#011 - Jay Marsh

0:00 Jay Marsh Reflects on His Impressive Junior Career Off the bench of Billy is brought to you by Rush Sports and Eddie Suck. This is an off the bench of Billy podcast 12 Get down. Welcome back to Off the Bench. 0:16 With Billy off the bench today we've got a special guest young superstar all the way from the North Queensland. His rugby league story is already pretty impressive and there's a lot more to it than just the football. He's solidified himself as the best hooker in North Queensland and one of the best hookers in the whole of Queensland. Please welcome Jay Marsh. 0:31 How are you mate? 0:33 Speaker 2 Yeah, I'm good. Thank you, Billy. Actually, in trial I was awesome. 0:36 Speaker 1 Yeah, now it's a good man. Firstly, I just want to say thanks for jumping on today for the for the people that don't know you mate, you've come through the Queensland Rugby League pathway, playing your footy around Central QLD and Saint Brendan's College in Yeppoon, representing Capricornia at the QLD schoolboy state champs, representing QLD at the Nationals, playing for the central QLD cappers in Cyril Connell and Mao Mininga earning QLD country selection. 1:04 You're in the Dolphin system as well and representing QLD Clontarf in the indigenous pathway. And now you're continuing to push on to the next level. So getting that all like read out loud to you mate. How does it all feel? 1:17 Speaker 2 Oh, that's yeah, that's really cool. You know, you don't really look back on things once they pass. Like I I just try to, you know, you're always working on something new, you know, like the Queens and country and stuff. I haven't thought about that since I played, honestly. But yeah, so cool. Like a lot of achievements, but you know, you're only as good as your next achievements. 1:36 So you just got to keep working and pushing forward and climbing up. And yeah, there's there's always a a new, like there's always something new that you have to climb to. So yeah, but it's cool. It's cool here and it all. That's awesome. 1:51 Speaker 1 Yeah. So like you said, you haven't really thought too much about all your achievements that you've you've done, but now getting it all read out, read out loud to you, it's kind of all kind of settled in again of how much you've actually done so far. 2:03 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely, like 100% yeah, it's really cool. And, and they're just the things that, you know, like there's obviously a lot of things that you probably wouldn't know. And when, when I read the question, like when I just heard that, I just thought about some other things as well. And yeah, it's, it's really cool. 2:18 I've I've had a pretty good journey so far and I'm excited for the what the future holds. 2:24 Growing Up with Rugby League and Dad's Influence Yeah, they're like little stepping stools as well to try and get into the big league. So it's pretty important that you've got them done and you have. But there's another part of your your father, PJ, former NRL player. A lot of people know your dad up where you are in your poon, so you've grown around rugby league, all around him. 2:44 But was footy always been talked about when you were younger as well through your dad? 2:50 Speaker 2 Yeah, honestly, I I'd say he, he really tried to shut it off a lot because I think a lot of people would just, you know, footy, footy, footy at him. So, you know, he just really wanted to be like dad to us sort of thing. He didn't want to just be like, oh, footy dad sort of thing. 3:06 Because I know as we started to get older, he, he tried to be sort of like that and it got really like not annoying, but just really repetitive. So I think he kind of shuts off his footy talk and just tries to, you know, just be a good dad to us and stuff and be someone we can talk to. 3:21 And you know, if we come to him about footy then then he'll, he'll chew our ear off all, all day. 3:28 Speaker 1 Yeah. So you kind of think that he kind of let it up to you. He wasn't really pushing for you to become a rugby league player like you've like you'd, I'm sure you'd know that some some dads when they do play NRL, they want their, they want their kid doing the exact same thing. So you think that your dad was just the complete opposite to that? 3:46 Speaker 2 Yeah, 100%. Like, you know, he just laid back, let us do our thing. And that, that really grew our passion, me and my brother to, to play footy 'cause he wasn't just only a case, you know, not footy training, doing this, doing that. Like he let us do it ourselves and, and find the love for the game, 'cause I think that's where good footballers come from. 4:07 Like just, you know, finding it out yourself and working through and putting in the hard work. And I think that's what he let us do. And that's that's where I really just started to get the love for the game. 4:18 Speaker 1 Yeah. And then when you did started getting the love for the game, what kind of advice did he give you? Obviously he's got the experience and he knows what he's talking about, So what kind of what stuff did he kind of do with you when you kind of knew that this game was for you? 4:34 Speaker 2 Well, I think probably the biggest thing that he told me was, you know, I can't get the little things right. You can't get the big things right. And I think that really transfers to on the field and mainly off the field and stuff like he's, you know, real big on by recovery and what I do off the field and my preparation and stuff like that. 4:52 So yeah, I think that's one of the biggest things that suck with me. Just you got to get the little things right if you want to get the big things right, especially in the big moments of the game. Like can't expect to do, you know, the flashy play if you haven't done the that stuff off the field. 5:08 Speaker 1 Yeah. So he's kind of just drilled into you that you've got to train, you've got to recover, you've got to eat well, just all the fundamentals. 5:14 Speaker 2 Yeah, 100%. 5:16 Speaker 1 Yeah, and what was footy like around your house growing up? Like I said before, your dad played NRL but what was like the environment like in in your household? 5:25 Speaker 2 Alright, honestly, I think I, I didn't really start to realise, you know, how good Dad was and how much of an impact he made on other people's lives and stuff like that through footy until I started getting a bit older. So I didn't really pay too much attention to it. 5:42 Like, yeah, we'd go around our local, wherever we are and you'd have the odd, you know, family or whatever. Oh, PJ, how are you mate? And that really kind of started to open my eyes to Oh yeah. Like, you know, he played NRL, he played, he, he done the dream. And he's a, he's actually a, you know, pretty big influence on other people. 6:01 So, but it wasn't, it wasn't too much, you know, footy talk. Like we, we obviously love footy but there honestly wasn't like a hell of a lot of it. 6:12 Overcoming Doubts and Rekindling Passion for the Game Yeah. So did it kind of motivate you as well because seeing your dad getting all the all the love from the community, did that motivate you as well to try and be like him? 6:21 Speaker 2 Yeah, 100%. You know, hearing, you know, seeing people coming up, coming up to dad asking photos and, you know, signatures and stuff like that, even years after he'd stopped playing, that was, that was really cool to see. Like I was just like, you know, that's, that's what I want to do. 6:37 I want to be an influence on younger, younger people, older people. I want to be an influence on everyone. 6:44 Speaker 1 Was there ever a stage where you thought to yourself that I don't know if I want to do this or like I want to do my own thing, or have you always been this footy, footy, footy? 