Patty Carrigan is ready for the NRL’s massive US spotlight
His name is Patty Carrigan, and if world-class athletes and fast-paced, bone-crunching collisions excite you, you won’t want to miss him and his Brisbane Broncos teammates when the National Rugby League Telstra Premiership season kicks off with a compelling doubleheader for the first time in the United States on March 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The Manly Sea Eagles take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the opener, exclusively on Fox Sports 1. FS1 also will broadcast Carrigan and Brisbane in the nightcap against the Sydney Roosters.
Carrigan will be hard to miss with his charisma and his long hair and iron will to win championships for the hometown team he worshipped as a 5-year-old boy.
The 6-foot-3, 233-pound Carrigan, who turns 26 next month, plays lock, a second-row forward/enforcer in a sport that demands relishing contact and withstanding collisions.
Carrigan comes off as mature for his age, laughs and jokes easily, and incorporates Subway sandwiches as part of his routine.
He has become a fan of the NFL, especially tight ends, and recently attended a game between the Giants and Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
Comfortable in his own skin, Carrigan almost sounds like the Brisbane Sinatra — because he likes to do things his way.
Carrigan, a Fox Sports Ambassador, spoke with The Post’s Steve Serby this week about his upcoming trip to Vegas, his love for rugby and his first experience watching the NFL in person.
Q: You and your Brisbane Broncos are gearing up to put on a show when the National Rugby League lights up Las Vegas.
A: It’s gonna be massive. From my travels, I’ve experienced firsthand how much people love sports. It’s quite different to the NFL. I guess it’s a show that people can get excited for. We play the Roosters, they’re a pretty successful club over here, and have a lot of older guys and are a very aggressive, physical team, too. Our game against them will be one to watch. Probably a lot of fireworks. I know it’s gonna be exciting, and it’s cool for Australia to be able to showcase some of our athletes too.
Q: Do you think you can get me a ticket? It sounds interesting to me.
A: Yeah, sideline pass for you, mate, don’t worry (smile).
Q: What message would you give to fans and viewers about what these NRL showdowns will be like?
A: Young, fresh, exciting, and I think a new wave of some talent. Tune in. I think a lot of the boys are not bad-looking lads, so if you don’t like footy or Rugby League, then at least tune in for that. There are gonna definitely be some fireworks in that game, and it’ll give you a true insight into the National Rugby League.
Q: What do you like best about your team?
A: We’re a young team. We’re really exciting and just love playing football. You can kinda play a boring brand or an exciting brand, and our coach encourages us to play an exciting brand and just play the game like we want to play it. Also, we got a few characters in my team. I don’t want to say they’re like the NFL boys (smile), but they like expressing themselves and being different. I think that’s cool, too.
Q: Are you a character?
A: I’m a bit of fun, but I might be biased (laugh).
Q: You like being different, I can tell.
A: I think at the end of the day I just like being myself and embracing that, and yeah, being a bit different. Might as well do you how you want to do you because if you don’t, then other people are gonna tell you how to do things, so you might as well do it your way, I think.
Q: How would you describe your mentality on the field?
A: Well, I’m a forward in Rugby League, so I guess I’d say pretty aggressive, competitiveness, I like the physicality of the game. In our game, if forwards win the battle, then it goes a long way to you winning the game.
Q: Do you consider yourself an enforcer, and do you like being called one?
A: (Smile) I don’t know if I like being called one. The physicality is what comes with the game. Those battles one-on-one is what I enjoy. For my team, I guess I try to bring that aggression, and I’m competitive, and I’m pretty heady too. I don’t really like losing so, end of the day, if that’s what needs to be done to win a game, then I’m all for it.
Q: Give me a scouting report: What separates you, makes you unique?
A: I don’t know, I think some of probably the characteristics are hard to put on reports. I think work ethic and determination and those sort of things, I guess being younger, kind of got counted out of it, wasn’t in all the rep teams when you’re a young teenager, so it makes you want to get to the big level and prove people wrong. I’d like to say just plays the game his own way and unique in that fashion. I’m just trying to do things my way.
Q: What drives you?
A: I think I just want to be the best version of me as a player, to be honest. I just want to win Grand Finals, take home championships. Hopefully leave some sort of legacy in the game.
Q: How agonizing was it for you when you tore your ACL in 2021?
