This week, it was great to speak to Catalan Dragon's Daryl Millard, who also represented Fiji in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. We spoke about the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, the Super League and the NRL.
Here's what we talked about-
Talk to me about Rugby while growing up. How did you get into rugby?
I started playing rugby league at the age of 5. My dad was a coach at the St George Dragons and Canterbury Bulldogs when I was young, so from a young age all I wanted to do was play footy.
Did any rugby players inspire you to play rugby?
My dad coached Anthony Mundine before he played first grade and even then he was my favorite player and still is to this day!
How did you get picked up by your first team, St George lllawara Dragons?
I was a local junior for the Dragons so I worked my way up through the ranks.
Do you remember your rugby league debut for the St George IIawara Dragons?
I remember Nathan Brown walking over to my under 20's team halfway during a training session and telling me i would be playing because Matt Cooper just got injured. We played the Penrith Panthers and lost in golden point, I played pretty good too. I don't remember being too nervous but I do remember loving the adrenaline rush of everything happening so fast out in the field.
A lot of media and fans say there's a massive difference between the NRL competition and the Super League competition. As a player who has played in both, would you say there's much difference between the two?
Obviously Rugby League in Australia is a lot more popular and has a way larger sponsorship backing leading to more funds being available to recruit the best players from around the world. The NRL is the pinnacle, but I really enjoy playing in the Super League and you can see with the increasing amount of English players heading to Australia the Super League is still producing great young players. Also teams like Leeds and Wigan are up there with the best in the world every year. The biggest difference I would say is the NRL competition is a lot closer from first place to last place.
You started your career over in the NRL and moved over to the Super League to join Wakefield in 2010, if I'm right. How did the move to the Super League and the Wakefield Wildcats come about? Was it a difficult decision to make?
Wakefield contacted my agent and I spoke to a few people I knew in England and then I decided to make the move. The year before I headed over I missed a few games through injury and didn't have my best year and I needed a change. I enjoyed my time at Wakefield, where I met some really nice people. I was excited to be doing something totally different on the other side of the world.
After Wakefield you moved to the Catalan Dragons. How did this transfer happen? Was it hard to be moving again?
When Wakefield had some financial difficulties, it was agreed it would be mutually beneficial if I moved and when the opportunity came to move to the Dragons I took it and I have really loved my time here.
You also represented Fiji in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup! How did you find the 2013 Rugby League World Cup?
The World Cup was a great experience. Making the semi-finals was an awesome achievement by Fiji. We had awesome support at all our games and I thought the competition was run very well.
Onto this season. Catalans Dragons had a slow start and lots of media and fans were already writing them off for a top 8 spot. How did the team cope with this negativity?
The first 6 rounds were difficult for us but we have started to really turn our season around now and we are playing a lot better. We're still not playing as well as we would like, but I'm confident we can still have a successful season.
What were the aims set by the coach and players for the 2014 Super League season? Do you guys believe you can make the top 8 this season and fight for a Grand Final spot?
We definitely think we can make the 8 and then push from there. We need to play better to make the Grand Final but we have a good group of players here so anything is possible.
Fans get to see the performances out on the pitch for 80-minutes week-in-week-out, but we don't get to see teams behind closed doors. How hard are the Dragons training? Are you currently enjoying training?
Over the Easter period training has been a little less intense as you need to recover from the large amount of games you play. A lot of time is still put in watching video and things like that so we can prepare as best as possible each week.
If you could say anything to the Catalan fans, what would it be?
Our supporters are great! I would say thank you for the awesome atmosphere they provide at our home games.
Who's the hardest player you've played against?
The hardest player I've played with would probably be Mark O'Meley. He was always ready to do the tough stuff.
Apart from Rugby League, what do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to get down to the beach, read and explore the outdoors.
What's in store in the future for you? Do you want to return to the NRL one day, do you see yourself staying at the Dragons for a couple more seasons, or are you currently concentrating on the present?
I'm off contract this year and just concentrating on playing good footy and the rest will work itself out. I love playing here in France.
I always like to ask a few team questions too, if you don't mind!
Who complains the most in training?
Biggest complainer; Ian Henderson
Who has the worst dress sense?
Worst dress sense, maybe me.
What's the most embarrassing thing that has happened in training?
Jas Baiteri crashed his scooter in the car park once!
Who spends the longest doing their hair?
Eloi Pellisier spends the longest time doing his hair.
Fans also got the opportunity to ask some of their questions. Here's the answers-
Jay Dub-Yah on Twitter asks- What's your favourite cheese?
My favorite cheese is a soft goats cheese with a little bit of honey
Michael Donnelly on Twitter asks- How would Daryl rank #LesDracs in RL globally? Are they seen as legit, respected as a club?
I think over the past 3 or 4 years the club is building some good structures and will continue to grow as there is good support for the team here in France.
Tom Little on Facebook asks- What was the hardest part in becoming a full-time Rugby League player?
The hardest part in becoming a full time player is making sacrifices in your social and personal life to be a better player, especially when you are younger.
Reiss from Facebook asked- What made you want to join the Catalans Dragons?
Initially, I was excited about moving to France and playing under Trent Robinson.
That's all the questions. Hope you guys have enjoyed getting to know Daryl Millard this week. Keep the suggestions coming in on Twitter of who else YOU want to get to know on over on Twitter, @RLLatest.
Thanks again to Daryl Millard for doing this in his spare time, go give him a follow on Twitter, @DarylMillard18 and give him a thanks from me!