6:54 Speaker 2 Look, I think every football has a point in their young footballing career where, you know, I've had a, they've stacked a couple bad games maybe, or, you know, a couple of things have gone wrong and they've had the thought of, you know, stop and playing. But which I think, yeah, I can relate to that as well. 7:12 I definitely have had a point there where I've been like, oh, jeez, I don't know if it's for me. But I think after, you know, having a bit of a break from footy, I was lucky enough that we had an offseason when I was sort of starting to think that. So I got a bit of time to, you know, get my mental side right. 7:30 And yeah, after that I was, I was back into it and I was keen as again. 7:36 Speaker 1 Yeah, you're exactly right. I'm sure probably every every person that plays footy out there has had them experiences. What did you do to help you when you were in that tough time? What did you do personally to get you through? 7:51 Speaker 2 Look, I think I turned to doing things that weren't footy related. I think a lot of young fellows, they get caught out, you know, you're always just 404040 on next game, next training. And I got a bit of a break there and I just, you know, started playing a bit of golf, got into that. 8:09 I liked video gaming. So I kind of just turned to those two things and just just, yeah, played my video game, played some golf. And yeah, that's that's what I turned to. 8:22 Speaker 1 Yeah, so I just completely switched you off from football, kind of got you to relax a bit, and then it made you want to fall back in love with the game. 8:29 Speaker 2 Yeah, 100%. I, I had no, you know, once I was gaming and playing golf, I was just really relaxed and I was like, you know, I actually do like being sore. I like getting involved, being aggressive and I really like playing footy. So I really missed it when I, when I had that little offseason work, wasn't playing or training or nothing. 8:47 So maybe you want to get back into it? 8:52 Speaker 1 Yeah, take us back to where you first started playing footy. 8:55 Serious Footy Development and Coach's Trust at School When did where did your dream begin? 9:00 Speaker 2 Where did my dream begin? Well, when I was little, I started off in Middlemount. Not many people would know where that is. But you know, a little little spot near Rockhampton. Started there with my juniors and I don't really remember much from my juniors, but I think the dream started in Grade 7 when I came to Saint Brendan's School currently at now. 9:22 Like that's where the dream really started because I started getting really good development and had some good coaches around and that really made me just fall in love with the game and want to want to keep progression through the the ranks I guess. 9:36 Speaker 1 So when you made that move from outside of Rocky to Yeppoon at Saint Brendan's, is that when you started taking footy a lot more seriously? 9:43 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely 100%. Like, I don't, I don't really remember too much from anything before Grade 7, but as soon as I got to Grade 7, that's when it really just amped up and, you know, training was pretty serious. Games are serious. And yeah, I just fell in love with the game. 10:02 Speaker 1 Yeah, you said the games and the trainings got really serious. Was that something very different than you weren't used to? 10:10 Speaker 2 Yeah, well, I think, you know, club, club footy and, and stuff is, you know, if you, if you have a, if you're feeling a bit sick or you're a bit sore, you know, you, you just call in and you know, I'm feeling a bit sore, sick. And coach would be like, oh, who cares? 10:25 All good, just come next training. But school trainings, they'd be like, you know, just come and come and have a watch sort of thing. And it was, it was pretty serious. Like you had to make the teams like 7A's like you wanted to be the best and I'm really competitive. So I always want to be the best. And you got to compete against other kids for your spot instead of just being picked because you're paying to play sort of thing at a local club. 10:48 Speaker 1 Yeah. So it's kind of like a mini NRL pathway kind of program that your school's got. 10:55 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely. I think most schools got that like the the AASBCS sort of thing or second team and that really just drive well, I know it drives me to just, I want to be in the A's team. I don't want to be B's. I want to be, I want to be in that top team. 11:11 Speaker 1 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you're correct there. Like especially Queensland as well. Queensland school footy's very serious, but have you always been a hooker or have you been playing other positions before you found the 9 jersey? 11:24 Speaker 2 Yeah, I, I really love just being in the middle. Honestly, I don't think I've, you know, when you're when you're younger, I don't think positions matter too, too much. I think the best thing is just to, you know, in the heart, hookers places where you can really develop your skills when you're young, like your ball ball control and being able to spiral both ways sort of thing. 11:44 And I, I played hookers since I was little. So honestly, yeah, I think the hook has just been in the position I've always played. 11:54 Speaker 1 What did you find the most enjoying part about hookah? You said you've loved being in the middle, being in the action, but what's your most favorite thing about being in the middle? 12:04 Speaker 2 I think being in the middle's just good 'cause you have every opportunity to to have a good game. And I mean, like you, you're in the middle. You got people constantly running that yard. There's just constantly things happening in the middle. So, you know, you may I'd consider a good game, you know, making your tackles, keeping your, your good balls up, kick chases, you know, just things that require no skill at all, but just straight effort. 12:32 And they're the sort of things I love about being in the middle. You can just show straight effort. And yeah, that's why I love it. 12:40 Speaker 1 So you base yourself like you obviously do all the extras that you need to do, but you base yourself off them at the Aries as well. 12:47 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely. 12:48 Speaker 1 What's the best piece of advice that you've received at Saint Brendan's? 12:52 Speaker 2 Best piece of advice by my coach at the moment, Scotty, he was a, he played a bit of NRL as well for Broncos and that he just lets me know just just back myself when if I'm going to do something, do it 100%. Don't go into anything less than 100%. 13:09 And and he just let me know that he backs me 100%. So you know, the decisions that I make, he's he's OK with because he knows that I'm going to go into 100%. 13:21 Speaker 1 Yeah. So you think that getting the support from your coach at Brendan's as well, that's kind of and the school has made you the player that you are today. 13:31 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely. Just having that trust and support from my coaches just makes me a lot more relaxed and calm. You know? I don't feel like I'm playing under pressure. You know, when I make a mistake, they're not quick to try to drag me off the field. They know what kind of player I am and they know that I I had a vision or saw something that they might not have saw. 13:52 And they're not going to be angry at me if if I make a mistake, because if I pulled it off, they'd be happy. So. 13:59 Speaker 1 Yeah, so they just kind of let you play your game and obviously if you make an error, it's not going to be the best, but they they trust in you. 14:07 Earning Representative Honors and State Team Experience Yeah, definitely one of your early big achievements in your journey as well-being selected for Capricornia, that is a pretty big one as well. Queensland state champs, playing with the best of the best in the state. What did that opportunity mean to you? 14:22 Speaker 2 I think that was my first sort of yeah, like Capricorn, like I said, that's that's our sort of big, big yeah, regional game and tournament. And that was one of my first. So playing against all the other best in the in Queensland. 