Heading into The NRL Rookie live season finale at The Star, NRL.com spoke with the last three Rookies standing about their time on the show and what winning an NRL contract would mean to them.
Lou Goodwin, Chris Hyde and Jordan Martin gave their thoughts on the inaugural series of The NRL Rookie.
Tune in and watch the live final tonight on Channel 9GO! at 7.30pm in Australia or at 9.30pm on Channel Duke in NZ.
How did you hear about The NRL Rookie and why did you apply?
Lou: I found out through The Footy Show and I also saw it on Facebook. My mum sent it to me and said it would be a good idea. At that stage I was coming back from shoulder surgery and playing in the lower grades at Mounties, so I thought it would be a good stepping stone to get to where I wanted to be. So I applied and hoped for the best.
Chris: I saw it on The Footy Show and a few mates also messaged me saying I should do it. At the start I thought they were having a bit of a joke, but I looked further into it and I matched all the requirements. I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring and see what happened.
Jordan: After training one night I saw it on The Footy Show and I thought "I've gotta give this a crack". I filled out my whole application that night, so I was probably one of the first people to send it in!
What did you like most about being on the show?
Lou: The best thing was the whole experience of feeling what it would be like to be a full-time first grader. Working with the coaches, training and being able to travel around and play footy with all the boys against some good teams was great. It was a real eye opener to what it would be like if you made it.
Chris: The boys. It was like being in a new team with a new bunch of mates. At first I felt like I had to compete with them, but we ended up as best mates the whole way through.
Jordan: There were two things – the boys, we just bonded so quickly. It was as if we'd been playing together for a year. And also to meet the coaches who are some of the legends of the game – Mark Geyer, Adrian Lam and Brad Fittler. I've got a big photo of Freddy in my room so it was an honour to meet them.
What was the toughest Captain's Challenge?
Lou: The toughest would have to have been the water challenge. That was the hardest one for me because it was so hard to figure out a strategy to get around it. You basically just had to fight it out.
Chris: The toughest for me was having to jump off the building. I couldn't do it – I've always had a phobia of heights. I knew there was going to be something with heights in it and I was hoping it would be early in the show to get it out of the way so I could then let my footy do the talking. Luckily it was in the first week, but that was definitely the toughest.
Jordan: The challenge where we were in the water under a cage – I think it was called 'Tidal Toughness'. It wasn't so much a physical challenge, but it was really more mental. It was testing how much we wanted it, and how much you wanted to breathe. Mentally, that was the toughest one for me.
What was your favourite game that you played in?
Lou: It was great playing against the Melbourne Storm under-20s. That was when we had most of The Rookies and we sort of started clicking as a team around that stage and we put on a good performance. Most of the games were pretty good – we only lost one game.
Chris: As a team, I'd have to say the game where we played Melbourne Storm under-20s. I don't think many people thought we'd get up but we put a bit of a score on them and scored some great tries in the process. I think the coaches were more stunned than anyone.
Jordan: When we played the Country team at Shark Park, that field was really good and I felt I played pretty good that game. But my favourite was when we were in Brisbane playing against the Queensland team – I scored five tries in that game which I have never done before.
What's the biggest thing you've learnt from being on The NRL Rookie?
Lou: Learning how to deal with other people because we were living in that house together for so long. Managing how to be cohesive with everyone, sticking together and building friendships but then also having to vote each other off as well. That harsh side of being honest with your mates, face to face. I felt I was able to grow a bit from that – being honest with your mates and also receiving their honest criticisms.
Chris: Never say die. I'm 28 years old and everyone has been saying I'm too old. But it's all up to yourself in the end. If you don’t think you're too old then just have a crack. You've got nothing to lose.
Jordan: Learning my role on the field. Knowing what is required and hearing it from the coaches at an elite level.
What would winning The NRL Rookie mean to you?
Lou: It would be the best gift you could be given. You don’t get a chance like this, and to be able to jump straight into an NRL club would be awesome. It would be such a boost in life and your career.
Chris: It would be a dream come true. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I could have done it. Just to make the top 28 I was ecstatic and now I'm in the last three. If I win it would be the biggest thing that's happened in my life.
Jordan: It would mean everything to me. I'm young, I love footy and it's what I want to do with my life. Winning The NRL Rookie would be a big ticket into exactly what I want to be doing.
Tune in and watch the live final tonight on Channel 9GO! at 7.30pm in Australia or at 9.30pm on Channel Duke in NZ.
Head to NRLROOKIE.COM to watch full catch up episodes of the NRL Rookie as well as online exclusive extras.
Follow The NRL Rookie on Facebook
Follow The NRL Rookie on Twitter
AUSTRALIAN BROADCAST DETAILS:
Each episode will air five times during the week on free to air television across the Nine Network:
• PREMIERE – Tuesday – GO! 7.30PM (SYD/MEL/BRIS)
• ENCORE 1 - Wednesday - CH9 10.30PM (SYD/BRIS)
• ENCORE 2 - Saturday - CH9 1PM (BRIS)
• ENCORE 3 - Sunday - CH9 2.30PM (SYD)
• ENCORE 4 - Monday - GO! 11.30PM (SYD/MEL/BRIS/ADE/PER)
Please note: these time may vary from week to week so be sure to check your local guides.