Thanks for reading.
Here's what we talked about-
Talk to me about Rugby while growing up. How did you get into rugby?
I started playing rugby league at the age of 5. My dad was a coach at the St George Dragons and Canterbury Bulldogs when I was young, so from a young age all I wanted to do was play footy.
Did any rugby players inspire you to play rugby?
My dad coached Anthony Mundine before he played first grade and even then he was my favorite player and still is to this day!
How did you get picked up by your first team, St George lllawara Dragons?
I was a local junior for the Dragons so I worked my way up through the ranks.
Do you remember your rugby league debut for the St George IIawara Dragons?
I remember Nathan Brown walking over to my under 20's team halfway during a training session and telling me i would be playing because Matt Cooper just got injured. We played the Penrith Panthers and lost in golden point, I played pretty good too. I don't remember being too nervous but I do remember loving the adrenaline rush of everything happening so fast out in the field.
A lot of media and fans say there's a massive difference between the NRL competition and the Super League competition. As a player who has played in both, would you say there's much difference between the two?
Obviously Rugby League in Australia is a lot more popular and has a way larger sponsorship backing leading to more funds being available to recruit the best players from around the world. The NRL is the pinnacle, but I really enjoy playing in the Super League and you can see with the increasing amount of English players heading to Australia the Super League is still producing great young players. Also teams like Leeds and Wigan are up there with the best in the world every year. The biggest difference I would say is the NRL competition is a lot closer from first place to last place.
You started your career over in the NRL and moved over to the Super League to join Wakefield in 2010, if I'm right. How did the move to the Super League and the Wakefield Wildcats come about? Was it a difficult decision to make?
Wakefield contacted my agent and I spoke to a few people I knew in England and then I decided to make the move. The year before I headed over I missed a few games through injury and didn't have my best year and I needed a change. I enjoyed my time at Wakefield, where I met some really nice people. I was excited to be doing something totally different on the other side of the world.
After Wakefield you moved to the Catalan Dragons. How did this transfer happen? Was it hard to be moving again?
When Wakefield had some financial difficulties, it was agreed it would be mutually beneficial if I moved and when the opportunity came to move to the Dragons I took it and I have really loved my time here.
You also represented Fiji in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup! How did you find the 2013 Rugby League World Cup?
The World Cup was a great experience. Making the semi-finals was an awesome achievement by Fiji. We had awesome support at all our games and I thought the competition was run very well.
Onto this season. Catalans Dragons had a slow start and lots of media and fans were already writing them off for a top 8 spot. How did the team cope with this negativity?
The first 6 rounds were difficult for us but we have started to really turn our season around now and we are playing a lot better. We're still not playing as well as we would like, but I'm confident we can still have a successful season.
What were the aims set by the coach and players for the 2014 Super League season? Do you guys believe you can make the top 8 this season and fight for a Grand Final spot?
We definitely think we can make the 8 and then push from there. We need to play better to make the Grand Final but we have a good group of players here so anything is possible.
Fans get to see the performances out on the pitch for 80-minutes week-in-week-out, but we don't get to see teams behind closed doors. How hard are the Dragons training? Are you currently enjoying training?
Over the Easter period training has been a little less intense as you need to recover from the large amount of games you play. A lot of time is still put in watching video and things like that so we can prepare as best as possible each week.
If you could say anything to the Catalan fans, what would it be?
Our supporters are great! I would say thank you for the awesome atmosphere they provide at our home games.
Who's the hardest player you've played against?
The hardest player I've played with would probably be Mark O'Meley. He was always ready to do the tough stuff.
Apart from Rugby League, what do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to get down to the beach, read and explore the outdoors.
What's in store in the future for you? Do you want to return to the NRL one day, do you see yourself staying at the Dragons for a couple more seasons, or are you currently concentrating on the present?
I'm off contract this year and just concentrating on playing good footy and the rest will work itself out. I love playing here in France.
I always like to ask a few team questions too, if you don't mind!
Who complains the most in training?
Biggest complainer; Ian Henderson
Who has the worst dress sense?
Worst dress sense, maybe me.
What's the most embarrassing thing that has happened in training?
Jas Baiteri crashed his scooter in the car park once!
Who spends the longest doing their hair?
Eloi Pellisier spends the longest time doing his hair.
Fans also got the opportunity to ask some of their questions. Here's the answers-
Jay Dub-Yah on Twitter asks- What's your favourite cheese?
My favorite cheese is a soft goats cheese with a little bit of honey
Michael Donnelly on Twitter asks- How would Daryl rank #LesDracs in RL globally? Are they seen as legit, respected as a club?
I think over the past 3 or 4 years the club is building some good structures and will continue to grow as there is good support for the team here in France.
Tom Little on Facebook asks- What was the hardest part in becoming a full-time Rugby League player?
The hardest part in becoming a full time player is making sacrifices in your social and personal life to be a better player, especially when you are younger.
Reiss from Facebook asked- What made you want to join the Catalans Dragons?
Initially, I was excited about moving to France and playing under Trent Robinson.
That's all the questions. Hope you guys have enjoyed getting to know Daryl Millard this week. Keep the suggestions coming in on Twitter of who else YOU want to get to know on over on Twitter, @RLLatest.
Thanks again to Daryl Millard for doing this in his spare time, go give him a follow on Twitter, @DarylMillard18 and give him a thanks from me!
Thanks for reading.