Willie Tonga joins me on the podcast. 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. 

Connect with Will on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/willietonga/ 

Book Will as a coach - https://www.playbook.coach/?fbclid=IwAR0cvf3zfX_v9zBei8cqsMFOlNHGFRRcFygGWA8M08L9ZdZqwkZse8LkUTE#/coach/931 




Connect with the show on social media search Talking with TK on Facebook and Twitter Get in touch via email at tristan@talkingwithtk.com and find the entire back catalogue of podcasts at https://www.talkingwithtk.com/



Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Willie Tonga joins me on the podcast. 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. Connect with Will on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/willietonga/ Book Will as a coach - https://www.playbook.coach/?fbclid=IwAR0cvf3zfX_v9zBei8cqsMFOlNHGFRRcFygGWA8M08L9ZdZqwkZse8LkUTE#/coach/931 Connect with the show on social media search Talking with TK on Facebook and Twitter Get in touch via email at tristan@talkingwithtk.com and find the entire back catalogue of podcasts at https://www.talkingwithtk.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Welcome to the Talking with TK Podcast! Where Australian & New Zealand sporting legends, current day champions and future champions go one-on-one with Tristan K’Nell. The podcast delivers the human element of an athlete, the trials and tribulations on their path to success. It's authentic story telling like a voiced version from a chapter of an autobiography with the intention to inspire others to reach their dreams. 

Check out the show at www.talkingwithtk.com or get in touch with Tristan his email is tristan@talkingwithtk.com

Talking with TK is proud to be part of the DIAMANTINA PODCAST NETWORK - http://diamantina.com.au/home/

Inspirational Stories from the Stars of Australian & New Zealand Sports

Talking with TK

Ep 139: Willie Tonga

St George Illawarra Dragons head coach Anthony "Hook" Griffin stops by for a chat with TK.

Talking League Cup is open now with the league pin DVRFR5TJ jump in an have some fun with the crew.

Find all our podcast episodes at www.talkingleaguepod.com

St George Illawarra Dragons head coach Anthony "Hook" Griffin stops by for a chat with TK. Talking League Cup is open now with the league pin DVRFR5TJ jump in an have some fun with the crew. Find all our podcast episodes at <a href="http://www.talkingleaguepod.com/" data-hook="linkViewer">www.talkingleaguepod.com</a>

Interview - Anthony Griffin (St George Illawarra Dragons Head Coach)

Cronulla Sharks head coach Craig Fitzgibbon stops by for a chat with TK.

Talking League Cup is open now with the league pin DVRFR5TJ jump in an have some fun with the crew.

Find all our podcast episodes at www.talkingleaguepod.com

Cronulla Sharks head coach Craig Fitzgibbon stops by for a chat with TK. Talking League Cup is open now with the league pin DVRFR5TJ jump in an have some fun with the crew. Find all our podcast episodes at <a href="http://www.talkingleaguepod.com/" data-hook="linkViewer">www.talkingleaguepod.com</a>

Interview - Craig Fitzgibbon (Cronulla Sharks Head Coach)

G’day welcome to episode 217 of the Talking with TK podcast. Phil is a former professional rugby league player who played 127 NRL games kicking off at Manly before spending the majority of his career at the Cronulla Sharks. He represented NSW and Australia in 3 games each before moving over to England spending 4 seasons with Wigan racking up 101 games. Post footy, Phil has crossed code to Rugby Union where he has served as Head Defensive Coach at the USA Eagles, Director of Rugby at the Hong Kong Football club and spent some time at the NSW Waratahs.

 