14:37 Yeah, it was, it was scary. Honestly, going into it was pretty scary. But I know that I put in a lot of work going into it, so I know that I would be able to hold my own. Even though some of them, some of them guys were, they were, they were really big. But yeah, it was really good. 14:54 Speaker 1 How, how did you feel, as you said, you said you were a bit scared, but how did you feel heading into the tournament playing against boys that say like go to the cabers, go to the waivers, go to the Palm Beaches, like the big powerhouse name schools. How how did you feel heading into that? 15:09 Speaker 2 Well, at the time I, I honestly didn't really pay too much attention to like outside of, you know, my local sort of schools and stuff. So I, I didn't, I didn't really know too many of them schools to be honest. But seeing them boys, yeah, they were, they were huge. 15:26 Like a lot of them obviously developed pretty quickly. And you know how how big they are now in grade 12, they were probably the same size a couple years back. So yeah, it's obviously a lot trickier for people like myself who who don't develop as quick as them. 15:44 So yeah, it it was, it was pretty, I was pretty nervous going into it, but yeah. 15:50 Speaker 1 Yeah, for sure. Yeah, it's pretty noticeable as well how big these boys are. SE Queensland. You spot on there with what you said about how they they don't really grow much from when they say year nine, year 10 to what they are to year 12. 16:05 But did you kind of feel like that in that tournament that there was a moment where you're like, oh, I actually like I fit in here and I can compete? 16:13 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely there was, there was couple moments in the in the game where I had a couple runs and stuff and made a few little little breaks. And even in defence, like even them big boys like making tackles on them and you know, you look at them and they're huge and you make the tackles on them, you you're sort of like off, yeah, hang on. 16:32 You know, they're not, they're not bumping me off sort of thing. And I was sort of just thinking to myself throughout the carnival, like, I'm holding my own pretty well. Like, yeah, I, I, I do fit in here. And I can look back on it and say, yeah, I definitely fit it into the yeah, like that game. 16:50 Speaker 1 Yeah, so that just gave you a massive confidence boost knowing that you could handle them, boys A. 16:55 Speaker 2 100%. 16:57 Speaker 1 What was the biggest learning that you got from that experience? 17:01 Speaker 2 Definitely that like size doesn't matter at all. I'm, I'm not a big guy, Dad's not a big guy and there's a lot of other NRL players that aren't big. And yeah, size really doesn't matter if you're, you know, fast, you're good on your feet, steppy, you can be a really effective player and that's what I've just sort of based my footy around. 17:22 Speaker 1 And then you were fortunate enough to make the Queensland side coming off that Capricornia tournament. How special did that feel getting your name caught up? 17:32 Speaker 2 I was ridiculous. I was honestly one of the best moments I've had in my junior footy. You know, hearing my name, you know, we're all sitting there, everyone's hoping their name gets cold. And I, I, I didn't make the Maroon team, but you know, Queensland team's a Queensland team in my eyes. 17:48 Like got off topic quick. You know, you got guys like Kelvin Harris and Kelani Potu, like he made the Australian team from the eighteens this year. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. In the white team. So but yeah, you hear my name was it was ridiculous. 18:03 It was, it was so cool being in the white team. And yeah, I was also dad was real proud of me and I was really proud of myself because I put so much effort in the that carnival. So yeah, just good to see the the work pay off. 18:21 Speaker 1 Yeah, like you said, big names, CHT Kalani Part 2 yourself making that Queens and white sides. Yeah, you didn't make them our own side, but you ended up going better than our own side as well. So was that kind of a surprise for you as well? 18:36 Speaker 2 Yeah, well, I, I didn't get to play because I had a shoulder injury from Confra. I had to back up from, yeah, six or eight games from Confra and I just see a bust on my shoulder in that first game. But yeah, it was crazy. Like it just goes to show, you know, it's really just a they're two teams, they're 2 Queensland teams, Maroon, white, doesn't matter. 18:57 Like, oh, everyone's good at this level. I don't think there's really any skill gaps at all. It's just whoever turns up on the day. 19:06 Speaker 1 Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was going to come back to you as well about your injury. I was aware that you missed out on the on the last couple games at that the national championships, but when you're out there on the field, how was the experience? 19:20 Speaker 2 It was so cool. Like obviously I was coming on as a 14 and it was ridiculous. Like I ran on and I don't know, the air just smells different. The field feels different. You feel faster, you feel lighter. Everything just feels different. 19:35 You know, having that Queensland jersey on representing your state and you know, everyone that's been before you and you represent everyone after you. And oh, it was, it was crazy. I I wish I could have played longer. I wish I could have, you know, thugged out the tournament. I tried my try my best to recover but yeah just luck wasn't on my side. 19:56 Speaker 1 Yeah, it was unfortunate that you went down with that shoulder injury as well. But you know, like you said, you had an absolute ball while you're out there on the field. But how was the week with the boys leading up in camp? How was that as a whole? 20:09 Applying High-Level Learnings to the Capras System Yeah, it was really cool. But I didn't honestly, I didn't get to really spend the whole time with all the boys because I was in the middle of Compro. So I was, I was driving from Compro after games to train and do activities and then I drive back and be with the other boys. 20:30 So I was kind of in between 2:00, which which made it a little bit tough being in between 2:00. But the time I was there was really cool, you know, seeing all them, you know, big names that you hear about online and stuff. And yeah, they're a bunch of really good boys and blokes to be around. 20:46 And yeah, they're really cool. 20:49 Speaker 1 And while you were in camp with the boys, did he kind of do anything to help you bond together as a team? 20:58 Speaker 2 Yeah, we definitely did some team bonding stuff, building some little fortresses and stuff and trying to hold up. I think it was a ball or something. And yeah, it was good fun. Had our little group, we're not winning. And yeah, just them little things helped, helped really connect us all up. 21:14 And I think we did pretty well with the the week that we had to connect and definitely showed on the field we're a lot more connected than a lot of the other teams, I'd say. 21:24 Speaker 1 Yeah, and I think that's a massive factor as well. If you're close off the field, you're going to be a lot closer on the field. And did you think that he's all had in the back of your mind that you could trust your mate next year? 21:36 Speaker 2 But definitely being at that level, you can, you can trust men inside, outside, doesn't matter how big or small you are at that level. Everyone's there for a reason and everyone's willing to work for the person next to you. Especially being at such a on such a big screen, you know no one wants to mess up and everyone just wants to do their families proud and the people watching proud. 22:00 Speaker 1 Yeah. And then after that tournament, that Australian nationals, what was the biggest thing that you took out of that heading back up north? 