On episode 5 of Behind The Roar, Balmain great Paul Sironen talks about a range of issues including John Bateman’s Wests Tigers debut, the perils of social media, the satisfaction that comes with his role in pathways, the larrikins he played with at the Tigers, and why our NRL team should feel confident ahead of Friday’s clash in Melbourne.
You can listen and watch this week’s episode of Behind The Roar, available on Apple, Spotify and also YouTube.
Paul Sironen is one of the true characters in rugby league. As one of the biggest men to have played the game, he was admired for his bruising carries for Balmain, the Kangaroos and the NSW Origin team through the 80’s and 90’s.
Post retirement, ‘Sirro’ continued to garner affection in rugby league circles, trying his hand at ‘acting’ when picked up as a ‘male model’ in the Lowes Menswear commercials.
These days he remains firmly entrenched in rugby league and the Wests Tigers, heading up the Balmain side of the club’s pathways program.
It’s a job he says is highly rewarding, citing the recent NRL debut of Balmain junior Brandon Tumeth as a proud moment, not just for Brandon, but also for the club’s pathways team.
Having played 246 first grade games for Balmain, as well as representing Australia and NSW, Sironen knows a thing or two about preparing to play at the highest level.
He talks openly about last weekend’s debut of star recruit John Bateman, and says in his opinion, the decision to hold the English forward back until Round 3, was 100% the right thing to do.
One week after NRL Multicultural Round, Sironen discusses his own heritage, recounting how his late father emigrated from Finland in the 50’s, learning to speak English on the long boat ride to Australia.
Much has changed in the game, and society, since when Sironen made his first grade debut in 1986. he says 'social media' in those days was a few of ‘the old blokes at the bar’ telling him where and how he needed to improve his game. These days, it’s open slather.
Sirro opens up about the perils of social media, and the potentially damaging effects ‘trolls’ can have on young players, and their families. He offers a word or two of advice for those who seemingly have scant regard for human decency.
Sirro was coached by some of the game’s best coachess, including the likes of Frank Stanton, Warren Ryan, Phil Gould and the late Jack Gibson. He talks about the different styles each brought to the game.
On a lighter note, he talks about short shorts and jockstraps, his giant-sized appetite, and how he’d take his autograph book to the game when he played against the much revered Parramatta Eels in mid-80’s.
Sironen also talks about the highs and lows of the 1989 Grand Final loss to Canberra. And the irony of how his ‘best career moment’ and his ‘worst career moment’ were separated by about 60 minutes.
All that and more in episode 5 of Behind the Roar.
