What a Lad

Alex Nankivell- What a Lad

In this episode I catch up with Tasman Mako and Chiefs legend Alex Nankivell, who takes us through his journey to date.
Its hard to believe but Alex has played the past 6 seasons with the Tasman Mako and is now one of the senior players at the age of just 23. He was a crucial part of the sides first ever Premiership victory last season and he talks about what that year was like including the big after season celebrations!
Nanks also talks about the loss of his brother to cancer at a young age, which has inspired him to become an ambassador for Cure Kids, who are doing amazing things in that space. Head to https://curekids.org.nz/ to check them out or help out and donate.
Nanks is a bloody good lad off the field! I think everyone who's played with him realises just how good he is on it and that he hasn't reached his full potential just yet. I personally expect a big couple of years from the lad! 
 
If you enjoy this episode as always please share it. If you want to ask any of my guests a question or just follow the journey head to the link below
https://www.instagram.com/what_a_lad_podcast/?hl=en
 
This episode was brought to you by fortune favours, to purchase any product with a 15% discount head to https://www.fortunefavours.beer/ and put whatalad in the promo code. Delivered to your doorstep anywhere in NZ.

Otere Black- What a Lad

Anyone who has had the pleasure of playing with or just knowing Otere Black, will know that he is one of the best lads you could meet! One of the greats! So it was awesome to have him come on the podcast and talk about his journey.
For someone I thought I knew really well, I learnt so much about Oatsy in this podcast. Immersed in Maori culture his whole life, it was awesome to hear the passion he has for his culture and the honour he had representing the NZ Maoris at a young age.
Oatsy also talks about what it was like moving to the Blues for an opportunity, only to have 2 of potentially the greatest 10s to play the game, in Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter, to move up there the following year.
Otere also talks about recently becoming a father, why he moved to BOP, his time at the hurricanes, how he stays so calm no matter what the situation and heaps more. I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I did recording it.
 
 

Quin Strange- What a Lad

In this episode I catch up with one of the newest All Blacks named in the current squad, Quin Strange. He has been on such a crazy rollercoaster the past few weeks, from being named in the latest All Blacks squad, only to injure his ankle at his first week of training!
Quin talks about all sorts of good stuff in this episode, from what it was like to be named in the All Blacks for the first time, to how he really feels about Jordie Barrett.
Quin also takes us through his journey to the top, which saw him play for Collingwood, Nelson College, Nelson Rugby Football Club, NZ 20s, Tasman Mako and the Crusaders. 
The man they call Spiker is one of the real lads in NZ rugby who has a massive future in the game so it was awesome to have him come on 'What a Lad' to share his journey.
 
If you enjoy this episode as always please share it to your friends or add it to your story. If you want to ask any of my guests a question or just follow the journey head to the link below
https://www.instagram.com/what_a_lad_podcast/?hl=en
 
This episode was brought to you by fortune favours, to purchase any product with a 15% discount head to https://www.fortunefavours.beer/ and put whatalad in the promo code. Delivered to your doorstep anywhere in NZ.
 

Louie Chapman- What a Lad

Here he is, the lad that most of you asked for, the super talented, the very popular, Louie Chapman!
Louie has burst onto the NZ rugby scene this season with his impressive cameos off the bench for the Tasman Mako. At the raw age of just 20 Louie makes his podcast debut on 'What a Lad' to share insight into his path to professional rugby. His rugby story is obviously pretty short having just started but wee Russ also answers some good questions from some of you which gives you a good indication of what a lad he is!
 
If you enjoy this episode as always please share it. If you want to ask any of my guests a question or just follow the journey head to the link below
https://www.instagram.com/what_a_lad_podcast/?hl=en
 
This episode was brought to you by fortune favours, to purchase any product with a 15% discount head to https://www.fortunefavours.beer/ and put whatalad in the promo code. Delivered to your doorstep anywhere in NZ.