22:09 Speaker 2 Obviously, yeah, not getting, not being able to play, but from the training, just the level of like the speed and the commute, the Toms on the on the pitch, all that sort of stuff just really translated back to my other trainings and it opened my eyes a lot doing them sort of trainings and then going back to your normal trainings, you don't do a lot different to what you usually like. 22:34 You don't do a lot different at the Queensland than you do in your local. It's just the speed and the yeah, the comms and stuff, It's all just a lot faster, a lot sharper. And I just, yeah, I took that back and just told the boys we're going to be, yeah, a lot sharp with those things. 22:52 Speaker 1 So you kind of thought that doesn't matter what level you're playing at, it's all the same and you just can't think too much about it. And then when you went back up north, you use them knowledge and them tools that you learnt from that comp and took it to the boys back home. 23:05 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely. Like, yeah, you said it. There is. There's not a whole lot different that you do at that level than you do at the other levels. It's just yeah, speed and comms and how you go about it. Like everyone's spot on. 23:21 And yeah, that's really it. 23:24 Speaker 1 Yeah. And then up north in central QLD, you get to play in the Capra system. What is playing for the Capra's mean to you? Oh. 23:33 Speaker 2 Jeez, I, I haven't thought about the Capra's in Walleye, but you know, when I was younger, you know, playing for Capra's just that that meant everything. Playing for Capra's was like playing for an, playing for an NRL team for me. Like I I wanted to make Capra's more than anything. 23:51 Speaker 1 Playing Cyril O'Connell there at Central QLD, what was that? What was your kind of first experience at that level? Like everyone knows Cyril O'connell's a big step up, especially when you're 1617 years of age. So what do you kind of find about that level? 24:08 Speaker 2 Well, I was trialling younger, like I was younger age so and I I was fortunate enough to make the squad and make the team that year at a run on as well. So I I was pretty nervous going in, like going into it. 24:24 But I think I, yeah, definitely had the coaches and stuff around to allow me to open up my footy and stuff. 24:35 Speaker 1 Yeah, like you said, you're one of the younger players in the squad, but did you feel like you belong there though? A. 24:42 Speaker 2 100% of those people like Tyler Marrows, Harry Hill, they're just two of the names that are nail off the top of my head. They, they really made me feel like I belonged. And you know, we had the car trips up all together, carpooling after school and you know, they really just made me feel like I belonged. 24:58 And I think that really translated onto the field as well. 25:04 Speaker 1 What was the biggest thing that you had to improve? Was it your fitness? Was it your defence, your decision making out of dummy half, your communication? Like what was the biggest thing that you had to improve for that next level? 25:17 Speaker 2 Yeah, I think Cyril Connor was definitely the biggest step up of my like junior footy plan for Capras was the highest level I'd played at that point. So, you know, I think all of the above, honestly, I had to get fit, I had to get stronger, I had to get faster decision making. 25:34 Everything just need to be improved and the coaches were definitely helping out a lot with that. So yeah. 25:43 Speaker 1 Yeah. How hard were you working on them things as well? Were you like once a week, twice a week, 3 * a week? What was your kind of schedule looking like to improve on them things? Well, we. 25:53 Speaker 2 Trained Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays so and then usually games Saturdays. So you know, there wasn't a whole lot of time in between to do your own work. So I, I mainly just prioritised stuff I did off the field, just my eating and stretching and you know, things like that. 26:14 Speaker 1 Yeah. So you kind of focus on the stuff that you did have time for and that made your your performance a lot better. 26:20 Speaker 2 Yeah, yeah, definitely. 26:22 Speaker 1 If you could go back to that first Capra season, what would one piece of advice that you'd give to your younger self? 26:30 Speaker 2 I, I would honestly give myself the advice to really take what I do off the field a lot more serious. I think that year I I had a pretty good year and you know, thanks to the coaches, they really helped me a lot to just play my footy and I wasn't nervous to play games. 26:52 So I think I had a really good season. But I think off the field, eating, stretching, recovering could have been a lot better and my preparation could have been a lot better. So I'll give myself that advice. 27:07 Achieving Selection and Overcoming a Major Setback Yep, Yep. And then coming in with another massive tick on your resume. Queensland country under seventeens. How big was that selection for? 27:16 Speaker 2 You that was so cool. That first year I played Capra's, I wasn't, I don't think I was eligible to make it because I was the younger year. And I think I was. I played Capra's 2 two years in a row being younger because they changed the the unders. 27:34 I think it was sixteens. Then they changed to 17, so I was still younger, but once I was that top age and I was eligible and I made that team, I was, I was absolutely stoked. I've been waiting two years to to try being that team and getting selected. 27:52 I was, yeah. I was very fortunate to get selected and I was so excited to go play in that. 27:58 Speaker 1 Yeah. Was that like a a little moment where you thought to yourself or like all my hard work's paying off here? 28:04 Speaker 2 100% like that years where I was playing younger, I think I made the team of the year on the bench, obviously. So that was really a big confidence booster going into that top age year. 28:20 Like I was like, I can, you know, I can do this, but there was really no like I knew that I couldn't just let off the pedal like seeing that I was one of the, you know, players in that team of the year. I just knew that it's not going to be easy for the seventeens. There's a lot of boys that are really talented and they they're going to want to play that game as well. 28:39 So yeah, I need to work hard. 28:43 Speaker 1 Yeah, and what did your dad say to you? Like we said before, your dad's never really pushed you, but he would have had to be very happy with you. 28:50 Speaker 2 He was stoked, you know, when when I told him that I got selected, he was, he was very proud of me. And you know, he, he just told me, you know, like you just said there, your hard work's paying off mate. Just keep at it. 29:04 Speaker 1 Yeah, And what do you remember the most about that game? Yeah, it was last year, but it's probably something you still think of to this day. Maybe. 29:12 Speaker 2 I can't think of too much honestly. I do remember just the connection that we had with the with the group. It was pretty good group. And I know a lot of the boys still known today and it was cool playing with them. Like, you don't really get to play with them boys from, like you said, like Wavell and K Brown and all them boys from different schools very much until you come in and just have to, you know, connect up and play a game with them. 29:37 And yeah, I just remember them being all really welcoming and you could talk to them. And I think that's why we went so well in the country game. 29:49 Speaker 1 Yeah. And did that experience change your confidence massively as well? Was that like one of your first kind of first kind of sights on how talented all these other boys are from the other areas? 30:02 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely. Playing with good players around you is is so good. You you can really just focus on your job. Like I'm a hooker so I could just focus on passing good. Getting a few runs and having the talented players around just makes makes your job so much easier honestly. 