Trot The Egg In

Kicking off Series 11 of #Rugbystory is a Dewsbury Moor Jnr who is having a fine career. Signed as a Bradford Bulls scholar, he was "too small" so went back & enjoyed his rugby with his grassroots team. He then found his way to Leeds Rhinos that included a loan move to Featherstone Rovers. A move to Batley then materialised before a longer term move to Halifax. He returned to Batley & he's really found a home here, becoming a firm fans favourite & one of the first names on the teamsheet. Ladies & Gents Mr Dane Manning.

A small insight into my life & rugby leading up to an enforced retirement & the birth of Trot The Egg In.

A castleford fan & frequent terrace attendee, the dream was to wear that shirt in the first team. That wasn’t to be but the story that unfolded was nothing short of amazing. Playing for Leeds & Halifax led him to being a part of two unreal dynasty’s at Bradford then St Helens. Now coaching the future stars of this country. Some story.

This is a story of a lad who loved the physical sport and that to him was boxing and rugby. Stanley rangers developed him into an elite level player but a great fella. He tells me all about his pro career both sides of the touch line and how rugby can be amazing yet underhanded. Some sport rugby isn’t it?

Wakey born & bred their was only ever one team this fella would support. Wakefield trinity was the holy grail for him as a kid. Combining rugby and cricket he loved his childhood and this would continue on in his senior life too. A career at the highest level included him playing in home World Cup final & also wicket keeping on the sly for his local club. What a journey within rugby this fella has had.

A one club man when it came to his playing career, winning trophies & playing against international blokes. When coaching came along he was versatile and adaptive as his roles varied depending on the clubs requirements. Despite the previous his career either side of the touch line has been very successful. It’s now family time for Paul & very well deserved.

A lad from Bramley who just loved playing sports, regardless of which sport it was. Handy at all sports little did he realise he was shaping his future career in rugby league with all learnt attributes from these sports. He played for his hometown club & country with spells elsewhere before going on to become a player developer. What a fine fella Paul is.

This #Rugbystory heralds from Leeds & Wakefield but developed in Huddersfield. Deciding his own path from a young age Matty has always sort a challenge, turning down offers from big clubs to remain loyal to the giants and prove his worth to them. It’s not always been plain sailing, he’s had to show what he’s capable of in other environments. Plenty left to play out in this #Rugbystory yet.

A story made in London & beyond. Opportunities have been grabbed with both hands and he’s never shied away from a challenge either on home soil or abroad. A great mindset that enables him to thrive either playing or coaching on the field. Some story so far across multiple sports and organisations.

A story born on Weldon Road, Castleford. It was inevitable that he was bound for rugby league and castleford tigers. Schoolboy rugby alongside a strong willed dad and he had the ingredients to do well and achieve great things. Teaching whilst playing brought out his nurturing side and coaching was soon to arrive. Massive success was had in the challenge cup with clubs and overall doing some outstanding work with clubs that punched above their weight. What an absolute gentleman this fella is.

A story begun in QLD Australia, he made his name for his local side Casino RL before moving to Sydney to make a name for himself which he did. Playing in a couple of GF’s he decided to come to the uk, coaching took over playing and his career speaks for itself. What a #Rugbystory.

A time spent moving around South Africa as a kid with his family helped shape this legend into what he would become. St. Helens & par would become his home & St Cuthberts his eduction both on & off the field. A love was ignited & Saints were his club. Some career this great had & well his story in his own words tells it all.

A proud wiganer that harboured ambitions to become a warrior. Learning his craft through grassroots rugby it was soon noticeable this lad can play a bit. He loved smashing people and getting his hands on the ball. Hooker is the ideal place for the bloke and he excelled their for Wigan, Widnes & Swinton. A great bloke with a great story.

A story born in Hull that’s very unorthodox in its origin. Cricket was a passion with rugby union played at school but medicine was the ultimate goal. Combine medicine with sport and that’s the dream right? Listen and find out.

A story hailing from Wigan with the ultimate ambition of realising the dream of being a Wigan Warrior. Someone who made rep teams & sacrificed things in his private life to achieve his ambitions. He’s faced adversity & come out the other side. He contributes to others massively & incredibly passionate in creating safe spaces to be in & chat.

A journey in Rugby so unique, I highly doubt you’ll hear one like it again. He learnt his craft at full back & loose forward, the latter being where he was signed for Rochdale. He later embarked on a journey within coaching at the likes of Leicester Tigers, Gloucester & Sale Sharks.

Oliver hails from Brighouse & is a family man through & through. Learning more from being out with his uncle than a classroom he began his Rugby story with Old Brodelians RUFC. Siddal were soon to take over his chosen passion & Ollie excelled. He’s having a great rugby career but for me his best works come off it in his occupation. Some man is Olly.

A Widnes lad that found rugby by accident but loved it straight away. Initially playing rugby league at school an invite to a union club turned Tom into an unbelievable number seven. He remained loyal to Widnes RUFC throughout his career whilst playing rugby league for Halton Farnworth Hornets now and then. He’s a really great fella and a doting family man who has been through a lot and come out the other side. What a guy.

A story that is proudly from Bramley and represented one club in his amateur days and exactly the same in the pro game. The previous being extremely rare in a salary capped sport. He was a firm fans favourite and epitomises why his Leeds team went so well. All the characteristics you’d want in a player but most importantly a person. Silverware was something he managed to get his hands on a lot and loved every single final he played in. What a guy.

Heralding from Wigan, what else was this man meant to be but a Rugby League player. Yet he began playing football only to led to Orrell St James & the rest is history. He became one of the first names on the team sheet wherever he went through hard work & ability. Could he have ever imagined where it would take him? I’ll be honest, I think not.