April 6, 2025 • 35 mins
This week on The Big League Podcast - sports breathing and mental skills coach Dave Wood joins to discuss his work with the Warriors, the dangers of over-breathing and strategies you can use in everyday life to tackle high pressure situations.
Nathan Limm and Michael Burgess will preview the Warriors' dreaded visit to the Melbourne Storm on Sunday - can they break a losing streak which now dates back a decade? Plus the Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Te Maire Martin departure rumours.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio The.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Big League Podcast League Podcast poet by News Talks V.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
This week on The Big League Podcast, Sports Breathing and
Mental Skills coach Dave Wood joins to discuss his work
with the Warriors, the dangers of overbreathing, and strategies you
can use in everyday life to tackle high pressure situations.
Michael Burgess and I will preview the Warrior's dreaded visit
to the Melbourne Storm on Sunday. Can they break a
(00:43):
losing streak which now dates back a decade? Plus the
Chance Necklcrook Star And to Mat and Martin departure rumors.
My name is Nathan Limb. Let's go God b LB.
It's the week all Warriors fans dread. Amy Park is
a graveyard of some of the worst Warriors performances in history.
(01:05):
Are fifty to ten drubbing in twenty eighteen, fifty to
six hiding in twenty twenty. Amy Park sucks sixteen losses
in a row, ten long years of frustration. But hang on,
wait just one second, this is not the same Warriors team.
As in twenty eighteen or twenty twenty. The Warriors almost
(01:29):
ended this last year, but for this, in the dying seconds.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Hughes pasn't Pappenhausen.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Famous Smith, he goes to lie.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Ten't you believe that?
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Tuts Michaels.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
He left a kris he chup like a rainbow and
came up with a.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Ton of gold some Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I hate that piece of audio. Michael Burgess, Senior in
New Zealand Herald Rider. I think I've got PDSD from that.
Can you give us any hope?
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Yeah? I mean how.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
That was one of the most you know, you overuse it,
but that was one of the most gut wrenching moments
you've had covering the Warriors because that that match, that
would have been one of the great Warriors wins. You know,
they came back in the second half from nowhere, come back,
played so well. Roger had an amazing game in his
second game at center Da Da Da da Da. They
(02:26):
scored some great tries, but then to be undone by
one of the tries of the century just summed up
a bit about this this storm streak, because the storm
had been kind of lucky. They've been lucky because there
was COVID. So there's three years of COVID where the
Storm could play the Warriors who were just in this
array and stuck in Australia, and they've also been lucky.
(02:46):
I mean, some listeners remember twenty nineteen Stephen Kearney took
the team there. They basically had the game won and
the last thing, there's three minutes to go and the
referee came up with this Cameron Smith, you know, burgot
a penalty out of nowhere. The referee came up, agreed penalty,
Storm kicked the goal and the Storm Storm gone to win.
So but yeah, the streak, it gets a bit tiring
(03:10):
mate with people talking about it because I think the
Storm got a lot not making excuses, but the stormer
got a streak against a lot of teams if you
look at it, I'd say.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
But the main thing is no team has played the
Storm as much in an ANZAC game as the Warriors.
That bloody Anzac.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
They played at ten o'clock at night, which is midnight
New Zealand time. Warriors like possums in the headlights. They
invariably got beaten. Like you mentioned twenty eighteen and said
this is not the team we had in twenty eighteen.
That was a good team in twenty eighteen they made
the finals, they were two points off the minor premiership
and a really good team and they still got smoke.
(03:46):
So yeah, I agree with what you're saying, mate. It's
just there's a massive sense of trepidation whenever the Warriors
go to Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Now, curiously, after the two points from the by the
Storm and the Warriors actually sit neck and neck third
and fourth on the table, both on eight points, three wins,
one loss. The Storm coming off a forty eight to
twenty four drubbing of the Sea Eagles at brook Vale over.
We thought the Seagules were going to be really good
(04:15):
this year. They seem not to be living up to
expectations at this point. But the Storm putting on forty
eight points and in this game a highlight for New
Zealand's watches and interests for New Zealand sevens playing Moses
Leo actually debuted for them at center on the weekendam
Craig Balamy, the coach, saying afterwards that he did a
(04:35):
very good job. The other point is Jerome Hughes, who
was fantastic, had surgery on his hand only two weeks ago,
fractured his hand he had Sujeri only two weeks ago,
makes a remarkable, miraculous recovery and puts on two triasists.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
I mean, I don't think there's any other team in
Australasia that's as good at the Storm in the first
three terse three months of a season. You know, in
any sport, they just they just nail it from the
start of the season. They got that crazy record Round one.
They haven't lost a Round one game, or maybe there
was one in about in about twelve. They're just amazing
at the start of the season, and the last few
years they have fallen away but towards the end. So
(05:15):
it's a it's a really tough assignment to go there.
And you make a good point about Leo, like, is
there another club anywhere, not just a league, but in
other sports that just unearthed these diamonds out of out
of nowhere that no one else sees or no one
else spots, or other teams do spot them but don't
have the confidence to try and try it out, and
(05:38):
looks like they've done it again. I mean, that's a
that's a difficult place to make your debut at Brookvale Oval,
but very promising start by Leo, as you say, and
you know.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Look what they do.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
With will Wallbrick as well, turned them into a into
an elite winger in the game. So they're they're their
recruitment and everything they do is just amazing. And then
on the field, the patterns are play. The patterns are play.
You know, they just like remember when I remember when
Cameron Smith retired in we thought, oh well, okay, that's
(06:13):
sort of the end of that Storm chapter.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
There won't be as good. Now, Wow, what happened to that?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Harry Grant? Harry Grant came along and well he's tearing
it up as well. And you talked about the development
system and that is you know, a point straight to that.
Speaker 6 (06:30):
I did I assume he camp? Did he come up
through the Melbourne development system more or less?
Speaker 5 (06:34):
I mean, he comes through Queensland, but they have relationships
with the Queensland clubs, so then he came to Melbourne
when he's pretty young. He got loaned out to the
Tigers for a season, did really well with them and
then came back to Melbourne and just so he's been amazing.
He is the key to their team. But you talk
about reasons for the Warriors to have hope. I mean,
the Warriors are playing well, and a reason for hope,
I would say, is that they're quite resilient the last
(06:55):
three games, so they do they do stay in the contest.
But the Storm they've got so many ways to hurt you.
You know, They've got Pace out wide. They've got Grant,
who's the best dummy half in the game, always finds weaknesses.
I've got Munster, and then they've got guys at Aligatura
on the edge.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
You know.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
So they've got Pappenhausen.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
Shouldn't he be injured?
Speaker 4 (07:16):
You can't say that, wow, I just did.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
You should worries that I'm lucky they're actually having to
play them.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
I know, it's just wonderful that he's back, because, yeah,
if any guy deserves a run without injuries. But I
look at this game in a different way. I won't
be guarded if the Warriors don't win. I'll be guarded
if they don't perform to their potential because I don't
have I don't have high expectations of the Warriors winning
because they beat the Storm in Melbourne, especially the way
they're Storm playing now. It takes a lot. It takes
(07:45):
a lot to go away. You've got to get some
calls to go away. You got a lot to go away.
So it might not happen.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
But if it's a.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
Close game and they play well, then that's something to
build on, you know what I mean. I'm not I'm
not making excuses already, but it's just about being being
being realistic to a degree. I mean, the players and
Andrew Ribs won't be thinking like this, will be thinking
we can beat them, and we're going to beat them.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
But I'm just trying to be a bit more detached.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Yes, yes, and I think years and years as a
Warriors fan will do that to you. Bird.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
But let's bring up a positivity into this. Because the
last time the Warriors beat the Storm was it Mount Smart.
It was in twenty fifteen, and this happened.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Lass. Here's a glass and he came down, turn it
out to the clean cut, shut down the tackle shop.
Somep's go getting back. Look, he gets a good lead
(08:45):
into it. He says, I'm gonna go like he leaves
on the top.
Speaker 8 (08:50):
This to the wall.
