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In this podcast
3:00 – Welcome Willie Tonga
3:28 – His real name and how he became William
5:13 – His Indigenous and Tongan background
8:10 – Being embraced in Cherbourg, Queensland
9:00 – Eye opener as a youngster growing up
10:16 – His brothers Esi & Sione and how discipline was the game changer
13:20 – State of Origin his first rep jersey
15:41 – His love for Rugby Union
17:00 – Being spotted by Noel Cleal
17:26 – How he learnt his in and away
19:52 – His explosive first 15 metres
21:50 – Why he rejected rugby union for the Parramatta Eels
25:49 – Coming down to Sydney and wanting to repeat year 12 at Terra Sancta
27:58 – His shyness
30:00 – Adjusting to Sydney and nearly going home
31:15 – Being scared of the mind games of Brian Smith
34:01 – Driven by people that you can’t make it
35:29 – First grade debut against the Roosters
40:29 – Moving to Bulldogs without ever winning a game of first grade
42:17 – Steve Folkes
44:12 – Why the Bulldogs culture was so special
48:30 – His combination with Matt Utai
50:17 – Finally winning his first game
52:11 – Getting called up to his first State of Origin
55:13 – Playing with Queensland legends
56:30 – Darren Lockyer
1:01:22 – Mark O’Meley weirdness
1:02:55 – Why he didn’t drink till he was 20
1:05:33 – The pact to not speak about Coffs Harbour
1:07:41 – Feelings towards Johnathan Thurston releasing his book
1:09:34 – His body post retirement and dark days
1:12:45 – The challenge to make a comeback
1:13:50 – Reni Maitua situation and how he handled it after
1:18:27 – The comeback with the Cowboys
1:23:45 – Mal Meninga, the man manager
1:26:25 – Why he should of got dropped from the Queensland Origin team
1:32:30 – Why the fire and love for rugby league has be reignited
1:40:33 – Flashbacks and coaching
1:42:11 – Will Chambers & Latrell Mitchell
WILLIE TONGA
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My special guest is Willie Tonga. Willie is a former professional rugby league player who played 212 first grade games across the NRL and Super League, winning an NRL Premiership in 2004 with the Canterbury Bulldogs. His representative career includes 8 State of Origins for Queensland and 12 tests for Australia.
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