What a Lad

Presented by Betcha
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Rugby
  • Updated weekly

What a Lad is a podcast by James Marshall who talks to some of the biggest names and best lads on the planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Super Rugby Review + All Black naming reaction

    4 days ago

    Super Rugby Review + All Black naming reaction

    The 2026 Super Rugby season is officially done and what a finish it was. The Hurricanes capped off a remarkable campaign with a dominant 60-5 victory in the final, producing one of the most complete performances we've seen in Super Rugby history. In this episode, we break down the final, review some of our preseason predictions, discuss the standout performers from the year and look at what made the Hurricanes such a dominant force throughout the competition. We also dive into Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad, discussing the bolters, unlucky omissions, selection surprises and what the squad tells us about how the All Blacks will look to play moving forward. Some of the topics discussed include... - We breakdown what we thought were the keys to the Hurricanes success - The players who stood out throughout the season - Who had the best predictions from the preseason epiosde - The biggest talking points from Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad - Which players were unlucky to miss selection - Who could become the All Blacks' best player in 2026 - Predictions for the upcoming test season and South African tour And heaps more With the Super Rugby season wrapped up and a massive international season ahead, this was a great chance to reflect on the year that was and look ahead to what's shaping up as one of the biggest years for the All Blacks in recent memory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  2. Liam Squire- Fan Favourite

    17 Jun

    Liam Squire- Fan Favourite

    Liam Squire was one of the most feared players in world rugby, he had an incredible ability to throw his body into contact with zero thought of self preservation. While that approach helped Liam Squire the player, it's taken a serious toll on the body of Liam Squire the man. He's had an endless amount of injuries throughout his career and is now left with serious hip pain, shoulder pain and knee pain as he moves into the next chapter of his life. In this Fan Favourite episode of What a Lad, Liam opens up about the full journey through rugby and life. From growing up in Tokoroa and finding his way into professional rugby, to becoming an All Black, dealing with injuries, stepping away from the 2019 Rugby World Cup and ultimately being forced into retirement. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… How quickly his rise from provincial rugby to becoming an All Black Dealing with the fame of becoming an All Black Winning a Super Rugby title with the Highlanders and the culture that made that team special Why he never felt completely comfortable in the All Blacks environment The pressure and scrutiny leading into the 2019 Rugby World Cup His battles with injury and the mental toll of spending so much time on the sidelines Being told by a surgeon that if he wanted quality of life later on, it was time to retire How he has adjusted to life after rugby and what retirement has really been like This episode was recorded back in 2021 but this conversation shows a side of him that most people have never seen. Honest, reflective and incredibly open, this is a fascinating insight into the highs and lows of professional rugby and the price that can come with giving everything to the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 16min
  3. Jayden Broome- What a Lad

    10 Jun

    Jayden Broome- What a Lad

    Jayden Broome is one of the most inspiring young rugby players you'll come across. A proud Gore local who spent his childhood with a rugby ball in his hands with a dream to become a professional rugby player. He was doing everything he could to reach that dream and everything was tracking that way. He captained all Southland age grade sides before leading New Zealand Māori Schoolboys to a historic victory over New Zealand Schools and even earned a preseason opportunity with his beloved Southland Stags. Then one moment changed everything for Jayden. After falling from a roof at a flat, Jayden suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him fighting for his life. He was placed in an induced coma, spent months in hospital and was ultimately forced to make the heartbreaking decision to walk away from the game he loved. Despite everything he's been through, Jayden's outlook on life, positivity and determination to keep moving forward is what makes this episode so special. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… - Walking 40 minutes to school and back every day and how that shaped him - Writing down his rugby goals as a teenager and dreaming of one day becoming an All Black - Getting his opportunity with the Southland Stags and realising he was good enough to compete at that level - The night of the accident and the reality of waking up after weeks in a coma - Learning just how close he came to losing his life - Coming to terms with the fact he would never play rugby again - Why he chose life over rugby and the powerful message he now wants to share with others - What his plans are in the future and how he wants to stay in the game This is a story about much more than rugby. It's about resilience, perspective, gratitude and finding purpose when the path you thought you were on suddenly disappears. Jayden's maturity, positivity and self-awareness at such a young age make this one of the most powerful conversations we've had on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 10min
  4. Jeff McTainsh- What a Lad

    27 May

    Jeff McTainsh- What a Lad

    Jeff McTainsh is quickly becoming one of the leading voices in New Zealand rugby. From growing up in Dunedin dreaming of the All Blacks, to commentating games off the TV as a kid, Jeff has built an incredible career through persistence, passion and years of hard work behind the scenes. After working through radio, journalism, TV news and sports reporting, Jeff slowly carved his way into the commentary world — eventually earning the opportunity to call All Blacks test matches on Sky Sport. Along the way he’s covered Olympic Games, NPC rugby, Super Rugby, international rugby and become one of the most respected commentators in the country. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… - The story behind sending a commentary clip to Sky Sport in hopes of getting an opportunity - Getting the call to commentate college rugby and how that changed everything - The surreal moment he got called in to commentate the All Blacks at Eden Park - How commentators prepare for games, player pronunciations and big moments - His hilarious impressions of Dave Rennie, Ray Warren, Hamish McKay and more - Why balance, fitness and routine completely changed his life over the last few years - His thoughts on the future of rugby, commentary and the All Blacks Jeff is one of those genuine good blokes who clearly loves rugby and loves storytelling. This episode is full of awesome insight into sports broadcasting, plenty of laughs, some elite impressions and a seriously cool story about chasing a passion and slowly building your way to the top. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 19min
  5. Brad Thorn- What a Lad