Speaker 6 (08:51):
Not a friend.
Speaker 8 (08:52):
That may be the greatest place of gymnastics might feel
like you've ever say I love.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
It the Nathan Friend backflip try.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Who can forget I remember watching that on Talley when
I was just a wee whipper snapper birds. You're probably
in your early sixties. Yeah, just I wasn't at that match.
Like I've covered the Warriors, I probably covered one hundred
and fifty matches at Mount Smart since twenty ten. And
I'm going to have to I have to ask my
wife because sure, remember why that was like July twenty fifteen.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
Why I wasn't it that game? There must have been
you know, I didn't have COVID, it was five years
before that. There must have been a reason. But the
most special thing about that try, well there's two special
things about it. But one was it actually made the
ESPN Plays of the Week, So you know ESPN have
that worldwide Plays of the Week, the top ten Players
of the Week that was on that ESPN.
Speaker 6 (09:40):
It was on it.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
It was like number two or three. I mean, it's
just like incredible that it just went. It just went
viral and we're around the world. And the other special
thing was the game the Warriors.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
Anyone wants to go back when they've got time this
week and watch that highlights of that game on YouTube.
The Warriors scored five amazing tries in that game. They
blew the Storm away, and you thought, Wow, this Warrior's team.
They're going to go places this year. That win put
them into the top four and it was like, shit,
they've beaten the Storm in the top four, they're playing
them and this is great. What happened one week or
two weeks later, Sean Johnson breaks his ankle against Many
(10:15):
and the season just you know, because he was so
important back then. He was he was in the form
of his life as well, and the season just tailed
off from there. So that's another another real what might
have been I think for the Warriors that that moment
with Sean Johnson.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Up next, we'll discuss the Chancellicker Cook start and to
Mighty and Martin departure rumors, and afterwards we're going to
hear from Breathing and Mental Skills coach Dave Wood the right.
A couple of rumors are going around Burge, which I'm
going to get you to explain regarding Charles Decker Cook
start and Tomighty Martin and potentially leaving to the UK.
(10:53):
Charles Decker Cook Start will start with him getting some
interest from Catalan's Dragons. None of this has been confirmed.
Can you sort of explain each situation will start with Chance,
what's going on.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
Yeah, it was quite a surprise. I mean, my friend
Michael Corianas and Sydney the story. I was a bit
annoyed because the story I should be I should be breaking.
But these things happened, you know. But good story because
came out of the blue to a degree. But yeah,
he's basically he's considering his options. There's a contract extension
(11:25):
on the table from the Warriors. I understand it's two years.
So his contract of course is up at the end
of next season, no, the end of this season, sorry,
and there's an extension on the table. But he is
considering his options, and one of those is, you know,
there's a little bit of interest around the ERL but
there's a there's strong interest from Super League.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
It's reported to be the Kaitlyn Dragons and France.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Great lifestyle so you know, without having talked to Chance
about this yet, I guess there'd be a strong lifestyle appeal.
Taking his family to Europe the foot he would of
course be a bit a bit less physically demanding on
the body, although they played a lot of games. But
it's a really interesting because you know, he's been such
an important player for the Warriors.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
He's twenty nine. He's the kind of guy that has
probably got a couple more years in him.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
But then also the way he plays, he plays so tough,
so hard, so many carries, it will add up, and yeah,
who knows until three years. In three years time, he
might not have what he's got now. So it's a tricky,
tricky situation for everyone.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I would have thought this one sort of surprised me
a little bit more just because Chance has a really
you know, front and center role with the Warriors. It's
not like he's struggling for game time at all. But
you make a good point in terms of his agent
wanting to make the most of what he has now,
because you're right, the amount of work that he does
get through on the Warriors, which you know he receives
a lot of praise for, he might be thinking it's
(12:53):
time to cash. Is the money that much better over there,
because the money's not bad in the NRL.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
No, No, the money's a lot better in the NRL.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
So you know, the salary cap off the top of
my head, the NERL salary cap is about twelve million.
Now the Super League Sello crab is about two million,
so why go Well, but there are these marquee deals,
so he must be getting a market deal, so the
money's comparable. And then there's lifestyle and the different change
(13:23):
and living in Europe and all those sort of things.
It's not a Dune deal.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
I think it's just a case of assessing his market value.
Speaker 5 (13:31):
It would be a surprise to me because he seems
to love it at the Warriors. He's given so much
to that team. The team's on the cusp of hopefully
developing into something the couple of years, and he'd be
quite hard to replace. I mean, they have got Taine
who's an excellent player, so he'd be the first one
to look at. But you think that also, I don't
know would they would they bring in someone else as well,
(13:53):
so have that sort of two fullback situation. So yeah,
we'll have to see how it develops to Marty.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Martin's one apparently has got interest from a Super League club.
This one's a lot more wishy washy from what I've seen.
Do you know what the situation is? Well, the situation
is kind of similar. I mean, so's not similar.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
You're right, it's different because since he was overlooked for
the starting booth, obviously his agent's been looking around. Because
the problem for Demarty is he could be playing in
two weeks if Metcalf or Chanell gets injured, for example,
in Melbourne, or he could be waiting till round twenty
if no one gets injured. In the form is judged
to be good enough that they stay in the team,
you know, and he is an NRL quality half, isn't he?
(14:36):
So what does he do? I mean, the last two
seasons he's got time in the team. He did really well,
really tricky. Agents been looking around. There is some interest
his interest from Super League, which could mean one of
those fairly immediate releases, you know, where he goes in
May or June, or he might choose to stay. I mean,
(14:58):
what would you do if you were him? And also
what do you think the club should do.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
I wouldn't blame her if he left, because you're right,
he's a quality NRL half back and you know last
year I was given the way he was playing, I
was thinking he should be our primary half back.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
He was really he was playing that well.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
You said, Actually one point, I think he said he
should be half over over Sean.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I stand by that, given Sean's injuries, the fact he
had struggled so much to find that partnership with Timmarti Martin.
At that point in the season, the worlds are running
out of games to get points, and Tomato Martin and
she now has to beatable working Sean Johnson and Timmarti
Martin weren't. So at that point, yeah, I was like,
we should invest in what's actually working because we don't
(15:41):
have enough time for Sean Johnson and Timartiy Mattin to
find the fluidity with their partnership. So if I was him,
and you know, obviously you know you're capable of his
level of experience and he's just not, it just seems
like they are going to invest in Metcalf, which from
a club perspective, I think is, you know, at this point,
it's a sound strategy. Metcalff's young, He's got so much talent.
(16:02):
There's so much ceiling with what Metcalf could achieve. So
if I'm to Marty, I'm going, well, I could be
valued much higher somewhere else rather than just playing reserve
grade every week or yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
All I would say is that Andrew webs this is
his first His first preference at the moment is is
Metcalfe and Harris de Bet. But I don't think it's
completely locked in. You know, that's that's what he wants
to use. But they haven't shown yet that they are
the pair to guide this team for the rest of
(16:34):
the season. They've shown glimpses, but I think the next
tour three weeks to be very interesting and that that
will also add into this chick saw.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
This is the Big League Podcast. This is going yeah,
the Big League Podcast. I'm on the Warriors bandwagon since
day one.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
It is my pleasure to welcome into the Big League
Podcast a man named Dave Wood. Now Dave Wood is
best known as Israel Disna's breathing coach, but he's also
worked with the Warriors, last year squash champion Paul Coleson,
super rugby players, New Zealand Breakers, Emirates Team New Zealand,
sailors and athletes from across the spectrum of sports. Dave,
(17:17):
thank you so much for taking the time to be
on the podcast.
Speaker 6 (17:20):
How are you good mate?
Speaker 7 (17:22):
Thanks for having me on, Lavan.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Could we start, I guess by you just explaining what
it is that you do and how it links into
high performance sport. How did you get yourself into this
position where you run a business and you're breathing coach?
Speaker 7 (17:37):
Yeah, I want to call me a breathing coach.
