How did you get into sport?

Don Singe - What clubs really look for in High Performance Managers with 2x NRL premiership winning Head of Performance and Coaching Manager, Manly Warringa Sea Eagles.

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Donny Singe is a New Zealand born high performance coach who is one of the most respected and longstanding S&C coaches in the NRL. During his time in the NRL he has worked close to 2 decades as Des Hasler's right hand man as the High Performance Manager for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles where he successfully won 2 premierships and a World Club Challenge. In addition, he has also been the Director of High Performance for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, NZ Māori team, as well as the New Zealand, Samoan and Cook Island national teams. Enjoy this passionate, highly diverse and authentic conversation with someone who has aided in the success of countless teams, athletes and other high performance staff go onto to make their own mark in the industry. 

Highlights from the episode…

  • Donny started his career in the NZ military and speaks on how this influenced his approach to training.
  • Donny shares an emotional story of his first client and how this was a catalyst of an incredible journey in S&C.
  • How working in a gym training clients lead to his first role in team sports in Rugby.
  • Donny shares to manage starting your career in sport when at times the pay is low, the hours are long and the rewards may seem minimal. 
  • How Donny secured roles in Japan and what he did to increase his market value in Japanese Rugby. 
  • How Donny has never experience “imposter syndrome”. How you can combat “imposter syndrome”.
  • After Japan, Donny began working with Des Hasler at the Manly Sea Eagles reserve team and how he progressed into the head role for the first team.  
  • “I am accountable to you and responsible to them”. How Donny balances his focus between coaches and players. 
  • What are High Performance Managers accountable for? What do you get judge on? You might be surprised by his answer!
  • “People don’t necessary want you to be authentic/vulnerable…they want you to be professional”. 
  • Donny shares one of his most shameful moments and what he learnt about balancing working in sport and family life. 
  • Having only completed his Masters in his 50s. What skills Donny has had to hone in the absence of formal education. 
  •  “Yes I can deliver that, Yes I will deliver that, but have we taking this into consideration?” How to avoid being a "Yes Man".
  • How Donny dealt with unwanted attention in sport after being involved in media controversy. 
  • How to manage a social media profile with class, in an industry where there is no lack of judgement and criticism.
  • Having unofficially mentored multiple teams, athletes and staff in his career, Donny is now officially mentoring those eager to pursue various facets of high performance. 


People mentioned: 

  • Des Hasler: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Hasler
  • Ronnie Palmer: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ronnie-palmer-finally-comes-home-to-wests-tigers-20171114-gzl836.html
  • Grant Jenkins: https://www.propelfit.com.au/grant-jenkins/

 
Don Singe contact details:

  • LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-singe-54694015/
  • Website -  www.donsinge.com
  • Email - [email protected]

Host: Luis Resa

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Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

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How did you get into sport?By Luis Resa