Reuben Cotter didn't think any of this would happen. Two ACLs and three years on the sideline before he'd properly started — now he's not only a State of Origin player but a Wally Lewis Medal winner (Player of the Series) and captain of the Cowboys.

Ahead of Origin tomorrow night, we pulled this part of the podcast we recorded with Reuben back in mid-2024. He talks about how he actually got there, what Billy Slater's camp is really like, the day seven Cowboys got the Origin call at a team dinner, and why he wouldn't change those three years for anything.

Listen to the full episode - #52: Reuben Cotter: Journey to Captaincy, ACL & Family Life:
Spotify
Apple
YouTube

Or you may also enjoy:
#164 Jai Arrow: Fatherhood and What Really Matters
#34 Harry Grant: Melbourne Storm Captaincy, Almost Dying and Happy Birthday

Reuben Cotter didn't think any of this would happen. Two ACLs and three years on the sideline before he'd properly started &mdash; now he's not only a State of Origin player but a Wally Lewis Medal winner (Player of the Series) and captain of the Cowboys.
Ahead of Origin tomorrow night, we pulled this part of the podcast we recorded with Reuben back in mid-2024. He talks about how he actually got there, what Billy Slater's camp is really like, the day seven Cowboys got the Origin call at a team dinner, and why he wouldn't change those three years for anything. Listen to the full episode - #52: Reuben Cotter: Journey to Captaincy, ACL &amp; Family Life: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/00LkA5At7gcAd6dD4Prids?si=OFnph1CGRk2W-_s1xwS67A">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/52-reuben-cotter-journey-to-captaincy-acl-family-life/id1695873736?i=1000659148772">Apple</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBXuh3oPct0">YouTube</a> Or you may also enjoy: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pt58KGH008CDE9ICD8gkF?si=YhcRUEfST2-izuLqFJRTQQ">#164 Jai Arrow: Fatherhood and What Really Matters</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2CZl3VJsXm7r9Hsl3auqzt?si=kF56hNdXR0e_NQWMtYge6A">#34 Harry Grant: Melbourne Storm Captaincy, Almost Dying and Happy Birthday</a>

Ever wondered what drives the world’s top athletes beyond the scoreboard?

Former professional NRL player Keegan Hipgrave uncovers the untold truths about mental health, resilience, and redefining success - one candid conversation at a time.

Ever wondered what drives the world&rsquo;s top athletes beyond the scoreboard?
Former professional NRL player Keegan Hipgrave uncovers the untold truths about mental health, resilience, and redefining success - one candid conversation at a time.

Keegan and Company

Reuben Cotter: Origin & Billy Slater in Camp | Moments Episode #20

Jason Cadee spent 15 years as a professional basketball player, 424 games across the NBL. It nearly ended before it began. At 18, not long after breaking into the Australian senior set-up, he was hit side-on by a semi-trailer at 100km/h on a Sydney freeway and trapped in the wreck for 90 minutes. He came out with a broken pelvis and, somehow, barely a mark on him.

This week we sit down with Jason to get into the crash and what it did and didn't teach him, why becoming a dad landed harder than any near miss, the single piece of leadership advice that changed how he led, and what it actually takes to walk away from the only thing you've ever known and start again. Both his parents played for Australia, so basketball was never optional. Stopping was the hard part.

For more just like this
Aaron Booth on medical retirement and starting again: Spotify · Apple
Jordan Kahu on life and business after footy: Spotify · Apple

Listen and subscribe
Spotify · Apple Podcasts

Follow for more
Podcast Instagram: @keeganandcompanypodcast
Keegan's Instagram: @keeganhipgrave
TikTok: @keeganandcompany