Speaker 8 (17:41):
I guess, like how what I would explain I'll do
is mental skill development and that encompasses so many different
things and the breathing is a big part of that,
but it's only one part of the piece of the puzzle.
Speaker 7 (17:51):
And my background is.
Speaker 8 (17:53):
Thirty years of working as an intensive care paramedic, so
you know, having to have those skills of stress to
be able to perform pretty high stressified pressure environments and
then bringing that knowledge over into now working with athletes,
corporate professionals, emergency services, and yeah, that most of the
(18:14):
training is around mental skill development.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
So can you talk us through I guess what the
training is, how breathing ties into it.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
What is it you do with athletes?
Speaker 7 (18:26):
Yeah? I think I might.
Speaker 8 (18:27):
Really my genius owner is understanding or being able to
meet people where they are at, understand their background or
their past and where they're going, and helping with them
with that. In terms of improving their what I call
the skills of stress or being having better self regulation
and self awareness, so interests and pressure moments, they are
(18:47):
able to be more clear and focus and execute when
it matters. And again that comes to such a broad
range of things, you know, mental skills, confidence, self awareness.
We do a lot of meditation, thought control, reframing. We
bring in methods that these athletes can use in really
dynamic situations that give them better psychological control of stress
and better physical controls roll of stress, and then a
(19:10):
whole another part of that is getting them to identify
their values and aligning that with their vision and goal
setting is so important. Energy controlling out of ship from
an energized to a calm state rapidly and on demand,
and you know, to give Like I guess a practical
situation would be an athlete in the game who makes
(19:30):
a mistake and then brings that that into the next play.
And so how do we you know, lead that in
the past and then move on and not bring that
into the next play. So these are all skills that
can be used in really dynamic situations. But actually you
need to train this every day. It needs to be
part of the training system. And you know, if you
(19:52):
take most athletes are they training breathing? This is a
body system that if you're not training, you're leaving a
lot on the table. And so we have very specific
training for breathing development.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
And yeah, so I guess going back to you know,
I think my.
Speaker 8 (20:12):
Genius owner is, yeah, being able to just understand human behavior, and.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
That's a big part of it.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
So how did you get involved with the Warriors and
what did you do with the players?
Speaker 8 (20:24):
I was asked if I would come in and have
a conversation about the training that we're doing and what
we could potentially offer. We had the whole team come
out for a half day, ran them through our beach
training out here at Pieheart, which is all about really
taking people out of the environment that they train, putting
them into an unfamiliar environment and playing a little bit
(20:46):
of stress and pressure is seeing some of the I guess,
some of those ingrained patterns that come out in stress
and pressure moments. You only have one stress response. So
like an example is you know, running the sand dunes.
Speaker 6 (20:58):
We take the.
Speaker 8 (20:59):
Athletes there and we run the sand dunes, and you know,
when it gets uncomfortable, where does the mind go? Well,
it normally goes to the discomfortable to the end, and
it's about having that awareness to grab your mind and
bring it back on to the next step so that
your present and focus on what you're doing.
Speaker 7 (21:13):
And we use the pool, we use the ice baths.
I also worked with a bunch.
Speaker 8 (21:21):
Of the players pre season, and that was taking them
through sort of six weeks of mental skill development and
teaching them all of the stuff and I guess how
to have better control and stress and pressure moments.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
What would you say the percentages of the role, Because
obviously when we talk about training and high performance sport,
we talk about physical exertion, you know, drills, fitness, strength.
What role does the mental side play when it comes
to high performance Because you talked about training breathing and
when someone sees that, the first thing you think of.
(21:54):
I was like, oh, cardio, it's being able to return
to your normal breath as fast as possible after physical exertion.
But can you talk through what is the other side
of breathing and what it does in your body and
with your mental clarity?
Speaker 7 (22:07):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 8 (22:08):
So if you are and this is this is very prevalent,
is overbreathing and so when you overbreed, that is physical stress,
and that agitates the mind because the mind.
Speaker 7 (22:19):
And the body are not separate. Is just one body, right.
Speaker 8 (22:21):
And theysical you know, any type of performance is one
hundred percent physical and one hundred percent mental. People talk
about it it's eighty percent mental and twenty percent physical.
Speaker 7 (22:31):
It's not.
Speaker 8 (22:31):
You know, like if I've got a sore elbow, it'll
agitate my mind, and if I can't think clearly, it'll
have a physiological effect.
Speaker 7 (22:39):
And so.
Speaker 8 (22:41):
The breathing is really it's so important because your breathing
is tended to every single emotional state. If your stress
anxious uptype tends to increase your breathing rate and depth,
and being able to take conscious control of that in
that moment gives you more control of your body stress
response and overbreathing during exercise is a huge stressor, and
(23:03):
so it's physical stress, but it also has an impact
on your ability to focus and I think clearly and
you know, apply game plan. And so yeah, it's all tied.
And then there's the breathing side, which is around breathing mechanics,
which has a huge effect on endurance power production. But
(23:24):
we often don't build in that way.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I remember a few years ago the Warriors after a
try was scored, they'd get into a huddle of big
group circle and they'd all collectively take a big breath
in and a big breath out, And it was something
they did as a team as a way to sort
of reset.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
And I understand that Karen Read.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
The former All Blacks captain, sort of went into camp
and he introduced that. But what do you make of that?
And does that sort of tie into to what you're
talking about? What difference could that make for the team.
Speaker 8 (23:55):
Yeah, So in those moments, what you're really trying to
do is have better control of your energy and being
able to shift from I guess an up pretty lad
state into a more calm state. And really the fastest,
what I believe was, you know, the fastest way to
do that is by consciously controlling your breathing. And that's
because your breathing has an indirect effect on your nervous system.
Two parts of the nervous system, the sympathetic upregulated adrenaline
(24:18):
and the power sympathetic that calming part of your nervous system.
And really the essence of performance is being able to
shift from an energized into a more calm, centered, focused state,
and consciously controlling your breathing is just such a powerful
way to do that.
Speaker 7 (24:33):
And this can be applied.
Speaker 8 (24:34):
And again might really dynamic situations where you need more control,
because if you think about, you know, if you're on
a rugby field, what do you have access to in
terms of shifting from an energized to a calm state.
Say the whistle goes and you've got a minute, what
do you have access to to recover rapidly? You know,
you might have some water and some words from the captain,
(24:55):
but actually it's all about internal control and consciously controlling
your breathing and slowing it down sends very clear signals
to your brain that you are in a state of alert,
tim and focus.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
I'd imagine that ninety nine point nine percent of the
Big League podcast listeners and not professional high performance athletes.
But obviously everyone undergoes pressure and stress just with work
and family life and relationships and all that sort of stuff.
What's the best piece of advice that you could give
(25:26):
or exercise or something practical that people could do to
help reduce stress in their lives. And if they've got
a big meeting or they've got to have a talk
with someone and they're nervous about it. What are some
strategies to overcome that and be able to perform to
a high level, like where you help I guess athletes
do on the sports field.
Speaker 7 (25:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (25:46):
I think the first thing is if you specialize you're
an athlete, you know, like whether that's sitting in front
of the computer for raight hours or running a business.
We will need these skills and we're all exposed to
stress and pressure. Like you said, I think what is
very important is to have practices what we call them,
(26:06):
you know, daily habits and riscual So that shipped you
back into a calm recovery state.
Speaker 7 (26:11):
Because we're spending so much of our time.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
In the red, in the stress, and that can be
the result of overtraining, trying to get that work life balance,
you know, just a busy day sitting in traffic, waiting
in the coffee line to get to the front, deadlines, multitasking.
The stress is coming from so many different angles and
so it's easy to get stuck in that upregulated state
(26:36):
where you're burning a lot of energy.
Speaker 7 (26:38):
And the idea of shifting back into a.
Speaker 8 (26:40):
Calm state in your day is not equated with our
perception of productivity. So I think we could all benefit
from practices that ship does back into a calm, scented state.
We use breathing flows, which I guess is a form
of meditation. Again, the reason why the breathing is so
powerful is because when you slow, you're breathing down and
you focus on prolonged exils.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
We call it cadence breathing.
