What a Lad

Super Rugby is back! And so is the What a Lad Super Rugby Preview and who better to talk to than the great Searley from Searley Talks Sport to break down everything you need to know about Super Rugby 2026.

We go through every team, highlight key players and share some bold predictions as we look forward to what looks to be the tightest and most entertaining Super Rugby season ever!

In this episode, we cover…

- Why the Hurricanes are genuine championship contenders
- Whether this is finally the Chiefs year
- How the new Christchurch stadium could change the Crusaders style
- The Highlanders backline and their game-breaking X-factor
- What Aussie teams are a real threat
- Players who could force their way into All Blacks selection
- Why the Fijian Drua at home is one of the toughest trips in rugby
- The new law changes and how they may change the game
- Round one predictions and season top-four picks
- And heaps more!

If you're excited about Super Rugby than this episode is for you, and if you're not, well I suggest you give it a listen anyway and just feel your fizz levels for this great competition build aggressively.
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Manasa Mataele is one of the players who is incredibly hard to tackle! His power, speed, athleticism, and freakish offloads has made him hard to handle for any opposition! From growing up in Suva, Manasa’s journey has taken him from Fiji to New Zealand, across to Australia, and now back home with the Fijian Drua.

In this episode of What a Lad, Manasa opens up with rare honesty. He reflects on the highs of Super Rugby, the pride of representing Fiji, and the moments that nearly forced him away from the game altogether. From battling injuries and self-doubt, to losing his mum and questioning whether he could keep going, this is a powerful look at resilience, faith, and finding purpose beyond rugby.

In this episode, we cover…

- Growing up in Fiji and the environment that shaped him
- The sliding-doors moment that could have changed his life forever
- Moving to New Zealand and adapting to professional rugby
- His rapid rise through NPC and Super Rugby
- Almost signing with the Blues before a last-minute call from the Crusaders
- What it was like walking into a Crusaders locker room full of legends
- The mental battles that made him his own worst enemy
- His pride in representing Fiji on the international stage
- Losing his mum, fracturing his spine, and questioning his future
- The role faith played in getting him through his darkest moments
- Why returning home to play for the Fijian Drua means so much
- Wanting to give back and help the next generation of Fijian rugby players

As you'll hear Manasa is very articulate and honest about the journey rugby has taken him, he's such a good lad who will no doubt have a big season for the Drua!
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Chris Jack was one of the all time greats! A perfect combination of a massive workrate an incredible skillset, deceptive speed and a high rugby IQ which he showed during his 67 cap test career.

In this episode of What a Lad, you'll hear Chris like you've never heard him before. From the good times on winning championships to some of the struggles he faced, there is plenty in this one!

Some parts that stood out for me in this one were...

- How his brothers shaped his work ethic and toughness
- Making the Crusaders early and being thrown straight into a South Africa tour
- Old-school Crusaders culture and earning respect as a young player
- What it actually felt like being around All Black legends
- Scoring on debut and still feeling like he didn’t belong
- How he felt winning the NZ player of the year in 2002
- Dealing with shyness, pressure, and confidence off the field
- What happened during the 2007 RWC QF Loss
- Life after rugby and the lessons he learned

This episode is full of honest perspective from a man who always let his actions do the talking. Chris shares what the jersey meant to him, the cost that came with it, and why he wishes he’d enjoyed the moment more.
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Jeremy Manning’s rugby journey is anything but ordinary. At just 16 years old he was playing against for the Marlborough Red Devils in the NPC which included playing in a Ranfurly Shield game against Canterbury while still being at school. He made the NZ secondary schools team on the wing ahead of Hosea Gear and out of school decided to take up a year offer with the Munster academy. Fast forward a few years later and he's doing the Haka against the All Blacks for Munster in a match!

In this episode, we dive into:

- Growing up in Marlborough and spending hours kicking goals alone
- What it was like being a 16 year old playing with men under Grizz Wylie
- Making New Zealand Schools and then missing out on U19s and how that shaped his path
- Moving to Ireland and joining Munster
- Winning Heineken Cups and learning behind Ronan O’Gara
- Playing against the All Blacks for Munster and performing a Haka
- Why his time at Newcastle Falcons turned him off rugby
- Life after rugby, including working with the Royal Family
- Helping Fiji Sevens during their Olympic success
- The emotional journey of IVF, surrogacy, and becoming a father

Jeremy is a massive lad with an incredible story. His story is different to most and has had some unique challenges. The way he shares his story with such honesty and vulnerability is super powerful. I know you'll enjoy this one, so let me know what you thought in the comments.
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Cam McBride is the very talented man behind the camera responsible for bringing the Crusaders to life every week.

In this episode of What a Lad, Cam talks about his time in the police, finding a new career through content creation, and working behind the scenes at the Crusaders.

In this episode, we cover…
- What he's noticed from his first year working with the Crusader
- How he started working as a sports masseuse with sports teams
- Why he joined the New Zealand Police and working frontline for nearly a decade
- The toll it took on him and how hard it was witnessing some horrible scenes.
- Shooting everything from local rugby to weddings while still policing
- Applying for the Crusaders role and what set him apart
- Stepping into big shoes and overcoming imposter syndrome
- How trust with players is built behind the scenes
- What game day really looks like for a Super Rugby content creator
- Capturing iconic Crusaders moments — including finals runs
- His vision for the future of Crusaders content

This episode is an awesome insight into what's involved with being a content creator, huge insight, plenty of tips and all from a massive lad!
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