A: It was pretty devastating. I think as any athlete, there’s three letters you don’t want to hear. You know that it’s a pretty big injury. I feel that’s there’s a bit of a stigma when you do one of those injuries that you’re a little bit done for as an athlete. Yes, it hurts at the time when I was being a younger guy, but it also makes you more motivated to come back and prove people wrong, too.
Q: Does that drive you, proving people wrong?
A: Yeah, for sure. I think in any space, people that doubt you just makes you hungry to succeed. As much as you want to be the best version of yourself, it’s a nice little win when you can prove some of the naysayers wrong, too.
Q: During your ACL rehab, what was the low point for you emotionally?
A: We were probably having a tough year that year. We weren’t really that successful on the field. Wanting to have a big year, and just watching the boys struggle on the field, too, and knowing you can’t really do anything for nine months is the toughest part of it. You can’t run for the first four months, and that’s all you really want to do, you’re just sitting in a gym doing the same boring exercises day in, day out. That was probably the toughest period for me, but builds a lot of resilience and makes you appreciate being able to get around and run around with your mates again. … I think I missed the competitive side the most.
Q: You came back quicker than people thought you would, right?
A: Yeah, I was pretty lucky, I worked with a few Irish dudes over here in Brisbane, so it might have been the luck of the Irish (smile). They’re a bit crazy them Irishmen, they pushed me pretty hard, and I’m grateful for it now.
Q: You have a 95 percent tackle percentage?
A: If I miss a tackle it makes it harder for other people, so it’s getting a fine line between trying to put on big hits and trying to be effective in your tackling. And the more I’m effective it helps the team, so I just try and do that job for my teammates.
Q: After a game, how sore are you?
A: Yeah, you’re pretty sore. Day 2 is worse. Day 1 you’re sore, but then the second day, that’s a new level of sore. I think the American boys would be sore too. I’ve seen some of those hits (smile).
Q: Is that getting-out-of-bed painful on Day 2?
A: Yeah. So you play the game, you’re not too bad that night. The next day you wake up, we call that like Day 1 soreness, you feel like you’ve done something. It’s not too bad but you’re sore. But then for some reason, the second day after you play, so Day 2, is just when your body’s like “Uhhh,” you’ve really done something two days ago.
Q: Your four-game hip drop tackle suspension?
A: It’s making waves over the States. Sometimes you just get unlucky and get caught in positions where there’s definitely no malice or intention in it, but things go wrong. It’s a weird one. It’s like a lot of action is gonna happen in contact sport. … The more we can keep our best players on the field, but minimizing the risk in whatever fashion it is, then I think I’m all for it. But it’s a tough line. The game happens so fast, such big collisions, and sometimes accidents happen, so I think it’s a tough one to work out.
Q: Your most bitter defeat?
A: Probably the Grand Final this year. … Definitely got a few fresh wounds that hopefully can make amends for next year.
Q: Your best moment?
A: My debut for the Broncos, that was pretty special because as a kid that’s all you ever want to do. But I debuted for Queensland in the Origin. I got to debut in Sydney with a couple of guys that I was already mates with. There were 90,000 people there that game, and we were in enemy territory, it was pretty hostile, and we got the win and that was a pretty special feeling with friends and family.
Q: You like being a villain?
A: (Laugh) Nah, I don’t like being the villain. I just say I like doing me and whatever comes with that comes with that. I wouldn’t say I’m very good at being a villain, but I’ll just be whatever we need to be.
Q: You were the first UQ alum to be named captain.
A: Yeah it was pretty cool. I’m not captain of the club at the moment, but previously I was at such a young age, being 21, it was pretty cool, and to be a club you supported your whole life and had some of your heroes, that is pretty special. I think it’s one of those things that while you’re playing the game you don’t really think about it too much, but I’m sure once I finish up and get old and have a few beers with mates around the fireplace, that’ll probably mean something. At the moment, it’s just all about trying to win footy games and trying to win championships.
Q: Your gameday routine?
A: I like to train in the morning, like a weight session, I feel like it switches me on. I have a big brecky: avocado and eggs, an Aussie thing. For lunch, I always get Subway, because I feel like when you stay at hotels, the food always changes, but if you eat Subway, I feel like it’s always the same, so I have Subway for lunch and then sleep until the game night.
Q: Are you looking for a Subway endorsement?
A: (Smile) No, but it sounds like it, so if you know anyone over there, flick ‘em my way. I pay every time, too, so …
Q: What’s your go-to at Subway?
A: I’m pretty basic. I just get the chicken strips on the Italian herb and cheese, with heaps of salad, avocado, mayo and sweet chili.