30:22 Speaker 1 Yeah, so you thought that you didn't want to overthink it too much. You just want to do your job and then the other talented boys around you would get the job done with you. 30:31 Speaker 2 Yeah, just let the boys do their thing and I'll do my thing. You know, there's boys there that they might like to chip and chase and, you know, do the flashy plays and stuff. So if I just get my job right and I make sure my passes are on point, you know, they're going to do their job. 30:48 They'll they'll get us, they'll win US that game. They'll get the points on the board and yeah. 30:54 Speaker 1 Yeah, and yeah, you and your countryside did get that win. I just want to say with rugby league there's always some setbacks and you experienced that last year with your shoulder and you had to get surgery on that. What was the hardest part away from footy? 31:11 Speaker 2 Oh yeah, Honestly, I don't remember too much from my yeah year off of footy. It was, it was really tough. You know, footy's been pretty much just life for me growing up and not having footy around and stuff. 31:26 Really just it was pretty upsetting for me. It was probably one of the worst times I've had, like worst years I've had so far in my in my journey. Yeah. It was just tough being away from footy and seeing all the boys playing and stuff. It was it was tough being on the sideline. 31:43 Speaker 1 Yeah, you would have had mad FOMO. 31:46 Speaker 2 What did you learn? 31:47 Speaker 1 Yeah. What did you learn the most out of that journey? 31:53 Speaker 2 I think the biggest thing I took away from it was I think during my junior footy I'd like I said before, the advice I'd give to myself, I didn't really take my recovery as serious. Like when you're young it's easy to play a game, go to sleep, wake up, probably do it again. 32:12 But as you get older your body just can't handle it. And I think the biggest take away was just I need to take my recovery really seriously and playing footy is just the tip of the iceberg. It's everything you do off the field that's that's the most important stuff. 32:29 Speaker 1 Yeah. Who helped you as well get through such a significant injury there, like you said, the rehab that you had doing, but what people helped you get through that tough time as well? 32:42 Speaker 2 Definitely Dolphins. They were. They were really good supporters. And then definitely my family, they were, you know, always there for me and give me advice and opinions. And, you know, there was nights there where I thought my shoulder was going to fall off. 32:59 I was in that much pain. And, you know, they'd help me out heaps and be there for me. And then I'd say my girlfriend 100%. She was always there, you know, calling me and my control is all good and reassuring me that everything's all good. 33:15 Speaker 1 Yeah, sounds like it would have been a bit tough for you as well. I know just thinking about like the injury that you've had, it would have been tough, but was there, was there a time where you had a lot of self doubt and you just kind of didn't see it a lot at the end of the tunnel? 33:30 A. 33:32 Speaker 2 100% There was a point there where I was about four months in the bar recovery. I've been to Fins. I've had so much like rehab done and it was not there where I, I had to put my sling back on. 33:47 I was in that much pain. I couldn't move my shoulder. It was hard to sleep. I was just thinking to myself like, you know, all this rehab I've done, like feels like it's for nothing. And you know, people are going to expect me to go back to how good I was before I got injured as soon as I come back. 34:06 And that, that really worried me. I was a bit like nervous and was scared that I wouldn't meet expectations and stuff like that. So yeah, it was definitely a point there. 34:17 Speaker 1 Yeah. And then you end up overcoming it as well. Looking back, does that give you a lot of confidence now heading forward that if you are unlucky and you have to face an injury again, that you've gone through probably one of the toughest moments of your life so you got confidence what you can get through anything now? 34:34 Speaker 2 Oh definitely 100%. I feel like, you know, if that happened again tomorrow, I'd relax from footy and I'd go do what I did last time and that was just step away from footy. I went and enjoyed, started cooking, I started recovering, I started making videos online and that really just took me away from footy and took me into a different space that I could now learn something new and that that made time fly by. 35:05 Winning the Confraternity Shield and School Footy Legacy Yeah, we'll get to your social media later on as well, but after that injury coming into this school season fresh, how was your Saint Brendan's 2026 season as a whole? 35:18 Speaker 2 As a whole, I'd say it was awesome. We achieved so much as a group. We gelled really awesome and love them boys. Like it's crazy that, you know, we've got one more game this Saturday coming up and that's our last game and school, school footy's going to be done. And I think our season was just awesome. 35:35 But you know, we got a couple wins, different tournaments and stuff, and it was unreal. Probably one of the most successful Brendan's seasons ever so far I'd say. 35:49 Speaker 1 Yeah, and Saint Brendan's is obviously a massive party of your dad's story as well. But how's the culture like at Saint Brendan's around all the boys? How's the Brotherhood? 35:59 Speaker 2 Oh, it's awesome. There's kids from all over the place, you know, borders and stuff. They come in from everywhere and you just got to find your way and stuff. And it's pretty easy when you got boys around you that are very welcoming and teachers that are really good, and everyone just gels really, really nicely. 36:16 So yeah, yeah, it's really good. 36:20 Speaker 1 Yeah. And do you guys do much say team bonding sessions outside of school to help you connect as a group? Like you said, a lot of boys coming from different areas, so you got to like bond together. Have you done much stuff as a as a group? 36:35 Speaker 2 Yeah, you know, we've obviously got group chats and stuff with each other and, you know, all us boys all made-up and do different things together and see each other all the time. Like we're really, really tight group. There's plenty of times where we've had black circle UPS where we just, you know, get pretty, pretty serious and stuff with each other. 36:55 And I think that really just built our connection this year, hearing some of the other boys stories, you know, some things that they don't actually tell us. You know, you see them for who they are, but they don't usually tell you about things that are underneath and stuff. 37:11 So doing little sessions like that where we just opened up to each other, I think that's why we had such a good season. 37:19 Speaker 1 Yeah. So you think that getting all the boys around each other and kind of telling each other what you've all gone through as well, it's kind of boosted you on the personal level as well? 37:30 Speaker 2 Yeah, 100%. A lot of people nowadays, like it's, it's hard to have real conversations with people. You know, there's a lot of people, you know, you just joke around with each other and just sort of taking the piss out of each other sort of thing. And that's, that's the culture and society we kind of live in today. 37:47 But doing little activities like that just really opened your eyes to who they really are. And it was really good that the boys could trust us enough to tell us those things. And yeah, it's, yeah, it was really good. 38:03 Speaker 1 Yeah, like you said, the trust, you got to have the trust on the field as well. So doing that off the field boost the trust massively. Winning that conference Shield, what does that mean to you? 38:16 Speaker 2 We've I've spoken about it with Dad and Braylon. They obviously got there. They're they've gone to win each. So they're always, you know, oh, Jay, you're going to get a win. You're going to, you're going to get a shield too, mate. All three of us. So you're going to be the only one without 1. So it was AI definitely wanted to get one. 38:35 And when we when we won, it was, oh, I don't think I've experienced anything like that ever. And it was, it was ridiculous. I was overjoyed. 