What a Lad

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has one of the most remarkable stories in Australian rugby. He didn't even start playing rugby union until Year 12, yet just a few years later he was making his Super Rugby debut before earning his first Wallabies cap against the Springboks.

In this episode of What a Lad, Lukhan opens up about the journey that shaped him. From missing representative teams as a teenager and using rejection as motivation, to becoming one of Australia's most respected forwards, playing for the Reds, Northampton Saints, the Rebels, the Barbarians and the Wallabies.

He also shares his thoughts on missing this year's Wallabies squad despite making the Super Rugby Team of the Year, why he's at peace with the decision, and how becoming a father has completely changed his perspective on rugby and life.

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

- Starting rugby union in Year 12 after growing up playing rugby league
- Missing representative teams and the conversation with his dad that changed his mindset forever
- Earning his first Wallabies cap only a year after his Super Rugby debut
- The influence Brad Thorn had on his career and development
- His experiences playing for Northampton Saints, the Rebels, the Barbarians and against the British & Irish Lions
- Why family now comes before rugby and what he hopes his kids remember about him

Lukhan is one of the genuine good guys in rugby. Honest, humble and incredibly resilient, this conversation gives a great insight into the mindset behind one of Australia's best forwards.
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Ben Volavola has one of the most unique careers in world rugby. Across a 13-year professional journey, he's played for the Waratahs, Crusaders, North Harbour, Canterbury, Rebels, Racing 92, Bordeaux, Perpignan, Agen, Leicester Tigers, Queensland Reds and now returns home to join the Fijian Drua.

A two-time Rugby World Cup representative and one of Fiji's most experienced first fives, Ben has experienced the highs of winning Super Rugby and the lows of missing a Rugby World Cup squad. Throughout it all, he's built a reputation as one of rugby's ultimate professionals and a respected teammate wherever he's played.

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

- Why rugby was the only plan he ever had growing up
- The decision to represent Fiji after coming through the Australian pathway
- What he learned from the Crusaders culture and why the best cultures win championships
- The heartbreak of missing Fiji's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad and how he found motivation again
- Playing alongside stars like Israel Folau & Richie Mo'unga
- Why he's returning home to join the Fijian Drua and help build the future of Fijian rugby
- The lessons he's taken from playing professionally across Australia, New Zealand, France and England

Ben has experienced almost every corner of professional rugby, but what stood out most was his humility, gratitude and perspective. This is a fascinating conversation about resilience, culture, leadership and what it really takes to build a long career in professional sport.
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The 2026 Super Rugby season is officially done and what a finish it was. The Hurricanes capped off a remarkable campaign with a dominant 60-5 victory in the final, producing one of the most complete performances we've seen in Super Rugby history.

In this episode, we break down the final, review some of our preseason predictions, discuss the standout performers from the year and look at what made the Hurricanes such a dominant force throughout the competition.

We also dive into Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad, discussing the bolters, unlucky omissions, selection surprises and what the squad tells us about how the All Blacks will look to play moving forward.

Some of the topics discussed include...

- We breakdown what we thought were the keys to the Hurricanes success
- The players who stood out throughout the season
- Who had the best predictions from the preseason epiosde
- The biggest talking points from Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad
- Which players were unlucky to miss selection
- Who could become the All Blacks' best player in 2026
- Predictions for the upcoming test season and South African tour
And heaps more

With the Super Rugby season wrapped up and a massive international season ahead, this was a great chance to reflect on the year that was and look ahead to what's shaping up as one of the biggest years for the All Blacks in recent memory.
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Liam Squire was one of the most feared players in world rugby, he had an incredible ability to throw his body into contact with zero thought of self preservation. While that approach helped Liam Squire the player, it's taken a serious toll on the body of Liam Squire the man. He's had an endless amount of injuries throughout his career and is now left with serious hip pain, shoulder pain and knee pain as he moves into the next chapter of his life.

In this Fan Favourite episode of What a Lad, Liam opens up about the full journey through rugby and life. From growing up in Tokoroa and finding his way into professional rugby, to becoming an All Black, dealing with injuries, stepping away from the 2019 Rugby World Cup and ultimately being forced into retirement.

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

How quickly his rise from provincial rugby to becoming an All Black
Dealing with the fame of becoming an All Black
Winning a Super Rugby title with the Highlanders and the culture that made that team special
Why he never felt completely comfortable in the All Blacks environment
The pressure and scrutiny leading into the 2019 Rugby World Cup
His battles with injury and the mental toll of spending so much time on the sidelines
Being told by a surgeon that if he wanted quality of life later on, it was time to retire
How he has adjusted to life after rugby and what retirement has really been like

This episode was recorded back in 2021 but this conversation shows a side of him that most people have never seen. Honest, reflective and incredibly open, this is a fascinating insight into the highs and lows of professional rugby and the price that can come with giving everything to the game.
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Jayden Broome is one of the most inspiring young rugby players you'll come across. A proud Gore local who spent his childhood with a rugby ball in his hands with a dream to become a professional rugby player. He was doing everything he could to reach that dream and everything was tracking that way. He captained all Southland age grade sides before leading New Zealand Māori Schoolboys to a historic victory over New Zealand Schools and even earned a preseason opportunity with his beloved Southland Stags.

Then one moment changed everything for Jayden. After falling from a roof at a flat, Jayden suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him fighting for his life. He was placed in an induced coma, spent months in hospital and was ultimately forced to make the heartbreaking decision to walk away from the game he loved.

Despite everything he's been through, Jayden's outlook on life, positivity and determination to keep moving forward is what makes this episode so special.

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

- Walking 40 minutes to school and back every day and how that shaped him
- Writing down his rugby goals as a teenager and dreaming of one day becoming an All Black
- Getting his opportunity with the Southland Stags and realising he was good enough to compete at that level
- The night of the accident and the reality of waking up after weeks in a coma
- Learning just how close he came to losing his life
- Coming to terms with the fact he would never play rugby again
- Why he chose life over rugby and the powerful message he now wants to share with others
- What his plans are in the future and how he wants to stay in the game

This is a story about much more than rugby. It's about resilience, perspective, gratitude and finding purpose when the path you thought you were on suddenly disappears. Jayden's maturity, positivity and self-awareness at such a young age make this one of the most powerful conversations we've had on the podcast.

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