    6 May

    Brad Thorn- What a Lad

    Brad Thorn is one of the most unique athletes to ever come out of New Zealand. A cross-code legend known for his physicality, discipline and longevity, Thorn built an incredible career winning amore variety of titles than anyone to have played the game. In this episode of What a Lad, Thorny opens up about his full journey through rugby league and union. From dominating in the NRL as a teenager, to making the bold decision to switch codes and start again, and everything it took to become one of the most respected forwards in world rugby. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… - Reflecting on previous stories that had been told on the podcast about him before - The moment his mindset changed and he was a whole different beast - How he dealt with what came with being an NRL star as a teenager - Making the call to leave rugby league at his peak and sacrifice his prime years to learn rugby union - Being told he was hurting the team and how he dealt with that pressure - The mindset behind his training and pushing himself when no one else was watching - The pressure of playing for the All Blacks and what it really means to represent New Zealand - Winning the Rugby World Cup and how it felt in the moment - His journey into head coaching at the Reds and the pressure involved with that - His reflections on his career and the standards he held himself to throughout And heaps more! This episode is full of honesty, perspective and a real look into what it actually takes to reinvent yourself at the highest level. Thorny is one of the toughest and most respected players to do it, and this one gives a proper insight into how he became that guy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 52min
  6. Seti Tafua- What a Lad

    29 Apr

    Seti Tafua- What a Lad

    Seti Tafua has one of the most powerful and inspiring stories you’ll hear in New Zealand rugby. A talented young player chasing his dream overseas, Seti’s life changed in an instant after a horrific neck injury left him paralysed and fighting for his life. Doctors told him he may never walk again. In this episode of What a Lad, Seti opens up about that journey through rugby and life. From the moment of the injury, to the reality of being unable to move, the long road through rehab, and the mindset that helped him defy the odds and walk again. He also shares how he found purpose after rugby and built a new career as the Hurricanes Analyst. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… - The moment he made a tackle and instantly knew something was seriously wrong - Being told by doctors he would likely have to rely on others for the rest of his life - Spending over two years in a wheelchair and the reality of daily rehab - The mindset he used to stay positive and never give up despite the odds - Taking his first steps again and the emotion that came with it - The unbelievable support from the rugby community during his recovery - How he managed to become part of the Hurricanes Analyst team. - His outlook on life now and the importance of staying positive and being grateful And heaps more! This episode is incredibly powerful. Seti’s mindset, resilience and positivity through everything he’s been through is something special. He’s the kind of person that puts life into perspective and reminds you what really matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 2min
  7. Cam Suafoa- What a Lad

    8 Apr

    Cam Suafoa- What a Lad

    Cameron Suafoa is one of the toughest and most resilient players ever! A hard-working loose forward who earned everything through grit and determination, Cam built his career through Auckland, Tasman and North Harbour before becoming a standout for the Blues and earning selection for the Māori All Blacks and All Blacks XV. In this What a Lad exclusive, Cam opens up like never before. From his journey through the rugby ranks to the battle he’s faced off the field, this is an incredibly powerful and emotional conversation. Cam shares what it was like being diagnosed with a rare sarcoma, playing rugby while unknowingly dealing with cancer, and the physical and mental toll that followed. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… - The determination to fight for every opportunity as a player coming through - Finding a lump in his back and later being diagnosed with a high grade sarcoma - Playing through the NPC season while unknowingly dealing with cancer - Undergoing surgery to remove the tumour and the brutal recovery that followed - Going through radiation while still training and playing rugby - The moment he found out his cancer had returned and spread - Coming to terms with being told he is terminally ill - The mindset he’s used to stay positive through everything - Leaning on family, especially his wife Britt, during the toughest moments - Making the most of life and appreciating the small things This episode was the hardest episode I've ever done but honestly Cam's positive outlook and ability to see things for what they are was incredible to witness. His honesty, courage and perspective are seriously inspiring. The way he has held himself during his battle has been so impressive, he's such a champion man who I know will fight with all he can. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 5min
  8. Pasilio Tosi- What a Lad

    1 Apr

    Pasilio Tosi- What a Lad

    Pasilio Tosi is one of the most unique stories in New Zealand rugby right now. A 140kg powerhouse known for his brutal scrummaging and ball carrying, Tosi has quickly become a key figure for the Hurricanes and has fully earnt his place as an All Black. But his journey to the top was anything but straightforward. In this episode of What a Lad, Tosi opens up about that journey through rugby and life. From working on the veggie farms with his old man, to moving away from home at a young age, battling through the Southland system as a number 8, and eventually making the switch to prop that changed everything. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… - Growing up and the work ethic he learned from his dad working long days on the farms - Playing both rugby league and union before being forced to choose between the two - Moving away to Rotorua Boys and dealing with homesickness and losing his mum during school - Heading down to Southland, living alone for the first time and learning how to be independent - Playing as a number 8 before making the tough decision to switch to prop - Getting “pumped every scrum” early on and learning the dark art of scrummaging - Putting on 20+ kilos during lockdown and the wake-up call that followed - Struggling financially early in his Hurricanes career while supporting a young family - Missing selection and being told he needed more experience before finally getting his chance - The moment Jason Ryan told him he was close to the All Blacks - Getting the call that he had made the All Blacks and what that meant for his family - And heaps more! This episode is full of honesty, humour and real insight into what it takes to make it at the highest level. Pasi is one of the real characters in the game, great energy, enjoys life and is full of sharns! There are some classic stories in this one and a lot of perspective around the journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 25min
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Trailer

About

What a Lad is a podcast by James Marshall who talks to some of the biggest names and best lads on the planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Presented by Betcha
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    337
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 James Marshall
  • Show Website
    What a Lad

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