

Was it a try, or did he drop it? That has been the question that has followed Elliot Dixon since his incredible try to win the Highlanders their first ever Super Rugby title. However, the great Southern lad is much more than one try! He's has an outstanding career in NZ with the Southland Stags, the Highlanders, the NZ Maoris and of course the All Blacks. I found it super interesting hearing Ellio...

Professional sport always sounds like the dream lifestyle but as you'll hear, in this episode from Denny Solomona, it does come with it's challenges. The honesty that Denny speaks with in this episode is so admirable and refreshing. It was crazy to hear what he was putting his body through, yet whenever he got on the field he was consistently one of the best. Having been signed with the Melbourne...

Most fans will know Victor Vito as the big physical beast, who is big fast and strong and has all the skills in the world. The Victor Vito you are about to hear is the very well educated, absolute lad, who gives a very open and honest breakdown of his rugby career to date. Most will remember the day Victor burst on the the World stage at the 2009 Wellington 7's, where he put on an absolute clinic....

Season 3 of What a Lad is here and there is no better way to start the new season, than with one of the biggest lads to walk this earth, the great Ethan Blackadder! So many of you have been requesting Ethan to come on and for good reason, as he is the ultimate lad.  Not only is Ethan a lad but he also has an incredible rugby journey. One that I think can have a positive impact on so many young pla...

James Lowe has had an incredible journey to becoming the Irish International winger!   The kid gifted with size, speed and skill, was always going to have a successful sporting career. However, getting there wasn't without some significant bumps in the road. At around 14 years old James was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, which had him bed ridden on and off for around 3 years. For a kid who was...

The lads just keep coming and honestly they don't get much bigger than Ardie Savea. The man who is leading the way for NZ athletes on and off the field, inspiring many, including myself, along the way. It was awesome to get Ardie on, who is no stranger to a podcast as he has one of the best going around, with the Ardie Savea podcast.  In this episode we talk about Ardie signing on with NZ rugby fo...

Jordie Barrett, yes the great Jordie Barrett, has come on what a lad and as he has always done on the field, he has well and truely delivered with this yarn! I throughly enjoyed listening back to this episode and we spoke about so much that it's hard to know where to start. What else is hard, is to believe that Jordie is only 24 years old! It feels like he has been around for ever and he certainly...

There aren’t too many players who make the game of rugby look as easy as Will Jordan does, his speed and acceleration look effortless as he often leaves opposition scrambling. His rise to the top of international rugby has been special to watch. On top of that he is also great role model and one heck of a lad so it was great to get him on What a Lad and go through his journey. There are plenty of...

Pari Pari Parkinson is one of the most unique characters in NZ rugby. From his unique hairstyles on his 2.08m frame, to his often painted toenails and just his unique personality which he owns and doesn't change for anyone, makes him a lad! On the field the man is a beast, after a couple of dominate years for the Highlanders and the Mako, Pari was knocking on the door of an All Black call up. Unfo...

The legend that is Damian Mckenzie joins me this week on What a Lad and geez what a lad he is! In this episode we talk about his recent signing with Suntory in the Japan Top League, which I personally think is a very astute purchase from them. We also hear all about his new drink 'Grins' which has launched this weekend, a side hustle with the great Stephen Donald and Anton Lienet-Brown and by all...