Isaac Ross- Prank

Like I've been saying the past few weeks, pranks are getting really hard now! However, as always, when a new player arrives a new team, they are always vulnerable. So as soon as I heard Isaac Ross was joining the Tasman Mako, I knew that it was a good chance to try and give Jonty another crack. As you'll hear in the prank, Isaac is an absolute lad, a real good man and has been loving the prank since. Unfortunately the signal cuts out at the end so it doesnt get to finish but it's still worth a listen!
 
As always if you enjoy this episode please share it. If you want to follow the journey head to the link below
https://www.instagram.com/what_a_lad_podcast/?hl=en
 
This episode was brought to you by fortune favours, to purchase any product with a 15% discount head to https://www.fortunefavours.beer/ and put whatalad in the promo code. Delivered to your doorstep anywhere in NZ.

James Marshall- An Ordinary Kiwi

Here's an episode I jumped on last week for one of the Nelson lads, Conner Karena, who is out there doing real good things with his podcast. It's always cool to jump on someone else's podcast, to see how they do things and a good chance to reflect on the journey that I've had.
Conner has had some real good guests on his podcast, a couple of my favourite episodes are the ones he did with NRL star Brandon Smith and Tasman star Leciester Fainga'anuku which were both awesome yarns. 
If you want to check them out search 'An Ordinary Kiwi Podcast' on any podcast platform.
 
After a big week of recruiting and suggestions from you all, I have a big list of guests lined up for 'What a Lad' over the next few weeks so stay right on.
 
 

Leicester Fainga'anuku- Prank

For this prank I tried the exact same formula as the Billy Proctor prank but this time with Crusader and Tasman Mako star Leicester Fainga'anuku. Here I call up Leciester as a Dunedin radio host for a live radio interview but as we go live on air I introduce him as his brother Highlander and also Tasman Star Tima Fainga'anuku. 
In this situation you've got two options, either run with it as your brother or completely stuff up the "live" radio interview. Billy obviously went with option 1 but Leciester wasn't having a bar of it.
Anyway I hope you enjoy this episode and as always if you do please share it if not all good.
If you want to try the greatest brew on the market head over to https://www.fortunefavours.beer/ and purchase yourself some brews. Enter whatalad in the promo code for a handy 15% off. Enjoy!

Billy Proctor- Prank

This prank was inspired by real life events, for anyone who has a brother or someone who looks like them. When I came back to Nelson to see my family, I was always mistaken for my brother Tom and would get caught in conversations with people so far that it was just too awkward to tell them that it was me. I've had some very awkward conversations as Tom and that was what I was wanted to try and replicate in this prank.
Anyway for the prank, we set up a 'Live' radio interview with Billy Proctor and when we go live on air, we introduce him as his brother Matt Proctor and ask him questions as his brother. My prank expert Reggie Goodes does this one and does a great job at convincing Billy he's on the radio.
As always if you enjoy this episode please share it, any shares are much appreciated. If you want to follow the What a Lad journey follow the link below
https://www.instagram.com/what_a_lad_podcast/?hl=en

David Havili- What a Lad

In this episode I catch up David Havili, the most passionate man in NZ rugby. He's an All Black, a Crusader and of course the very inspirational skipper of Tasman Mako.
Davie has had a tough run with injuries of late, including a bowel infection which was days away from ending his career! In this episode he also takes us through his rugby journey, which involved not being able to start for the 1st XV, to becoming the Crusaders 'player of the year' and becoming an All Black. 
Davie is well known across the country as being one of the best lads in the game, so it was awesome to have him on and share his stories not just on the field but off it.
Thanks to everyone who sent in questions to the instagram page, it made for some good discussion points in this episode. If you're keen to ask questions to future guests or follow the What a Lad journey head to the link below
https://www.instagram.com/what_a_lad_podcast/?hl=en

Kane Leaupepe- Prank

For this prank we go back 2 years to when the big Samoan International, Kane Leaupepe, had just joined the Hurricanes halfway through the year. Whenever that happened it always meant there was a good chance for a new prank. So for this prank, I call Kane as Phil Collins the (made up) son of The Hurricanes owner, just to welcome him to the team. 
For those who don't know Kane, he is an absolute lad and a very switched on customer so he was always going to be a tough target.
Anyway I hope you enjoy the prank, if you do please share it, if you don't all good!