Speaker 8 (27:03):
So we assign numbers to the different parts of the
breathing cycle, prioritizing a long exiled them. And how you
do that for five minutes, you're going to shift into
a much calmer, scentered statement, come out of that with better.
Speaker 7 (27:17):
Mental clarity and being more productive.
Speaker 8 (27:19):
And we talk a lot about, you know, some of
the really key recovery rituals. Meditation of name one, but
getting in nature is also a really important one because
when you're in nature, it activates the.
Speaker 7 (27:30):
Calming division of your nervous system. So I work with
a lot about clients.
Speaker 8 (27:35):
Who are abroad who work in cities like New York
and they live in high rises, and you know, they
never connected with nature and they have lots of problems
with uncontrolled stress. And so the first thing I always
ask them is how many times an entire week would
your barefoot touch their surface?
Speaker 7 (27:52):
And some of them say never.
Speaker 8 (27:53):
They have no connection with nature at all, and we're
designed to be in nature.
Speaker 7 (27:56):
All the time.
Speaker 8 (27:56):
So these recovery rituals are thus simple, but they're not
easy because we're so used to being in that busy,
upregulated state.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Is there any sort of breathing tool that you could
takets it that people could use in a way in
the everyday live state.
Speaker 8 (28:14):
Yeah, there's a really simple exercise and it requires nothing
apart from find a quiet place, lying down, sitting down,
getting comfortable, And all you do is you inhale slowly
through your nose until you get to the top of
the inhull, and then you hold your breath. And once
you hold your breath, you tap out your imagine game
you're going to sleep, lack of awareness of time, and
you just keep holding your breath until you feel the
(28:36):
first urge to breathe out. When you feel that urge,
it's not how long you can hold your breath, it's
just listening to your body.
Speaker 7 (28:42):
You drop it out.
Speaker 8 (28:44):
You can breathe out through your nose or your mouth
and then you slowly flow back into the next inhale.
Hold Try that for five minutes, and then when you
finish that exercise, tap into the condition of your body
and mind. Because these exercises are designed to shift your
physical and mental state in real time.
Speaker 7 (28:59):
You know when you come out of it, do I
feel more clear? Do I feel more focused?
Speaker 8 (29:02):
Ship yourself into a deep recovery state, and then get
on with your busy day.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
Dave, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
That was readably insightful and definitely good to have a
few things that that everyone listening can can use in
their own daily lives to help them get through. But
it was really really interesting to hear you talk and
the way in which you've helped the Warriors and other
high performance athletes throughout your career. Thank you so much
for joining the podcast. Really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
The Big League Podcast on the Warriors Bad Wagons since
day one, The Big League Podcast for the biggest league fans.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
All right, Berch quick vire predictions for the next round
of in Our Role Action. A few surprise results from
last week. I know you wented on the podcast last
week you didn't bother the shar up, but I.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
Hold the phone.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
There no surprises to me, mate, I think you'll find
I tipped seven, seven out of eight when I was
tipping by myself in my bedroom.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
So really, jad surprises.
Speaker 6 (30:07):
Did you pick the Titans to lose to the Dolphins?
Speaker 4 (30:10):
That was the one I didn't get.
Speaker 6 (30:11):
Oh yeah, whatever, Well, well back it up, back it up.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
I'm just thinking about my breathing actually, because that was
quite insightful, and.
Speaker 6 (30:23):
It is.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
Yeah, so we should also get there, right, Maybe you can.
Speaker 6 (30:27):
Calm down a bit.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
Dolphins Panthers, Yeah, wow, what a result of the Dolphins.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
Panthers have lost for in a row.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Yeah, this is I mean, this is It's not a crisis.
But to be fair, the Panthers have been. What they've
been doing the last few years is amazing. The way
they just keep keep going despite losing all these key players,
and now of course they're without Fisher, Harris, your own, Luye,
a couple others.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
I think they'll bounce back. I think they'll bounce back
this weekend, do you go.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
I think they'll beat the Dolphins, but it's going to
have to be one of those really tight games where
they win with a field goal or a penalty or something.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Because if they don't, they're in a real hole.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
I still can't tip against the Panthers. I still can't
bring my off to do it.
Speaker 5 (31:09):
Dragons Titans, Jeez, I'll go with the Dragons here because
they're at home. The Titans are so up and down
it's hard to know what you're going to get. So
I'm going to go with the home too.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Love slagging the Titans off, but they've got something about
them this year. Broncos Roosters. The Broncos are looking good.
Pays me to say it. Of it because of your
big tip they're going to win the minor premiership. You'll
look like a genius if that happens. The second on
the ladder at the moment by August, But I did.
I did tell you last year that that Michael McGuire
would have a big, big impact, and we're seeing it.
(31:41):
And this Broncos team is the kind of team they
don't lose these kind.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
Of matches at home. Now.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
That's that's how solid they've become. That's what I can see.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
And I'm going to agree with you there. Sharks Sea Eagles.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
Yeah, the Sharks. They would have been really disappointed the
way they lost to the Raiders. I guess it shows
the Raiders are are the real deal. But I'm sure everyone,
including yourself, is picking the right the Sharks for that one.
I think they'll bounce back at home against the Seagulls,
but it will be close.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
That stuff. I'm going to left field. The Sharks confuse me.
Burg The Sharks confuse me, and the Seagulls are going
to win. Bunnies Cowboys, Bunnies for mine.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
I mean, the Cowboys got a much need to win,
so but the Bunnies under Bennett, Bunny's Bennett. I've got
so many injuries they have, but they're still They're still
doing the job. He's an amazing guy.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
Wayne.
Speaker 5 (32:34):
The injuries will start to hurt them at some stage,
but I don't think it'll be this week.
Speaker 6 (32:39):
Eels Raiders, Eels.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
You know what I'm going to say. You know what
I'm going to say. I still believe in the Eels.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
They're still giving me hope from that team that made
the Grand Final.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
What was it three years ago? But no, are the
Raiders they finally got to win? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (32:56):
True, true, true, No, But the Raiders. I really like
the Raiders this year. I don't know that some people
tip in the Raiders be wooden spooners.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
Can you believe it? And look look where our Storm.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Versus the Warriors in Melbourne.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
Yeah, I'm going to go with the with the home
team here. I would love to tip the Warriors, but
I just can't see how they can beat the Storm.
The Storm have got so many ways they can hurt
you on attack. They're defensively very strong, They're so good
at getting on the right side of the referee. They're
(33:31):
kicking game Jaron Hughes as a master, so it's going
to take a huge effort. But what I do like
from the Warriors is their forwards and the Fords is
one place where I think they can. They can get
up on top of the Storm, but it just depends
on if the Spine and particularly the halves can bring
their a game and then obviously the Backs need to
(33:52):
need to finish the things off too.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Prove us wrong, make us eat these words please? Nice Tigers,
Nice Tigers. Yeah, the Tigers, you know they're starting to.
I don't like Benji co on the sideline. I think
that's that's Ricky Stewart's thing, But Benji should.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Just why not?
Speaker 4 (34:12):
He can do it well? He should stay in the box.
He's there getting he should.
Speaker 6 (34:16):
Stay in the box.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
Why he's getting down there on the sideline getting emotional, right,
I just think he's too in his career for that.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
I think I think that's and it's a left field thing.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
To go on about to read here. And I don't
know why I brought it up, But my point I
was trying to make before I interrupt you interrupted me,
was Nah, just the Tigers are you know?
Speaker 4 (34:36):
There's square is.
Speaker 6 (34:37):
A bit thin.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
They've had some injuries.
Speaker 5 (34:39):
They had a great start to the year, but this
is where it might get tough for the Tigers and
the Nights. She's don't want to they want to bounce
back after being roasted by the Bulldogs.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
I'm going to back Benji Marshall on the sideline to
finish it off. Thank you, Michael, but just for your time,
your wisdom, and so I hope you enjoyed the podcast,
Please follow and rate it.
