Please use the player below to listen to the podcast or the links below for your favourite podcast app
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
In this podcast
3:21 – Welcome Nigel Vagana
4:01 - His Family background
5:07 – Moving back to his old neighbourhood
6:40 – Growing up with Joe Vagana and some of the other NRL boys
8:22 – Where his speed came from
9:54 – How he ended in league instead of union
12:00 – Playing against Jonah Lomu
13:37 – First game of Australian rugby league he watched
16:00 – Overseas trips to USC and what the American’s are learning about Rugby League
18:11 – Coming through the backs at the Richmond Bulldogs
20:14 – When he first signed with the Auckland Warriors
24:24 – The Warriors hiring an Island for Pre Season camp
27:30 – The unique run on tunnel at Mount Smart Stadium
28:38 – His interesting debut in the NRL
33:21 – Why he moved to England
39:39 – His amazing early Test record against Australia
47:58 - The underdog story of the 2005 New Zealand Kiwis
49:30 – Building a team of good people
52:43 – Stacey Jones and his crazy commitment to the Kiwi team
56:28 – How he got to the Bulldogs and the special culture at the club
1:00:49 – The tight-knit nature of the Dogs team
1:02:40 – What got the club through the salary cap scandal
1:05:59 – Did he find it hard to watch the 2004 Grand Final
1:08:30 – What it feels like to score 5 trys in a game
1:13:29 – Signing with Souths and phone messages from Russell Crowe
1:17:41 – When he knew it was time to retire
1:23:10 – Where he got the nickname “Pablo”
1:23:57 – How long it took to grow his beard
1:25:40 – 5 people he would invite to a private dinner party
NIGEL VAGANA
Nigel Vagana is a former professional rugby league player who played in both the NRL and Super League.His NRL career took him to 4 clubs, Auckland, Canterbury, Cronulla and Souths for 240 games where he scored a staggering 140 trys. He was a main stayin the New Zealand test team for years where he is capped in 38 tests while he also played 2 tests for Samoa.
In ‘Talking with Champions’, author Tristan K’Nell shares his interviews with the finest athletes across Australia and New Zealand. Also featured are several international champions including Johnathan Thurston, Laila Ali, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield and Larry Holmes. Tristan K’Nell takes the essence of each interview and distils the elements that makes each person a champion.
With some of the biggest names in sport, this collection of interviews, quotes and tips is bound to provide inspiration for anyone who wants to know what it takes to be a champion.
Featuring interviews with the finest athletes across Australia and New Zealand as well as international champions … from ‘JT’ to Evander Holyfield!
This is a book bound to provide inspiration for anyone who wants to know what it takes to be a champion.
With easy to ready breakout quotes and tips Order your copy now at Angus and Robertson, Booktopia or Dymocks
Related Episodes - Episode 139: Willie Tonga | Episode 163: James Maloney |