There's not many players who have transitioned into international rugby as seamlessly as Peter Lakai and after this episode it's easy to see why. The Hurricanes and All Blacks loose forward has already packed plenty into his rugby career, but there’s a lot more to his story than what you see on the field.

This is an honest yarn with plenty of laughs, Peter takes us through the moments that have shaped him and gives us an insight into life at the top level.

In this episode, we chat about:

- Growing up playing rugby against older kids and getting smoked all the time

- Missing out on NZ Schools and questioning himself before representing the NZ U20s 3 years in a row.

- Working on a building site while fitting in early-morning academy training.

- Joining the Hurricanes at 18 and going from fanboying Ardie Savea to playing alongside him.

- The unexpected phone call from Razor and the feeling of running out for his All Blacks debut.

- His favourite memories from the 2026 Hurricanes Championship season.

- What position he prefers playing and heaps more!

I don't think I've ever met someone as level headed as Peter, he is incredibly humble and nothing seems to phase him. All his teammates speak so highly of him and it's clear to see why. He's a freak on the field and a champion man off it! I'm sure you'll enjoy this one with the future of NZ rugby.

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With Cup week around the corner there is no better time to be joined by one of the brightest young stars in NZ harness racing, Carter Dalgety!

At just 23 years old, Carter is already making a serious name for himself in the racing world. Growing up in Canterbury with a massive love for rugby and horses, Carter has gone from a young lad chasing his dreams to competing against some of the best drivers in the world.

Coming from a family with a rich history in harness racing, Carter has racing in his blood, but what's most impressive is his attitude, work ethic and passion for what he does. He's a great young Kiwi who has achieved plenty already and still has his best years ahead of him.

In this episode we get into:

• Winning the Christchurch 1st XV rugby competition with St Andrew's College
• Why he delayed getting his harness racing licence
• The incredible story of winning on his very first drive
• Heading to America at just 21 and winning 12 races
• What it's really like driving for his dad
• The incredible atmosphere of racing on NZ Cup Day
• The shocking abuse he receives from angry punters
• The best horse he's ever driven
• Whether anyone can beat Leap To Fame
• His best chance for Cup Week and plenty more!

Going into this episode a lot of people had told me what a lad Carter was and he certainly does not disappoint with his sense of humor and easy going nature. Whether you're a harness racing fan or just enjoy hearing from young Kiwis doing awesome things, there's plenty of great yarns in this one.

If you enjoy the episode, make sure you give it a like, subscribe and share it with a mate!

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Jahrome Hughes is one of the biggest names in the NRL, a Dally M Medal winner, premiership winner with the Melbourne Storm and proud New Zealand Kiwi. His rise to becoming one of the best halfbacks in the game is an incredible story of resilience, hard work and making the most of opportunities.

In this episode of What a Lad, Jahrome takes us through his journey from growing up in Wellington to reaching the very top of rugby league. It's a career that has had some incredible highs but also plenty of setbacks, tough lessons and moments where things could have gone very differently. What makes Jahrome's story so good is how open he is about the mistakes he made, the people who helped him along the way and the mindset that changed everything.

Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…

- Growing up dreaming of becoming an All Black before finding his way into rugby league.

- Making his NRL debut at just 18 and getting too comfortable too early.

- Losing his Titans contract and going from full-time NRL player back to Queensland Cup and pouring pints.

- Going through back surgery and the challenges that came with that.

- Almost giving the game away before getting another opportunity with the Cowboys.

- Why he initially didn't want to join the Melbourne Storm and how he ended up there.

- The brutal Craig Bellamy spray after returning to preseason overweight.

- Being told he wasn't good enough to play halfback for the Storm.

- Winning the Dally M Medal and the emotional haka that followed.

- Having his childhood idol Benji Marshall present him with his Kiwis jersey.

- Revealing just how close he came to signing with the Warriors!

It's always an honour having one of my favourite players can on the podcast and this episod is just that. Jahrome is such a humble, genuine lad and it's awesome to see someone who has achieved so much still be so grounded. There are plenty of laughs, some incredible stories and some great lessons in this one. Let me know what you thought of it in the comments

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