Speaker 6 (34:59):
My name is Nathan.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
We will be back next Monday to go over what
is hopefully a historic win for the Warriors at Amy Park.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Then for more from Used Talk st B, listen live
on air or online and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio,
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio The.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Big League Podcast League Podcast poet by News Talks V.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
This week on The Big League Podcast, Sports Breathing and
Mental Skills coach Dave Wood joins to discuss his work
with the Warriors, the dangers of overbreathing, and strategies you
can use in everyday life to tackle high pressure situations.
Michael Burgess and I will preview the Warrior's dreaded visit
to the Melbourne Storm on Sunday. Can they break a
(00:43):
losing streak which now dates back a decade? Plus the
Chance Necklcrook Star And to Mat and Martin departure rumors.
My name is Nathan Limb. Let's go God b LB.
It's the week all Warriors fans dread. Amy Park is
a graveyard of some of the worst Warriors performances in history.
(01:05):
Are fifty to ten drubbing in twenty eighteen, fifty to
six hiding in twenty twenty. Amy Park sucks sixteen losses
in a row, ten long years of frustration. But hang on,
wait just one second, this is not the same Warriors team.
As in twenty eighteen or twenty twenty. The Warriors almost
(01:29):
ended this last year, but for this, in the dying seconds.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Hughes pasn't Pappenhausen.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Famous Smith, he goes to lie.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Ten't you believe that?
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Tuts Michaels.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
He left a kris he chup like a rainbow and
came up with a.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Ton of gold some Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I hate that piece of audio. Michael Burgess, Senior in
New Zealand Herald Rider. I think I've got PDSD from that.
Can you give us any hope?
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Yeah? I mean how.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
That was one of the most you know, you overuse it,
but that was one of the most gut wrenching moments
you've had covering the Warriors because that that match, that
would have been one of the great Warriors wins. You know,
they came back in the second half from nowhere, come back,
played so well. Roger had an amazing game in his
second game at center Da Da Da da Da. They
(02:26):
scored some great tries, but then to be undone by
one of the tries of the century just summed up
a bit about this this storm streak, because the storm
had been kind of lucky. They've been lucky because there
was COVID. So there's three years of COVID where the
Storm could play the Warriors who were just in this
array and stuck in Australia, and they've also been lucky.
(02:46):
I mean, some listeners remember twenty nineteen Stephen Kearney took
the team there. They basically had the game won and
the last thing, there's three minutes to go and the
referee came up with this Cameron Smith, you know, burgot
a penalty out of nowhere. The referee came up, agreed penalty,
Storm kicked the goal and the Storm Storm gone to win.
So but yeah, the streak, it gets a bit tiring
(03:10):
mate with people talking about it because I think the
Storm got a lot not making excuses, but the stormer
got a streak against a lot of teams if you
look at it, I'd say.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
But the main thing is no team has played the
Storm as much in an ANZAC game as the Warriors.
That bloody Anzac.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
They played at ten o'clock at night, which is midnight
New Zealand time. Warriors like possums in the headlights. They
invariably got beaten. Like you mentioned twenty eighteen and said
this is not the team we had in twenty eighteen.
That was a good team in twenty eighteen they made
the finals, they were two points off the minor premiership
and a really good team and they still got smoke.
(03:46):
So yeah, I agree with what you're saying, mate. It's
just there's a massive sense of trepidation whenever the Warriors
go to Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Now, curiously, after the two points from the by the
Storm and the Warriors actually sit neck and neck third
and fourth on the table, both on eight points, three wins,
one loss. The Storm coming off a forty eight to
twenty four drubbing of the Sea Eagles at brook Vale over.
We thought the Seagules were going to be really good
(04:15):
this year. They seem not to be living up to
expectations at this point. But the Storm putting on forty
eight points and in this game a highlight for New
Zealand's watches and interests for New Zealand sevens playing Moses
Leo actually debuted for them at center on the weekendam
Craig Balamy, the coach, saying afterwards that he did a
(04:35):
very good job. The other point is Jerome Hughes, who
was fantastic, had surgery on his hand only two weeks ago,
fractured his hand he had Sujeri only two weeks ago,
makes a remarkable, miraculous recovery and puts on two triasists.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
I mean, I don't think there's any other team in
Australasia that's as good at the Storm in the first
three terse three months of a season. You know, in
any sport, they just they just nail it from the
start of the season. They got that crazy record Round one.
They haven't lost a Round one game, or maybe there
was one in about in about twelve. They're just amazing
at the start of the season, and the last few
years they have fallen away but towards the end. So
(05:15):
it's a it's a really tough assignment to go there.
And you make a good point about Leo, like, is
there another club anywhere, not just a league, but in
other sports that just unearthed these diamonds out of out
of nowhere that no one else sees or no one
else spots, or other teams do spot them but don't
have the confidence to try and try it out, and
(05:38):
looks like they've done it again. I mean, that's a
that's a difficult place to make your debut at Brookvale Oval,
but very promising start by Leo, as you say, and
you know.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Look what they do.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
With will Wallbrick as well, turned them into a into
an elite winger in the game. So they're they're their
recruitment and everything they do is just amazing. And then
on the field, the patterns are play. The patterns are play.
You know, they just like remember when I remember when
Cameron Smith retired in we thought, oh well, okay, that's
(06:13):
sort of the end of that Storm chapter.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
There won't be as good. Now, Wow, what happened to that?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Harry Grant? Harry Grant came along and well he's tearing
it up as well. And you talked about the development
system and that is you know, a point straight to that.
Speaker 6 (06:30):
I did I assume he camp? Did he come up
through the Melbourne development system more or less?
Speaker 5 (06:34):
I mean, he comes through Queensland, but they have relationships
with the Queensland clubs, so then he came to Melbourne
when he's pretty young. He got loaned out to the
Tigers for a season, did really well with them and
then came back to Melbourne and just so he's been amazing.
He is the key to their team. But you talk
about reasons for the Warriors to have hope. I mean,
the Warriors are playing well, and a reason for hope,
I would say, is that they're quite resilient the last
(06:55):
three games, so they do they do stay in the contest.
But the Storm they've got so many ways to hurt you.
You know, They've got Pace out wide. They've got Grant,
who's the best dummy half in the game, always finds weaknesses.
I've got Munster, and then they've got guys at Aligatura
on the edge.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
You know.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
So they've got Pappenhausen.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
Shouldn't he be injured?
Speaker 4 (07:16):
You can't say that, wow, I just did.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
You should worries that I'm lucky they're actually having to
play them.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
I know, it's just wonderful that he's back, because, yeah,
if any guy deserves a run without injuries. But I
look at this game in a different way. I won't
be guarded if the Warriors don't win. I'll be guarded
if they don't perform to their potential because I don't
have I don't have high expectations of the Warriors winning
because they beat the Storm in Melbourne, especially the way
they're Storm playing now. It takes a lot. It takes
(07:45):
a lot to go away. You've got to get some
calls to go away. You got a lot to go away.
So it might not happen.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
But if it's a.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
Close game and they play well, then that's something to
build on, you know what I mean. I'm not I'm
not making excuses already, but it's just about being being
being realistic to a degree. I mean, the players and
Andrew Ribs won't be thinking like this, will be thinking
we can beat them, and we're going to beat them.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
But I'm just trying to be a bit more detached.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Yes, yes, and I think years and years as a
Warriors fan will do that to you. Bird.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
But let's bring up a positivity into this. Because the
last time the Warriors beat the Storm was it Mount Smart.
It was in twenty fifteen, and this happened.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Lass. Here's a glass and he came down, turn it
out to the clean cut, shut down the tackle shop.
Somep's go getting back. Look, he gets a good lead
(08:45):
into it. He says, I'm gonna go like he leaves
on the top.
Speaker 8 (08:50):
This to the wall.
Speaker 6 (08:51):
Not a friend.
Speaker 8 (08:52):
That may be the greatest place of gymnastics might feel
like you've ever say I love.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
It the Nathan Friend backflip try.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Who can forget I remember watching that on Talley when
I was just a wee whipper snapper birds. You're probably
in your early sixties. Yeah, just I wasn't at that match.
