Episode 3 - Josh Stuart

Welcome to another episode of The Blind Side Podcast, I’m your host Nath Smith and today we are rewinding the rugby league clock and I catch up with hard man and loveable larrikin Josh Stuart. 

Josh is a rugby league legend, playing 133 first grade games for the North Sydney Bears and Northern Eagles which also included representing City Origin 1997.

Josh had a colourful career, he was fearsome and played the game tough, he came through the school system playing Australian Schoolboys for 2 years and then debuting at first grade at 20 and how he almost ended up being a Sea Eagle. We talk about the differences in the game today and the size of players now, including his nephew Nathan Cleary as a 95kg halfback.

We chat about the importance of the concussion protocol and player safety that has been introduced to today’s game. We also talk about some of Josh’s favourite teammates and what it was like playing in that era and being a part of club like the North Sydney Bears with a few war stories thrown in too.

After footy Josh has become a great family man and is helping people with mortgages and gets great satisfaction out of pitting smiles on people’s faces, who would have thought!

It was great sitting down with josh and re-living some stories from yesteryear, I had a few laughs and I’m sure you will too.