Jason Cadee spent 15 years as a professional basketball player, 424 games across the NBL. It nearly ended before it began. At 18, not long after breaking into the Australian senior set-up, he was hit side-on by a semi-trailer at 100km/h on a Sydney freeway and trapped in the wreck for 90 minutes. He came out with a broken pelvis and, somehow, barely a mark on him.
This week we sit down with Jason to get into the crash and what it did and didn't teach him, why becoming a dad landed harder than any near miss, the single piece of leadership advice that changed how he led, and what it actually takes to walk away from the only thing you've ever known and start again. Both his parents played for Australia, so basketball was never optional. Stopping was the hard part.
For more just like this Aaron Booth on medical retirement and starting again:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Q3bqZnsskdODXSdgKQ5wr">Spotify</a>&nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/keegan-and-company/id1695873736?i=1000652373800">Apple</a> Jordan Kahu on life and business after footy:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OCqSJlgPMUOmSoA41uDNC">Spotify</a>&nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/keegan-and-company/id1695873736?i=1000680404469">Apple</a>
Listen and subscribe <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4L7zyEBXeNYBDK4rRjBK0K">Spotify</a>&nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/keegan-and-company/id1695873736">Apple Podcasts</a>
Follow for more Podcast Instagram: @keeganandcompanypodcast Keegan's Instagram: @keeganhipgrave TikTok: @keeganandcompany

#192 Jason Cadee: Australian Basketball Player, Four Words From My Coach That Changed How I Led

We recorded this with Tim Tszyu last year, and his shower story keeps coming up in recent episodes, so we have pulled fifteen minutes of it back out of the vault. Tim is a former world champion from Sydney, and boxing runs deep in the family. His dad Kostya was an undisputed world champion and Hall of Famer, and his younger brother Nikita fights professionally too. Since we spoke he has strung together back to back wins, the most recent over Denis Nurja on Easter Sunday, and on 26 July he steps in with Errol Spence Jr in Sydney, the biggest fight of his career. We appreciate him making the time back when he did.

In this section, Tim describes what a flow state actually feels like from inside the ropes. The place where the world switches off, time slows down, where he can "hear his opponent's heartbeat". He explains why there is no such thing as a fluke punch, and how one clean right hand is really years of repetition. We get into stacking days, staying hungry when success comes easily, and why he refuses to get comfortable. He talks about the emptiness of his first loss and how it made him want to reclaim his throne, the five weeks between that loss and his wedding that finally gave him some balance, and the shower ritual he uses to wash off a hard day and reset before a fight. Plus the training methods he chose not to inherit from his dad, and the grandfather who still tells him he looks fat.

Listen to the full episode with Tim Tszyu: Spotify · Apple Podcasts

If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy:
Harry Garside on masculinity, vulnerability and boxing: Spotify · Apple Podcasts
Skye Nicolson on losing her greatest teacher and finding peace: Spotify · Apple Podcasts

Listen and subscribe: Spotify · Apple Podcasts

Follow for more: Podcast Instagram · Keegan's Instagram · TikTok

We recorded this with Tim Tszyu last year, and his shower story keeps coming up in recent episodes, so we have pulled fifteen minutes of it back out of the vault. Tim is a former world champion from Sydney, and boxing runs deep in the family. His dad Kostya was an undisputed world champion and Hall of Famer, and his younger brother Nikita fights professionally too. Since we spoke he has strung together back to back wins, the most recent over Denis Nurja on Easter Sunday, and on 26 July he steps in with Errol Spence Jr in Sydney, the biggest fight of his career. We appreciate him making the time back when he did.
In this section, Tim describes what a flow state actually feels like from inside the ropes. The place where the world switches off, time slows down, where he can "hear his opponent's heartbeat". He explains why there is no such thing as a fluke punch, and how one clean right hand is really years of repetition. We get into stacking days, staying hungry when success comes easily, and why he refuses to get comfortable. He talks about the emptiness of his first loss and how it made him want to reclaim his throne, the five weeks between that loss and his wedding that finally gave him some balance, and the shower ritual he uses to wash off a hard day and reset before a fight. Plus the training methods he chose not to inherit from his dad, and the grandfather who still tells him he looks fat.
Listen to the full episode with Tim Tszyu: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7kIpcy07kxIUjQd7YuPk4o">Spotify</a> &middot; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/113-tim-tszyu-learning-from-loss-fighting-for-redemption/id1695873736?i=1000717018452&amp;uo=4">Apple Podcasts</a>
If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy: Harry Garside on masculinity, vulnerability and boxing: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5J1knjZmt0vdzLXsgNKczY">Spotify</a> &middot; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/146-harry-garside-masculinity-vulnerability-boxing/id1695873736?i=1000741193468&amp;uo=4">Apple Podcasts</a> Skye Nicolson on losing her greatest teacher and finding peace: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vFjkMM9nk2NyuBdlVbk7p">Spotify</a> &middot; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/108-skye-nicolson-perfection-to-peace-losing-the/id1695873736?i=1000711973771&amp;uo=4">Apple Podcasts</a>
Listen and subscribe: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4L7zyEBXeNYBDK4rRjBK0K">Spotify</a> &middot; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/keegan-and-company/id1695873736">Apple Podcasts</a>
Follow for more: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keeganandcompanypodcast/">Podcast Instagram</a> &middot; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keeganhipgrave/">Keegan's Instagram</a> &middot; <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@keeganandcompany">TikTok</a>