38:48 Speaker 1 Yeah. So you kind of had a little bit of banter in between your family as well there obviously winning. That was something that you talked about. He's with your family. 38:57 Speaker 2 Yeah, 100% with everyone, honestly. Obviously I played in grade 10, didn't have the best year there with the boys, but then missed out on grade 11. They went real close. And then grade 12, it was the final, final dance for me. 39:14 Like Grade 12, don't have another shot. So it was really just now and ever sort of thing. 39:22 Speaker 1 So did you kind of feel like that in the back of your mind that this was your last one, so you just left everything out there on the field? 39:29 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely all us boys did. We trusted each other, like you said, trust is big thing and we all trusted each other so much and those cup grade elevens in the in the team and you know, we'll just said to them like you just make sure that we can trust you. You know, we know you got next year, but we don't. 39:45 So you make sure you put everything out there for us. And you know, if you don't want to work for yourself, you make sure you work for us because we're going to work for you. 39:55 Speaker 1 Yeah. So you kind of felt like the boys that were there next year, you kind of had to get them to kind of feel a similar feeling to you that it could have, like it's not their last one, but it is just to give everything they've got as well. 40:09 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely. We were just like, you know, you're going to, you're going to work as hard as we're going to work. Because I know that next year when you're grade 12, you're going to work. You're going to want them grade elevens to work just as hard as you're going to work. 40:23 Speaker 1 And did you feel like you you sent Brendan's side was playing some of your best footy that you've played all year as well at that tournament? 40:31 Speaker 2 Definitely. I think we all really gelled that that was, you know, mid season. That's where we all just really peaked at our our absolute best sort of thing and we all trust each other so much. Everyone was just bonded really well together and we all just wanted to get out and get the jobs done. 40:51 They're pretty short games so we had pretty good interchange so no one was really getting tired or nothing. So you could just really leave your best out on the field with little 10 minute stints and stuff like that. 41:04 Speaker 1 Have a 10 minute stints definitely helps as well because the short games say if you've got bigger bodies that are impactful, if like the game gets longer then they get a bit more sloppy. But take me, take me through that grand final as well as 16 to 14 victory for you. 41:19 So very, very tight game. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure when you played the side you played in the grand final, Iona used pump them in their own games. 41:33 Speaker 2 Well, yeah, well we we pump are not pumped owner, but we they end up coming back towards the end of the game and made it a somewhat close score. But if you're talking about the grand final team, we played them in the round games as well. 41:49 St. 41:49 Speaker 1 Lawrence Yeah, that's what I meant. Yeah, that's. 41:51 Speaker 2 What? Yeah. Saint Lawrence. Yeah, we we beat them around. I think it was 40 nil or something. Yeah, pretty, pretty high. 41:58 Speaker 1 Yeah, so I was watching the Eclipse that you pull out on Instagram and when I saw that you pumped them and it was such a tight game, I was like, oh, well, that just explains that's that's finals footy at its best. A. 42:09 Speaker 2 100% finals footy is a completely different game you can't go into, you know, everyone's turns into a different team when it's finals. You can't underestimate anyone. 42:19 Speaker 1 Yeah, and you ended up crossing the line in that grand final as well. It was a clutch try. You had to put your team on your back there, but when that when that Hooda went, how much relief did you feel? 42:33 Speaker 2 When that Hooda went, I think you know all props to our full back. He had one of the best games. I think that game and you know him making that catch on full time under the post there it I just honestly breathed a sour relief, like probably the first breath. 42:52 I actually knew that I took that whole game and after that siren ran, I was just couldn't control myself. I'd, you know, I started blowing my eyes out with the boys and getting around everyone because we, I know how hard we'd all, we'd all had worked for that goal. 43:12 Speaker 1 Yeah, and you ended up making that Queensland conference side as well. So how much did that mean to you as well? You obviously wanted to win and that was the most important thing, but having that on the side, how special was that? 43:24 Speaker 2 Yeah, I think that's just the bonus for, you know, a good week. I thought I played pretty, pretty good throughout that whole week. I just kind of got better towards towards the end and like our our team just just performed so well and we were just in the spotlight the whole carnival. 43:40 So it's hard for selectors not to look at our team and look at reasons why, you know, we might have been going so well. And I thought, you know, from what my coaches and stuff said, they said I was, you know, pretty big part in US and how good we went. 43:57 Speaker 1 Yeah, I can definitely agree with them. You're definitely a big part. Awesome season for you guys though. Dolphins cup champs beating Kerwin, Confro champs. But then he unfortunately lost that Queensland final. But how unreal was that experience playing against Wavell? 44:14 Speaker 2 It was so cool, like, yeah, being them being the top school in Queensland and us just being, you know, a bunch of blokes from a coastal sort of a lot of Outback boys on our on our team, just country follows going against, you know, the city boys. 44:29 It was an unreal experience. And as much as, you know, putting footy aside like it was just, it was an unreal experience. We all had so much fun. The trip was awesome. We connected really well. Again, you know, we went out with each other and we're just walking around the night before and stuff and just having having laughs and whatnot and going into the game we were just excited to play against a really good opposition. 44:55 Speaker 1 Yeah, so even though you unfortunately went down the wave, it was still an awesome trip for. 45:01 Speaker 2 You oh, it was so cool, you know, even seeing their crowd as much as they were trash talking us and stuff and saying things. Oh, I loved it. It was so cool. You know, the atmosphere was just amazing. And like the Queensland game I was, I was talking about the the air felt different. 45:18 Everything just felt different. It was, it was crazy. 45:23 Speaker 1 What was the biggest difference that you found as well from like you said, you've you've played Queensland, the atmosphere and all that you've it was felt the same but what was the biggest difference at just like a school footy level, just playing with the boys from your school team? 45:39 Speaker 2 Oh, the speed, the speed of the game was just a lot different. You know, everyone, the play of the balls are different. Everyone wants to get up and get a quick play of the ball. Passes are a lot crisper and on the spot, so you have to be exactly where you need to be on time. And if you're not, you just get your pants pulled down. And that unfortunately happened to us a fair few times in that game and we stuck with them pretty well throughout that first sort of 1015 minutes. 