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Episode 204 - Willie Poching


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In this podcast

0:00 - Welcome Willie Poching

1:08 - His Samoan heritage

5:17 - Why he supported Queensland and the Canberra Raiders

6:23 - Being a ball boy at Carlaw Park

8:54 - Who taught him to goal kick

10:54 - Being coached by his Dad and why he wont coach his kids

14:29 - Tony Smith

17:51 - Signing with the Warriors and a year with the Broncos

25:00 - The emerging talent at the Warriors

27:52 - The first game for the Warriors in 1995

29:07 - Being around veterans like Greg Alexander and Denis Betts and being loose

31:46 - The turnaround in his career

32:30 - Playing under Graham Murray at the Hunter Mariners

39:10 - Why he moved to England

42:21 - Wakefield

48:46 - The dressing room at the Leeds Rhinos

50:37 - Rob Burrow

53:44 - Playing at the big stadiums

54:50 - What happened when he played against his best mate Joe Vagana

56:45 - What it felt like to finally win a trophy

1:01:56 - Playing at Headingley Stadium

1:03:06 - When he knew it was time to retire

1:07:21 - What he misses about footy

1:12:55 - Player he wished he got to play with

1:14:20 - Player in the NRL now he would have liked to have played with

1:15:57 - Coaching support play

1:16:37 - 5 people he would invite to a private dinner party

WILLIE POCHING

Connect with Willie on | Linkedin |

Willie Poching is a former professional rugby league player. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand and played 236 first grade games in Australia and England. He debut at the Auckland Warriors in 1995 and his journey in the NRL took him to the North Queensland Cowboys, Hunter Mariners (Super League) and St George. He achieved significant success over in England where he played for Wakefield and the

Leeds Rhinos. At the Rhinos we would win a premiership in 2004 and he represented Samoa at the World Cup in 1995 and 2000. Post footy, Willie has moved into coaching and is currently the assistant coach to Tony Smith at Hull KR. He has also spent time as an assistant at Salford Red Devils, NZ Kiwis, Warrington Wolves and Leeds Rhinos.

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