Moment #21 Tim Tszyu: Flow State, Fluke Punches and the Shower Reset

Charlotte Caslick has played three Olympic Games, two Commonwealth Games and three rugby World Cups, and the moment that shaped her wasn't a win. It was a friend texting her that young girls watch her play and think trying hard is cool, because she makes it look cool.

This week we sat down with Charlotte while she's pregnant with her first child and still training through it, broken Broncos and all. We talked about the season she debuted out of position and cried at training while secretly hoping to fall pregnant, the leg break that took the World Cup and the pregnancy off the table in the same week, finding a new sense of purpose before she'd stopped playing, and the one line she posted after Paris that ended up in the New York Times. Full episode out now.

For more just like this
Millie Elliott on the NRLW and coming back after her daughter: Spotify · Apple
Alexis Fernandez on the neuroscience of connection, creativity and heartbreak: Spotify · Apple
Jacqui Louder on the psychology behind peak performance: Spotify · Apple

Listen and subscribe
Spotify · Apple Podcasts

Follow for more
@keeganandcompanypodcast · @keeganhipgrave · TikTok @keeganandcompany

Charlotte Caslick has played three Olympic Games, two Commonwealth Games and three rugby World Cups, and the moment that shaped her wasn't a win. It was a friend texting her that young girls watch her play and think trying hard is cool, because she makes it look cool.
This week we sat down with Charlotte while she's pregnant with her first child and still training through it, broken Broncos and all. We talked about the season she debuted out of position and cried at training while secretly hoping to fall pregnant, the leg break that took the World Cup and the pregnancy off the table in the same week, finding a new sense of purpose before she'd stopped playing, and the one line she posted after Paris that ended up in the New York Times. Full episode out now.
For more just like this Millie Elliott on the NRLW and coming back after her daughter:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DqX0uCkakMBpZPzebT3el">Spotify</a>&nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/39-millie-elliott-nrlw-trainer-group-foundation-tbis/id1695873736?i=1000650963088&amp;uo=4">Apple</a> Alexis Fernandez on the neuroscience of connection, creativity and heartbreak:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/4aEvYogj3q6LtvxcyGrswz">Spotify</a>&nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/186-alexis-fernandez-dyfm-the-neuroscience-of/id1695873736?i=1000771520615&amp;uo=4">Apple</a> Jacqui Louder on the psychology behind peak performance:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0zFEb3LaHUq98TgBRmPRRu">Spotify</a>&nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/133-jacqui-louder-the-psychology-behind-peak-performance/id1695873736?i=1000732766801&amp;uo=4">Apple</a>
Listen and subscribe <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4L7zyEBXeNYBDK4rRjBK0K">Spotify</a>&nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/keegan-and-company/id1695873736">Apple Podcasts</a>
Follow for more <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keeganandcompanypodcast">@keeganandcompanypodcast</a>&nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/keeganhipgrave">@keeganhipgrave</a>&nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@keeganandcompany">TikTok @keeganandcompany</a>

Reuben Cotter: Origin & Billy Slater in Camp | Moments Episode #20

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