46:02 But you know, them being such a good side and having really good players on their team that unfortunately do do find a way to just catch your lacking. And yeah, they just got over the top of us towards the end. 46:19 Speaker 1 Yeah, Wavell, awesome team, like you said. You you hung in there. I thought that whole first half he's done pretty well. But looking back, what's the biggest thing that you're going to miss about not playing school footy when it's all over? 46:35 Speaker 2 Geez, just been with the boys honestly, nothing to do with the actual footy on the field. I'd say just the the boys that are around really make the the footy so fun. So, you know, not having some of them boys playing alongside you. 46:51 And yeah, it's I'm definitely going to miss it a lot because a lot of them boys are, are just going to probably quit footy and, you know, get into the workforce and start working different jobs and that and they probably won't play footy again. So yeah, you've really just got to cherish them moments when you're in school footy. 47:08 Speaker 1 Yeah, and I think that's what makes school footy so special as well. I think it's just the connection that all you boys have together off the field as well just makes everything so much better. 47:19 Speaker 2 Yeah, 100%. 47:21 Playing for Queensland Clontarf and Cultural Pride Yeah. You also made that a QLD Clontarf side for the ones that don't really know too much. And me personally, I don't know too much about it. Can you just give that give us a little bit of an explanation on what what it's like? 47:35 Speaker 2 Yeah, it's basically we have a system around Australia called Kontarf, and it's just a foundation for Aboriginal young kids to get into school and stuff like that. Because, you know, a lot of younger First Nations people like that have the same sort of opportunities and the resources to get to schools like St. 47:59 Brandon's. So they help out a lot with boys from like the islands and stuff, get into schools and they do a little program for the grade twelves to play a little game of footy. And I was, yeah, fortunate enough to get selected in in mine and we went and did a little trial, got picked for the Queensland team and yeah, it was, it was unreal. 48:22 I was over the over the moon. 48:26 Speaker 1 Yeah. Was that game when you versed you South Wales, was it like a serious game or was it kind of like a fun style type of game? 48:32 Speaker 2 Yeah, no, not at all. I think that was a really laid back. It was like a laid back professional game sort of thing. You know, we were playing at the Saint George Stadium in Sydney and it was, it was a cool ass field. 48:49 And but I don't think it was, you know, too serious at all. Like we had boys that that aren't like footy players sort of thing. Like they play footy, but they're not, they're not as in the footy as like some of us really are. 49:06 Like me and the me and the other boys from Brandon's like we're pretty serious about footy, but they're not very serious about it. So it wasn't, yeah, it wasn't very serious. 49:16 Speaker 1 Yeah. So do you think that kind of made the whole experience as well, just to say like, funny, because you're just looking at the other boys and it's just so much fun that they're having a ball playing with you boys. And I'm sure that they would have learned a lot from you, but just having all like heaps of jokes and that with each other. 49:33 Speaker 2 Yeah, you know, if you, if you got Aboriginal mates and stuff, you know, you know that they're pretty funny. So we're all just cracking jokes and having a good time and contact made it a really good experience. Like meeting different people and being able to go to that game and then watch the Dolphins game and stuff after. 49:55 Like they just made a really good experience. Like putting footy aside, like it was just such a good experience and meeting new, new boys and stuff and building a connection with different people. It was, it was really, it was really fun. 50:08 Speaker 1 Yeah. So looking back, is that probably one of your most favorite accomplishments that you've you've had so far in your career? 50:15 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely. I'd say that's it's, it's always good being able to go and represent your culture and stuff and where you come from. So I think that's one of my most favorite experiences so far. 50:27 Jay's Social Media Path: Motivation and Challenges Yeah, now I want to get into something that makes your journey a lot different from your dad's and most people's. You started documenting your footage journey through Instagram and social media. I just want to ask just why? How did it all come about? 50:43 Speaker 2 After my shoulder injury, I really just, I didn't have a whole lot to do honestly. I'll be honest, I just had a lot of time on my hands and I love gaming. So I found that I just started gaming and I was like, I'm not not going to do this for 5-6 months that I'm injured, am I? 51:03 So I, I took on something different and yeah, social media just popped in my head. I've always loved making videos and creating content and yeah, that's so I just fell back on that for my after I got injured. 51:18 Speaker 1 Yeah. Was it for yourself at first or was it all about motivating others that going through tough times, like you said, going through that shoulder injury, so you've had that experience as well. So did you use that time to motivate others while you're going through a tough time yourself? 51:34 Speaker 2 At the start of my shoulder injury and start of my social media, it was definitely for myself, like documented for myself, you know, keep myself accountable. Am I going to do my because when you're injured, it's, it's easy to just want to go and lay down and do nothing. 51:50 So I want to make sure I kept myself accountable and but now towards, you know, once I made it out of being injured and now today I think I post content for other people and to try help the younger boys and younger generation and them younger footy players and try to give them tips and things that would probably have helped me when I was younger. 52:15 Speaker 1 Yeah. So you can't you kind of be like a role model for maybe like a younger self out there or looking back and a lot of younger boys as well that look up to you, you've been a role model for them. 52:27 Speaker 2 Yeah, I definitely try to. 52:30 Speaker 1 When did you start noticing that you're getting really big as well? You're probably one of the most followed school boys in the country. So how does how does it feel kind of getting all that attention? 52:42 Speaker 2 Oh, look, you get the good attention, you get the bad attention and it's it's easy to want to focus on the bad, but yeah, it's really cool. You know, like you said, probably being one of the most followed school boys and stuff. And with that, yeah, brings a lot of attention and critiques and stuff like that and people with outside opinions. 53:03 But, you know, I just keep my circle pretty small and I only listen to, you know, the opinions from people in my circle and people that have trust and yeah. 53:14 Speaker 1 Yeah. Does that kind of change your content as well, or are you just kind of doing it for the same reasons as what you were when you first started at day one? 53:23 Speaker 2 I think in like, yeah, today I definitely, I want to try to move away from like footy kind of content because, you know, I want to keep my footy pretty separate. Like there's a lot of people that like to, you know, try it. 53:39 Yeah, like I said, critique what you're doing and stuff. So I really just want to move away from the whole like footy content and stuff like that just so I can kind of separate my serious footy with coming back to social media and being able to maybe do golf content or something different so that I'm not coming back to, you know, people just flash flaming me online and stuff like that. 54:06 Speaker 1 Yeah, how do you cope about all the all the people on there flaming you as well? Like you said, there's obviously the good and the bad attention, but yeah, I'm sure that you don't listen to it too much. 54:18 Speaker 2 Yeah, you can't. You can't let it get to you. Like, you know, I think a lot of people like to buy in and buy into what people say. But, you know, anyone can sit behind the screen and, you know, write hateful things nowadays. It's, yeah, it's ridiculous. There's a lot of hate going around in the world, especially to to myself. 