Time Stamps

1:01 - Growing up in Inverell

2:19 - Backyard battles with his brother Chris

4:52 - Growing up knowing the Tingha NRL boys

6:35 - His body post footy 

6:56 - How he found rugby league

8:31 - The joy of the Saturday 3pm game

9:11 - His pathway to the NRL

11:56 - Tales of his first NRL coach Bob Fulton

14:42 - In he sheds with all the champion Manly players

16:34 - The advantage of playing all three grades

17:38 - The pain of the Northern Eagles merger

18:34 - Being identified by Chris Anderson still at the Storm

19:36 - His perspective of the Chris Anderson era

20:39 - How he found his versatility as a centre

21:54 - Running good lines and late footwork

24:00 - His bond with Matty Johns

26:16 - The flat attack

28:00 - Brett Kimmorley 

29:42 - David Peachey

30:33 - Issues with his feet

34:22 - His origin debut at Suncorp Stadium

35:45 - Andrew Johns

38:00- 2004 Kangaroo Tour

40:55 - Getting his eye saved by Doctors after the test match

41:25 - Brain Carney

42:40 - What made him move to Wigan

45:05 - Playing under Brian Noble and Madge Maguire

47:00 - Coming back from an Achilles tear

48:00 - Planning for retirement but getting rejected by the Army

51:30 - How he got over to America

56:08 - Coaching

57:28 - Being part of the USA coaching staff at the World Cup 

1:00:28 - Moving to Hong Kong

1:02:39 - Transferable skills from sports to business

1:04:50 - 5 people he would invite to a private dinner party

 

Find 200 + episodes of Talking with TK in that back catalogue. I've been blessed to interview the likes of Ellyse Perry, Petero Civoniceva, Robert Whittaker, Mark Schwarzer, Shane Webcke, Adrian Morley, Mark Ella, Willie Tonga, Steve Menzies, Jamie Lyon Craig Wing, Danny Buderus, Mat Rogers, Anthony Minichiello, Luke Lewis, Chad Townsend, Andrew Ettingshausen, Bradley Clyde, Stirling Mortlock, Alex McKinnon, Mark Geyer, Cameron Murray ,Craig Lowndes, Pat Cash, Matt Toomua, Kieren Perkins, Paul Harragon, Robbie Maddison and many more.

www.talkingwithtk.com

G&rsquo;day welcome to episode 217 of the Talking with TK podcast. Phil is a former professional rugby league player who played 127 NRL games kicking off at Manly before spending the majority of his career at the Cronulla Sharks. He represented NSW and Australia in 3 games each before moving over to England spending 4 seasons with Wigan racking up 101 games. Post footy, Phil has crossed code to Rugby Union where he has served as Head Defensive Coach at the USA Eagles, Director of Rugby at the Hong Kong Football club and spent some time at the NSW Waratahs.
&nbsp;
Time Stamps
1:01 - Growing up in Inverell
2:19 - Backyard battles with his brother Chris
4:52 - Growing up knowing the Tingha NRL boys
6:35 - His body post footy&nbsp;
6:56 - How he found rugby league
8:31 - The joy of the Saturday 3pm game
9:11 - His pathway to the NRL
11:56 - Tales of his first NRL coach Bob Fulton
14:42 - In he sheds with all the champion Manly players
16:34 - The advantage of playing all three grades
17:38 - The pain of the Northern Eagles merger
18:34 - Being identified by Chris Anderson still at the Storm
19:36 - His perspective of the Chris Anderson era
20:39 - How he found his versatility as a centre
21:54 - Running good lines and late footwork
24:00 - His bond with Matty Johns
26:16 - The flat attack
28:00 - Brett Kimmorley&nbsp;
29:42 - David Peachey
30:33 - Issues with his feet
34:22 - His origin debut at Suncorp Stadium
35:45 - Andrew Johns
38:00- 2004 Kangaroo Tour
40:55 - Getting his eye saved by Doctors after the test match
41:25 - Brain Carney
42:40 - What made him move to Wigan
45:05 - Playing under Brian Noble and Madge Maguire
47:00 - Coming back from an Achilles tear
48:00 - Planning for retirement but getting rejected by the Army
51:30 - How he got over to America
56:08 - Coaching
57:28 - Being part of the USA coaching staff at the World Cup&nbsp;
1:00:28 - Moving to Hong Kong
1:02:39 - Transferable skills from sports to business
1:04:50 - 5 people he would invite to a private dinner party
&nbsp;
Find 200 + episodes of Talking with TK in that back catalogue. I've been blessed to interview the likes of Ellyse Perry, Petero Civoniceva, Robert Whittaker, Mark Schwarzer, Shane Webcke, Adrian Morley, Mark Ella, Willie Tonga, Steve Menzies, Jamie Lyon Craig Wing, Danny Buderus, Mat Rogers, Anthony Minichiello, Luke Lewis, Chad Townsend, Andrew Ettingshausen, Bradley Clyde, Stirling Mortlock, Alex McKinnon, Mark Geyer, Cameron Murray ,Craig Lowndes, Pat Cash, Matt Toomua, Kieren Perkins, Paul Harragon, Robbie Maddison and many more.
<a href="http://www.talkingwithtk.com">www.talkingwithtk.com</a>

Ep 139: Willie Tonga

Talking with TK

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