Like I've covered the Warriors, I probably covered one hundred
and fifty matches at Mount Smart since twenty ten. And
I'm going to have to I have to ask my
wife because sure, remember why that was like July twenty fifteen.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
Why I wasn't it that game? There must have been
you know, I didn't have COVID, it was five years
before that. There must have been a reason. But the
most special thing about that try, well there's two special
things about it. But one was it actually made the
ESPN Plays of the Week, So you know ESPN have
that worldwide Plays of the Week, the top ten Players
of the Week that was on that ESPN.
Speaker 6 (09:40):
It was on it.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
It was like number two or three. I mean, it's
just like incredible that it just went. It just went
viral and we're around the world. And the other special
thing was the game the Warriors.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
Anyone wants to go back when they've got time this
week and watch that highlights of that game on YouTube.
The Warriors scored five amazing tries in that game. They
blew the Storm away, and you thought, Wow, this Warrior's team.
They're going to go places this year. That win put
them into the top four and it was like, shit,
they've beaten the Storm in the top four, they're playing
them and this is great. What happened one week or
two weeks later, Sean Johnson breaks his ankle against Many
(10:15):
and the season just you know, because he was so
important back then. He was he was in the form
of his life as well, and the season just tailed
off from there. So that's another another real what might
have been I think for the Warriors that that moment
with Sean Johnson.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Up next, we'll discuss the Chancellicker Cook start and to
Mighty and Martin departure rumors, and afterwards we're going to
hear from Breathing and Mental Skills coach Dave Wood the right.
A couple of rumors are going around Burge, which I'm
going to get you to explain regarding Charles Decker Cook
start and Tomighty Martin and potentially leaving to the UK.
(10:53):
Charles Decker Cook Start will start with him getting some
interest from Catalan's Dragons. None of this has been confirmed.
Can you sort of explain each situation will start with Chance,
what's going on.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
Yeah, it was quite a surprise. I mean, my friend
Michael Corianas and Sydney the story. I was a bit
annoyed because the story I should be I should be breaking.
But these things happened, you know. But good story because
came out of the blue to a degree. But yeah,
he's basically he's considering his options. There's a contract extension
(11:25):
on the table from the Warriors. I understand it's two years.
So his contract of course is up at the end
of next season, no, the end of this season, sorry,
and there's an extension on the table. But he is
considering his options, and one of those is, you know,
there's a little bit of interest around the ERL but
there's a there's strong interest from Super League.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
It's reported to be the Kaitlyn Dragons and France.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Great lifestyle so you know, without having talked to Chance
about this yet, I guess there'd be a strong lifestyle appeal.
Taking his family to Europe the foot he would of
course be a bit a bit less physically demanding on
the body, although they played a lot of games. But
it's a really interesting because you know, he's been such
an important player for the Warriors.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
He's twenty nine. He's the kind of guy that has
probably got a couple more years in him.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
But then also the way he plays, he plays so tough,
so hard, so many carries, it will add up, and yeah,
who knows until three years. In three years time, he
might not have what he's got now. So it's a tricky,
tricky situation for everyone.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I would have thought this one sort of surprised me
a little bit more just because Chance has a really
you know, front and center role with the Warriors. It's
not like he's struggling for game time at all. But
you make a good point in terms of his agent
wanting to make the most of what he has now,
because you're right, the amount of work that he does
get through on the Warriors, which you know he receives
a lot of praise for, he might be thinking it's
(12:53):
time to cash. Is the money that much better over there,
because the money's not bad in the NRL.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
No, No, the money's a lot better in the NRL.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
So you know, the salary cap off the top of
my head, the NERL salary cap is about twelve million.
Now the Super League Sello crab is about two million,
so why go Well, but there are these marquee deals,
so he must be getting a market deal, so the
money's comparable. And then there's lifestyle and the different change
(13:23):
and living in Europe and all those sort of things.
It's not a Dune deal.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
I think it's just a case of assessing his market value.
Speaker 5 (13:31):
It would be a surprise to me because he seems
to love it at the Warriors. He's given so much
to that team. The team's on the cusp of hopefully
developing into something the couple of years, and he'd be
quite hard to replace. I mean, they have got Taine
who's an excellent player, so he'd be the first one
to look at. But you think that also, I don't
know would they would they bring in someone else as well,
(13:53):
so have that sort of two fullback situation. So yeah,
we'll have to see how it develops to Marty.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Martin's one apparently has got interest from a Super League club.
This one's a lot more wishy washy from what I've seen.
Do you know what the situation is? Well, the situation
is kind of similar. I mean, so's not similar.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
You're right, it's different because since he was overlooked for
the starting booth, obviously his agent's been looking around. Because
the problem for Demarty is he could be playing in
two weeks if Metcalf or Chanell gets injured, for example,
in Melbourne, or he could be waiting till round twenty
if no one gets injured. In the form is judged
to be good enough that they stay in the team,
you know, and he is an NRL quality half, isn't he?
(14:36):
So what does he do? I mean, the last two
seasons he's got time in the team. He did really well,
really tricky. Agents been looking around. There is some interest
his interest from Super League, which could mean one of
those fairly immediate releases, you know, where he goes in
May or June, or he might choose to stay. I mean,
(14:58):
what would you do if you were him? And also
what do you think the club should do.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
I wouldn't blame her if he left, because you're right,
he's a quality NRL half back and you know last
year I was given the way he was playing, I
was thinking he should be our primary half back.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
He was really he was playing that well.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
You said, Actually one point, I think he said he
should be half over over Sean.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I stand by that, given Sean's injuries, the fact he
had struggled so much to find that partnership with Timmarti Martin.
At that point in the season, the worlds are running
out of games to get points, and Tomato Martin and
she now has to beatable working Sean Johnson and Timmarti
Martin weren't. So at that point, yeah, I was like,
we should invest in what's actually working because we don't
(15:41):
have enough time for Sean Johnson and Timartiy Mattin to
find the fluidity with their partnership. So if I was him,
and you know, obviously you know you're capable of his
level of experience and he's just not, it just seems
like they are going to invest in Metcalf, which from
a club perspective, I think is, you know, at this point,
it's a sound strategy. Metcalff's young, He's got so much talent.
(16:02):
There's so much ceiling with what Metcalf could achieve. So
if I'm to Marty, I'm going, well, I could be
valued much higher somewhere else rather than just playing reserve
grade every week or yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
All I would say is that Andrew webs this is
his first His first preference at the moment is is
Metcalfe and Harris de Bet. But I don't think it's
completely locked in. You know, that's that's what he wants
to use. But they haven't shown yet that they are
the pair to guide this team for the rest of
(16:34):
the season. They've shown glimpses, but I think the next
tour three weeks to be very interesting and that that
will also add into this chick saw.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
This is the Big League Podcast. This is going yeah,
the Big League Podcast. I'm on the Warriors bandwagon since
day one.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
It is my pleasure to welcome into the Big League
Podcast a man named Dave Wood. Now Dave Wood is
best known as Israel Disna's breathing coach, but he's also
worked with the Warriors, last year squash champion Paul Coleson,
super rugby players, New Zealand Breakers, Emirates Team New Zealand,
sailors and athletes from across the spectrum of sports. Dave,
(17:17):
thank you so much for taking the time to be
on the podcast.
Speaker 6 (17:20):
How are you good mate?
Speaker 7 (17:22):
Thanks for having me on, Lavan.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Could we start, I guess by you just explaining what
it is that you do and how it links into
high performance sport. How did you get yourself into this
position where you run a business and you're breathing coach?
Speaker 7 (17:37):
Yeah, I want to call me a breathing coach.
Speaker 8 (17:41):
I guess, like how what I would explain I'll do
is mental skill development and that encompasses so many different
things and the breathing is a big part of that,
but it's only one part of the piece of the puzzle.
Speaker 7 (17:51):
And my background is.