54:37 Like, I just try to like, the whole reason I do social media and stuff like that is to influence and help the younger generation. And, you know, it doesn't matter how humble, how good or how much good you put out, like there will be always be someone trying to bring you down and bring it down to their level. 54:54 But yeah, I never let it get to me. 54:57 Speaker 1 Yeah, and you shouldn't. I'm a big fan of what you do and I get a lot of inspiration from you as well and I'm sure a lot of other people do. So don't let the the people hate and get to you. But I know most parents aren't big fans of social media and your dad obviously grew up in a non phone social media generation. 55:17 So what does PJ think about? You Kind of put everything online. 55:21 Speaker 2 Yeah, no, he loves it. He just lets me know, like I said before, trying to keep your footy separate from your social media. Obviously I'll, I'll always love, you know, doing posts and photos and stuff of footy, but I think I'm definitely just going to step a bit back from just footy content sort of thing I want to do like off the field sort of things like just my recovery and different things like that just so I can kind of seclude it. 55:46 And but yeah, he he, he loves it. 55:51 Speaker 1 Yeah. And when you were a bit more serious about posting more unfilled footy stuff, if you had a bad game, did you still want to post it and kind of take a bit accountability, accountability, whatever it is online? Or did you kind of just kind of hide it a bit and only post you good things? 56:09 Speaker 2 Yeah, after I saw the average game, you know, I'm not not too interested in trying to post stuff and whatnot. I kind of moved to posting something else. But like I said before, I just want to move away from it because, you know, you're going to have good games, you're going to have bad games. And yeah, I'd just, I'd just rather, you know, people, people are going to watch those games if they want. 56:30 I don't need to put it out. 56:33 Ultimate Goals, Biggest Fears, and Rapid-Fire Q&A Yeah, that's exactly right. I just want to get to your ultimate goal. We obviously know the dreams NRL, but is it playing alongside your brother at that level? Is it playing for Queensland, playing for your country, buying your parents a car or paying off the house? 56:48 Like what in your vision? What is the point that you want to get to? 56:53 Speaker 2 I'd say all of the above, you know, going into going into footy, the dreams always to play at the highest level. So when you get to NRLI think, you know, there's no slowing down. If you're at NRL, you want to play for Queensland or you want to play for Australia, like there's always a next goal. 57:10 So and yeah, like you touched on there, playing with my brother, that would be something I'd love to do again. Obviously I got to play with him in Grade 10, but you know, maybe in out in the centres, I didn't really have too much to do with him. But yeah, that and yeah, buying parents car. 57:27 Like I definitely, you know what, I would love to repay them back for everything they've done for me throughout my throughout my life and stuff. So yes, the yeah, all of the above. 57:40 Speaker 1 Yeah, yeah, yeah. What scares you the most about chasing your dream as well? Is it like injuries not making it expectations? Like what? What's the biggest thing that scares you? 57:52 Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely just injuries, definitely because they're a big roadblock. You know, when you get injured, you, you get, you know, six months off depending on the injury could be a whole year off. So and they're, they're just years and, and months and weeks that you you don't have to, to throw around sort of thing like there's always someone coming up knocking at the door trying to get your spot. 58:15 So if you'll get injured all the time, you're just given the person behind you or the person next to you a chance to take your position. So I'd I'd definitely say injury. 58:29 Speaker 1 Yeah, yeah. Alright, Jay, before we head into the the last bit of the show, I just want to do some quick fire questions with you in the the Benches on fire segment. So don't overthink them. Just the first thing that comes to mind, just kind of to say it, who is faster, you and Braylon? 58:50 Speaker 2 Oh, definitely me. Definitely me. 58:52 Speaker 1 Yeah, the best player that you've ever played with. 58:59 Speaker 2 CHT. 59:00 Speaker 1 Yeah, toughest player that you've played against. 59:02 Speaker 2 I'd say Webbie, Charlie Webbie. 59:05 Speaker 1 Yeah, who talks more about footy, you or your dad? 59:09 Speaker 2 Definitely Dad. 59:10 Speaker 1 Yeah, yeah. Your biggest goal that you want to get ticked off in the next 12 months. 59:18 Speaker 2 Playing for Malmoninga for Dolphins. 59:22 Speaker 1 Dolphins. Yeah, starting. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? 59:29 Speaker 2 Playing definitely play NRL and hopefully continuing on on my clothing business. 59:36 Speaker 1 Yeah, and the last one, one player that you hate to defend. 59:41 Speaker 2 One player hate to defend. 59:44 Speaker 1 Or or you would hate to defend. You haven't versed them yet, but you just don't want to tackle them. 59:52 Speaker 2 Probably Fisher Harris or Lecher Alesima. 59:57 Speaker 1 Yeah, that that. That'd be a tough one, eh? 1:00:00 Speaker 2 Yeah. 1:00:02 Proudest Accomplishment and Key Advice for Aspiring Players Yeah. Before we wrap it up today, when you look back at everything that you've done so far, what, what's the accomplishment that you're most proud of? 1:00:13 Speaker 2 I'd say making QLD eighteens this year, definitely one of my biggest accomplishments, even though I didn't get to play, it was, you know, something I worked so hard for and it's a very competitive tournament, that one. 1:00:29 So I was really, yeah, proud of myself for making it. 1:00:33 Speaker 1 And finally, what would you tell anyone out there listening who's in the ground of rugby league, training hard, eating well or even facing an injury at the moment? What piece of advice that would you give to them? 1:00:45 Speaker 2 Like I've said throughout this whole thing, like playing footy and being on the field, that's the tip of the iceberg. And you know, 80 minute games or 60 minute games, that's 60 minutes is nothing compared to the hours off the field you get. 1:01:02 So, and like I said before as well, you know, the older you get, the less your body's going to be able to handle. So it's all about recovery and keeping your body right because there's always going to be someone behind you next year, above you wherever who's just trying to kick you out and take your position. 1:01:19 So being fit, healthy and ready is is massive in today's game. 1:01:25 Speaker 1 Yeah, that's valid. Jay, brother, I really appreciate you coming on today. It was awesome to speak to you and have a chat with you. You've you've got a very special story already, but I reckon the best part is you're still at the beginning of it, so you've got a massive future ahead of you. 1:01:41 Speaker 2 Yeah, I really appreciate the interview. I Billy, it was, it was really good to hear you talk about and may be able to reflect on some of the things I've done well and things I want to work on and just throwing out some piece of piece of advice for other people. So I really appreciate it. 1:01:57 Speaker 1 Yeah, now it's all good bro. Shout out to the crew Eddies as well. They're going to send you a hat in the mail for being today's guest. So thanks again heaps mate. 1:02:05 Speaker 2 Thanks heaps Billy, I really appreciate it. 1:02:07 Speaker 1 Yeah, thanks for joining us and off the bench with Billy today. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Spotify. So don't miss out on more up and coming content. See you in the next one. Cheers.