Q: How did your love for footy begin?
A: I think it’s probably my family. I grew up in Brisbane, and all I ever knew was Rugby League in the backyard over here. I grew up with a footy in my hands the whole time. My relatives were saying my dad used to take me to the games in a nappy, and that’s where I started my love for the Broncs.
Q: Who were some of your favorite players growing up?
A: Sam Burgess or Sonny Bill Williams, they were my kinda idols — big, athletic guys who could put on big hits and intimidate some people. They just looked like guys that people loved to go watch, but their teammates loved to play with, most of them.
Q: Do you consider yourself an intimidator?
A: I wouldn’t say I’m an intimidator. Long hair doesn’t get you that far (smile). I just enjoy competing. I think I’m pretty easygoing off the field, but when you work hard with your teammates year in, year out, I think when you cross the line, it’s kinda all bets are off.
Q: Tell me about studying physiotherapy.
A: It’s enjoyable. It gives me something off the field to do. Just trying to get a degree under my belt. I have one year to go. My mom was the academic lady, and always pushed me to use my brain rather than my body.
Q: What were your impressions of the Patriots-Giants game at MetLife Stadium?
A: It got a bit exciting towards the back end, it was a bit slower the first half. Some of the receivers and that look a bit smaller than me, but then some of those O-line boys looked a lot bigger than me. It’s a game for all.
Q: What did you think of the physicality of the game?
A: It’s definitely physical, it’s pretty impressive to see. I think even some of the littler guys like your Saquon Barkleys and your running backs how they fly into the bigger bodies … it’s such an explosive sport. I’m not sure how many pounds those big O-line boys weigh, but at any speed, it’s gonna hurt.
Q: Which successful people have you studied, and what have you learned about them?
A: Mike Tyson. Sonny Bill Williams. I’ve read Bill Belichick’s book. Andre Agassi, really enjoyed Andre Agassi’s story, I think that’s an awesome read. … Phil Knight from Nike, I enjoyed his book. I like to see stories of people who might get counted out or come from nothing and being able to make something of themselves. When people’s hard work shines through, I really enjoy that.
Q: You should have introduced yourself to Belichick.
A: I should have, I should have! I actually got lucky, I went to that game and then got to go to the Suns versus Knicks game at MSG. Suns are my team, I’m a bit of a Devin Booker fan. He hit the game-winner that night, which was pretty cool. No disrespect to Bill, but it was pretty cool to see that.
Q: You’d be a running back maybe, right?
A: I don’t know if I’m quick enough. I wish I’d be a tight end, but I’m probably not big enough either. All them tight end boys look pretty in the NFL. I don’t know if I’m good-looking enough (smile).
Q: One of them is dating Taylor Swift.
A: Yeah, Travis Kelce. It’s making its waves over here in Australia, so must be big over there.
Q: What other players do you like?
A: Travis Kelce’s a personal fave. George Kittle, Aaron Donald of the Rams, Stefon Diggs of the Bills. They express themselves pretty cool and pretty unique personalities.
Q: You like Kittle because of the hair, right?
A: Yeah, you might say that, ‘cause it’s pretty similar (smile). Yeah, something like that.
Q: How long have you grown your hair out?
A: I had it when I did my ACL. I trim it. … I try to keep it this length, tied up for the games. In that awkward phase, it looked a bit rough, it was in my face. My dad was a bit off, so he thought I should cut it off.
Q: So what’s it like being a sex symbol?
A: (Laugh) It’s not real. I wish I knew.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Martin Luther King, Michael Jordan, Matthew McConaughey.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Training Day.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Matthew McConaughey.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Margot Robbie.
Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?
A: Probably Morgan Wallen or Eminem.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Barbecue … steak … shrimp on the barbie (laugh).
Q: Aren’t you a scrambled eggs and avocado guy?
A: I am, I am. That would be hard to order in America, but it’s a bit of a staple Aussie breakfast.
Q: I’ve never been to Australia. Should I go?
A: You definitely should come to Australia. The weather for one — we don’t hit negative in temperature, so that’s good. … The beaches and the people. And the sport — NRL.
Q: What would you want your legacy to be?
A: Well, first thing I hope I’ve achieved championships to my name when I finish, but probably a guy that competed for everything and earned everything he got. And probably first and foremost if my teammates were ones that said I was a guy that they wanted to play with every week and was that first guy they wanted to be able to stand side by side. I hope I go out as a winner, but if not, then someone who never gave up.