Speaker 8 (17:53):
Thirty years of working as an intensive care paramedic, so
you know, having to have those skills of stress to
be able to perform pretty high stressified pressure environments and
then bringing that knowledge over into now working with athletes,
corporate professionals, emergency services, and yeah, that most of the
(18:14):
training is around mental skill development.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
So can you talk us through I guess what the
training is, how breathing ties into it.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
What is it you do with athletes?
Speaker 7 (18:26):
Yeah? I think I might.
Speaker 8 (18:27):
Really my genius owner is understanding or being able to
meet people where they are at, understand their background or
their past and where they're going, and helping with them
with that. In terms of improving their what I call
the skills of stress or being having better self regulation
and self awareness, so interests and pressure moments, they are
(18:47):
able to be more clear and focus and execute when
it matters. And again that comes to such a broad
range of things, you know, mental skills, confidence, self awareness.
We do a lot of meditation, thought control, reframing. We
bring in methods that these athletes can use in really
dynamic situations that give them better psychological control of stress
and better physical controls roll of stress, and then a
(19:10):
whole another part of that is getting them to identify
their values and aligning that with their vision and goal
setting is so important. Energy controlling out of ship from
an energized to a calm state rapidly and on demand,
and you know, to give Like I guess a practical
situation would be an athlete in the game who makes
(19:30):
a mistake and then brings that that into the next play.
And so how do we you know, lead that in
the past and then move on and not bring that
into the next play. So these are all skills that
can be used in really dynamic situations. But actually you
need to train this every day. It needs to be
part of the training system. And you know, if you
(19:52):
take most athletes are they training breathing? This is a
body system that if you're not training, you're leaving a
lot on the table. And so we have very specific
training for breathing development.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
And yeah, so I guess going back to you know,
I think my.
Speaker 8 (20:12):
Genius owner is, yeah, being able to just understand human behavior, and.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
That's a big part of it.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
So how did you get involved with the Warriors and
what did you do with the players?
Speaker 8 (20:24):
I was asked if I would come in and have
a conversation about the training that we're doing and what
we could potentially offer. We had the whole team come
out for a half day, ran them through our beach
training out here at Pieheart, which is all about really
taking people out of the environment that they train, putting
them into an unfamiliar environment and playing a little bit
(20:46):
of stress and pressure is seeing some of the I guess,
some of those ingrained patterns that come out in stress
and pressure moments. You only have one stress response. So
like an example is you know, running the sand dunes.
Speaker 6 (20:58):
We take the.
Speaker 8 (20:59):
Athletes there and we run the sand dunes, and you know,
when it gets uncomfortable, where does the mind go? Well,
it normally goes to the discomfortable to the end, and
it's about having that awareness to grab your mind and
bring it back on to the next step so that
your present and focus on what you're doing.
Speaker 7 (21:13):
And we use the pool, we use the ice baths.
I also worked with a bunch.
Speaker 8 (21:21):
Of the players pre season, and that was taking them
through sort of six weeks of mental skill development and
teaching them all of the stuff and I guess how
to have better control and stress and pressure moments.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
What would you say the percentages of the role, Because
obviously when we talk about training and high performance sport,
we talk about physical exertion, you know, drills, fitness, strength.
What role does the mental side play when it comes
to high performance Because you talked about training breathing and
when someone sees that, the first thing you think of.
(21:54):
I was like, oh, cardio, it's being able to return
to your normal breath as fast as possible after physical exertion.
But can you talk through what is the other side
of breathing and what it does in your body and
with your mental clarity?
Speaker 7 (22:07):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 8 (22:08):
So if you are and this is this is very prevalent,
is overbreathing and so when you overbreed, that is physical stress,
and that agitates the mind because the mind.
Speaker 7 (22:19):
And the body are not separate. Is just one body, right.
Speaker 8 (22:21):
And theysical you know, any type of performance is one
hundred percent physical and one hundred percent mental. People talk
about it it's eighty percent mental and twenty percent physical.
Speaker 7 (22:31):
It's not.
Speaker 8 (22:31):
You know, like if I've got a sore elbow, it'll
agitate my mind, and if I can't think clearly, it'll
have a physiological effect.
Speaker 7 (22:39):
And so.
Speaker 8 (22:41):
The breathing is really it's so important because your breathing
is tended to every single emotional state. If your stress
anxious uptype tends to increase your breathing rate and depth,
and being able to take conscious control of that in
that moment gives you more control of your body stress
response and overbreathing during exercise is a huge stressor, and
(23:03):
so it's physical stress, but it also has an impact
on your ability to focus and I think clearly and
you know, apply game plan. And so yeah, it's all tied.
And then there's the breathing side, which is around breathing mechanics,
which has a huge effect on endurance power production. But
(23:24):
we often don't build in that way.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I remember a few years ago the Warriors after a
try was scored, they'd get into a huddle of big
group circle and they'd all collectively take a big breath
in and a big breath out, And it was something
they did as a team as a way to sort
of reset.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
And I understand that Karen Read.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
The former All Blacks captain, sort of went into camp
and he introduced that. But what do you make of that?
And does that sort of tie into to what you're
talking about? What difference could that make for the team.
Speaker 8 (23:55):
Yeah, So in those moments, what you're really trying to
do is have better control of your energy and being
able to shift from I guess an up pretty lad
state into a more calm state. And really the fastest,
what I believe was, you know, the fastest way to
do that is by consciously controlling your breathing. And that's
because your breathing has an indirect effect on your nervous system.
Two parts of the nervous system, the sympathetic upregulated adrenaline
(24:18):
and the power sympathetic that calming part of your nervous system.
And really the essence of performance is being able to
shift from an energized into a more calm, centered, focused state,
and consciously controlling your breathing is just such a powerful
way to do that.
Speaker 7 (24:33):
And this can be applied.
Speaker 8 (24:34):
And again might really dynamic situations where you need more control,
because if you think about, you know, if you're on
a rugby field, what do you have access to in
terms of shifting from an energized to a calm state.
Say the whistle goes and you've got a minute, what
do you have access to to recover rapidly? You know,
you might have some water and some words from the captain,
(24:55):
but actually it's all about internal control and consciously controlling
your breathing and slowing it down sends very clear signals
to your brain that you are in a state of alert,
tim and focus.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
I'd imagine that ninety nine point nine percent of the
Big League podcast listeners and not professional high performance athletes.
But obviously everyone undergoes pressure and stress just with work
and family life and relationships and all that sort of stuff.
What's the best piece of advice that you could give
(25:26):
or exercise or something practical that people could do to
help reduce stress in their lives. And if they've got
a big meeting or they've got to have a talk
with someone and they're nervous about it. What are some
strategies to overcome that and be able to perform to
a high level, like where you help I guess athletes
do on the sports field.
Speaker 7 (25:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (25:46):
I think the first thing is if you specialize you're
an athlete, you know, like whether that's sitting in front
of the computer for raight hours or running a business.
We will need these skills and we're all exposed to
stress and pressure. Like you said, I think what is
very important is to have practices what we call them,
(26:06):
you know, daily habits and riscual So that shipped you
back into a calm recovery state.
Speaker 7 (26:11):
Because we're spending so much of our time.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
In the red, in the stress, and that can be
the result of overtraining, trying to get that work life balance,
you know, just a busy day sitting in traffic, waiting
in the coffee line to get to the front, deadlines, multitasking.
The stress is coming from so many different angles and
so it's easy to get stuck in that upregulated state
(26:36):
where you're burning a lot of energy.
Speaker 7 (26:38):
And the idea of shifting back into a.
Speaker 8 (26:40):
Calm state in your day is not equated with our
perception of productivity. So I think we could all benefit
from practices that ship does back into a calm, scented state.
We use breathing flows, which I guess is a form
of meditation. Again, the reason why the breathing is so
powerful is because when you slow, you're breathing down and
you focus on prolonged exils.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
We call it cadence breathing.
Speaker 8 (27:03):
So we assign numbers to the different parts of the
breathing cycle, prioritizing a long exiled them. And how you
do that for five minutes, you're going to shift into
a much calmer, scentered statement, come out of that with better.
