Athlete's Journey: Winning On & Off The Field

Former professional rugby league and rugby union player Luke Milton joins Athlete's Journey: Winning On & Off The Field to share his remarkable journey from professional sport in Australia to building a fitness business in Hollywood.
Luke reflects on his early career in rugby league, the lessons he learned from coaches and mentors, and the challenge of discovering who he was beyond professional sport. After moving to the United States, he turned his passion for training and the team culture he loved in footy into Training Mate, opening his first studio in West Hollywood and eventually working with some of the biggest names in entertainment.
Luke also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, including the moment COVID brought the business to the brink of bankruptcy, why he chose to keep supporting his employees, and how that loyalty helped Training Mate rebuild and grow.
The conversation also explores Luke’s approach to money, reinvesting in his business, avoiding lifestyle inflation and the financial lessons he believes every young athlete should understand.
From rugby league to Hollywood, this episode is about backing yourself, navigating life after sport and carrying the lessons learned on the field into your next chapter.

New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George joins Athlete's Journey for an inside look at the journey behind one of rugby league’s most recognisable clubs.
Cameron reflects on leading the Warriors through the extraordinary challenges of COVID, including the difficult decision to reduce salaries to $500 a week in an effort to protect jobs and keep the club financially sustainable.
He also reveals how the Warriors have transformed commercially since returning home, growing from owning virtually no assets in 2022 to holding millions of dollars worth of property and other assets today.
Cameron discusses the importance of creating a strong club culture, the powerful story behind the Warriors’ haka, the influence of James Fisher-Harris and Andrew Webster, and what it will take for the Warriors to compete for the ultimate prize.
A fascinating conversation about leadership, culture, resilience, financial decision-making and what it takes to build success both on and off the field.

In this episode of Athlete's Journey: Winning on and Off the Field, Brent Read and Chris Lawrence sit down with former Carlton AFL player and current sports executive, Ian Prendergast.

Ian shares his remarkable transition from the AFL to becoming a qualified lawyer and leading the AFL and Rugby League Players Associations. 

We dive into:
The Early Days: Growing up in Karang and the sacrifice his family made to support his sporting dreams.
The Reality of Pro Sport: Earning just $12,000 as a rookie and the "force savings" of match payments.
Advocacy & Leadership: His instrumental role in negotiating the first revenue-sharing CBA for NRL players.
Life After the Game: Why he believes every athlete needs their own "Board of Directors" for a successful transition.
Financial Literacy: The importance of property investment and understanding the fundamentals of tax and super.
Ian also opens up about the mental hurdles of retirement and how he leveraged "transferable skills" to build a successful career in sports advisory.

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Introducing Athlete’s Journey – Winning On & Off The Field, a podcast exploring the financial journeys of Australia’s most influential sporting figures.
In Episode 14, host Brent Read and co-host Chris Lawrence are joined by former AIS and NCAA Division I basketballer and Athlete2Business founder and CEO Alex Opacic.
In this honest and insightful conversation, Alex reflects on earning a basketball scholarship in the United States, competing alongside Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Aron Baynes, facing Steph Curry and continuing his professional career across Europe.
Alex opens up about the knee injury that brought his elite basketball ambitions to an unexpected end, the difficult loss of identity that followed and the challenge of beginning again at 25 years old.
The episode explores how Alex found a new competitive outlet in sales, transformed a side hustle into Athlete2Business and has since helped more than 500 athletes across Australia and the United States navigate their own transitions into life beyond sport.
Alex also discusses financial preparation, salary expectations, mentoring and why athletes should initially focus on learning, developing skills and building their professional network rather than expecting to immediately discover their next passion.
A must-listen for athletes, business leaders and anyone interested in resilience, career transition and creating a meaningful second chapter after professional sport.

Introducing Athlete’s Journey – Winning On & Off The Field, a podcast exploring the financial journeys of Australia’s most influential sporting figures.
In Episode 13, host Brent Read and co-host Chris Lawrence are joined by premiership-winning NRL halfback turned broadcaster and media identity Chad Townsend.
In this honest and insightful conversation, Chad reflects on his journey from growing up in the Shire and dreaming of representing Cronulla to playing 268 NRL games across four clubs and helping the Sharks secure their first premiership in 2016.
Beyond football, Chad shares how a $2,000 first contract, early saving habits and guidance from trusted mentors helped him purchase his first unit at just 20 years old. He discusses budgeting during his peak earning years, building a property portfolio and preparing financially for the day his NRL income would end.
The episode also explores Chad’s transition into radio, television, podcasting and business, and how developing skills and relationships while he was still playing helped him move confidently into life after professional sport.
A must-listen for athletes, fans and anyone interested in financial responsibility, career transition and building long-term success beyond the game.