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Podcast: BTR Episode 50 with Aaron Payne

Joining us this week on our 50th episode of Behind the Roar is former Cowboys hooker, now Wests Magpies NSW Cup Coach, Aaron Payne.

Behind the Roar is available on AppleSpotify and YouTube.

Payne joined Wests Tigers in the pre-season, uprooting from Townsville for a sea change in the big smoke, and with it, a fresh challenge.

After playing 219 NRL games across 11 seasons with the Cowboys, this fella has plenty of skin in the game, and can tell a yarn or two as well, like how he made a thousand bucks a minute when making his NRL debut.

Payne's final regular season home game before retirement in 2012
Payne's final regular season home game before retirement in 2012

We talk about the challenges and opportunities that come with the job as reserve grade coach, when, more often than not, the team changes from week to week.

Payne talks about his own football journey and why the time was right for him to hang up the boots as a 29-year-old and turn his hand to coaching.  

Matt Bowen in the 2005 Grand Final: The most talented player Payne ever played with
Matt Bowen in the 2005 Grand Final: The most talented player Payne ever played with

He also talks about the disappointment of losing the 2005 Grand Final, the No.9s competing with Api Koroisau for a Blues Origin berth, and away from footy, his love of fishing and thoroughbreds.

All that and more on our 50th episode of Behind The Roar.

Acknowledgement of Country

Wests Tigers respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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