Speaker 7 (27:17):
Mental clarity and being more productive.
Speaker 8 (27:19):
And we talk a lot about, you know, some of
the really key recovery rituals. Meditation of name one, but
getting in nature is also a really important one because
when you're in nature, it activates the.
Speaker 7 (27:30):
Calming division of your nervous system. So I work with
a lot about clients.
Speaker 8 (27:35):
Who are abroad who work in cities like New York
and they live in high rises, and you know, they
never connected with nature and they have lots of problems
with uncontrolled stress. And so the first thing I always
ask them is how many times an entire week would
your barefoot touch their surface?
Speaker 7 (27:52):
And some of them say never.
Speaker 8 (27:53):
They have no connection with nature at all, and we're
designed to be in nature.
Speaker 7 (27:56):
All the time.
Speaker 8 (27:56):
So these recovery rituals are thus simple, but they're not
easy because we're so used to being in that busy,
upregulated state.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Is there any sort of breathing tool that you could
takets it that people could use in a way in
the everyday live state.
Speaker 8 (28:14):
Yeah, there's a really simple exercise and it requires nothing
apart from find a quiet place, lying down, sitting down,
getting comfortable, And all you do is you inhale slowly
through your nose until you get to the top of
the inhull, and then you hold your breath. And once
you hold your breath, you tap out your imagine game
you're going to sleep, lack of awareness of time, and
you just keep holding your breath until you feel the
(28:36):
first urge to breathe out. When you feel that urge,
it's not how long you can hold your breath, it's
just listening to your body.
Speaker 7 (28:42):
You drop it out.
Speaker 8 (28:44):
You can breathe out through your nose or your mouth
and then you slowly flow back into the next inhale.
Hold Try that for five minutes, and then when you
finish that exercise, tap into the condition of your body
and mind. Because these exercises are designed to shift your
physical and mental state in real time.
Speaker 7 (28:59):
You know when you come out of it, do I
feel more clear? Do I feel more focused?
Speaker 8 (29:02):
Ship yourself into a deep recovery state, and then get
on with your busy day.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
Dave, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
That was readably insightful and definitely good to have a
few things that that everyone listening can can use in
their own daily lives to help them get through. But
it was really really interesting to hear you talk and
the way in which you've helped the Warriors and other
high performance athletes throughout your career. Thank you so much
for joining the podcast. Really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
The Big League Podcast on the Warriors Bad Wagons since
day one, The Big League Podcast for the biggest league fans.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
All right, Berch quick vire predictions for the next round
of in Our Role Action. A few surprise results from
last week. I know you wented on the podcast last
week you didn't bother the shar up, but I.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
Hold the phone.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
There no surprises to me, mate, I think you'll find
I tipped seven, seven out of eight when I was
tipping by myself in my bedroom.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
So really, jad surprises.
Speaker 6 (30:07):
Did you pick the Titans to lose to the Dolphins?
Speaker 4 (30:10):
That was the one I didn't get.
Speaker 6 (30:11):
Oh yeah, whatever, Well, well back it up, back it up.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
I'm just thinking about my breathing actually, because that was
quite insightful, and.
Speaker 6 (30:23):
It is.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
Yeah, so we should also get there, right, Maybe you can.
Speaker 6 (30:27):
Calm down a bit.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
Dolphins Panthers, Yeah, wow, what a result of the Dolphins.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
Panthers have lost for in a row.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Yeah, this is I mean, this is It's not a crisis.
But to be fair, the Panthers have been. What they've
been doing the last few years is amazing. The way
they just keep keep going despite losing all these key players,
and now of course they're without Fisher, Harris, your own, Luye,
a couple others.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
I think they'll bounce back. I think they'll bounce back
this weekend, do you go.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
I think they'll beat the Dolphins, but it's going to
have to be one of those really tight games where
they win with a field goal or a penalty or something.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Because if they don't, they're in a real hole.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
I still can't tip against the Panthers. I still can't
bring my off to do it.
Speaker 5 (31:09):
Dragons Titans, Jeez, I'll go with the Dragons here because
they're at home. The Titans are so up and down
it's hard to know what you're going to get. So
I'm going to go with the home too.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Love slagging the Titans off, but they've got something about
them this year. Broncos Roosters. The Broncos are looking good.
Pays me to say it. Of it because of your
big tip they're going to win the minor premiership. You'll
look like a genius if that happens. The second on
the ladder at the moment by August, But I did.
I did tell you last year that that Michael McGuire
would have a big, big impact, and we're seeing it.
(31:41):
And this Broncos team is the kind of team they
don't lose these kind.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
Of matches at home. Now.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
That's that's how solid they've become. That's what I can see.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
And I'm going to agree with you there. Sharks Sea Eagles.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
Yeah, the Sharks. They would have been really disappointed the
way they lost to the Raiders. I guess it shows
the Raiders are are the real deal. But I'm sure everyone,
including yourself, is picking the right the Sharks for that one.
I think they'll bounce back at home against the Seagulls,
but it will be close.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
That stuff. I'm going to left field. The Sharks confuse me.
Burg The Sharks confuse me, and the Seagulls are going
to win. Bunnies Cowboys, Bunnies for mine.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
I mean, the Cowboys got a much need to win,
so but the Bunnies under Bennett, Bunny's Bennett. I've got
so many injuries they have, but they're still They're still
doing the job. He's an amazing guy.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
Wayne.
Speaker 5 (32:34):
The injuries will start to hurt them at some stage,
but I don't think it'll be this week.
Speaker 6 (32:39):
Eels Raiders, Eels.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
You know what I'm going to say. You know what
I'm going to say. I still believe in the Eels.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
They're still giving me hope from that team that made
the Grand Final.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
What was it three years ago? But no, are the
Raiders they finally got to win? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (32:56):
True, true, true, No, But the Raiders. I really like
the Raiders this year. I don't know that some people
tip in the Raiders be wooden spooners.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
Can you believe it? And look look where our Storm.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Versus the Warriors in Melbourne.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
Yeah, I'm going to go with the with the home
team here. I would love to tip the Warriors, but
I just can't see how they can beat the Storm.
The Storm have got so many ways they can hurt
you on attack. They're defensively very strong, They're so good
at getting on the right side of the referee. They're
(33:31):
kicking game Jaron Hughes as a master, so it's going
to take a huge effort. But what I do like
from the Warriors is their forwards and the Fords is
one place where I think they can. They can get
up on top of the Storm, but it just depends
on if the Spine and particularly the halves can bring
their a game and then obviously the Backs need to
(33:52):
need to finish the things off too.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Prove us wrong, make us eat these words please? Nice Tigers,
Nice Tigers. Yeah, the Tigers, you know they're starting to.
I don't like Benji co on the sideline. I think
that's that's Ricky Stewart's thing, But Benji should.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Just why not?
Speaker 4 (34:12):
He can do it well? He should stay in the box.
He's there getting he should.
Speaker 6 (34:16):
Stay in the box.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
Why he's getting down there on the sideline getting emotional, right,
I just think he's too in his career for that.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
I think I think that's and it's a left field thing.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
To go on about to read here. And I don't
know why I brought it up, But my point I
was trying to make before I interrupt you interrupted me,
was Nah, just the Tigers are you know?
Speaker 4 (34:36):
There's square is.
Speaker 6 (34:37):
A bit thin.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
They've had some injuries.
Speaker 5 (34:39):
They had a great start to the year, but this
is where it might get tough for the Tigers and
the Nights. She's don't want to they want to bounce
back after being roasted by the Bulldogs.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
I'm going to back Benji Marshall on the sideline to
finish it off. Thank you, Michael, but just for your time,
your wisdom, and so I hope you enjoyed the podcast,
Please follow and rate it.
Speaker 6 (34:59):
My name is Nathan.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
We will be back next Monday to go over what
is hopefully a historic win for the Warriors at Amy Park.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Then for more from Used Talk st B, listen live
on air or online and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio,
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