Australia's sports legends: Where are our cult heroes now?

Sporting News Australia

Australia's sports legends: Where are our cult heroes now? image

From cult heroes to bona fide legends and forgotten favourites, every athlete has a story.

From Then To Now, an original series by The Sporting News, brings you the stars of yesteryear.

In their own words, we hear the previously untold stories behind all the iconic moments from their playing careers and learn what they've been up to since leaving their sport.

Catch every episode of From Then To Now below and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more original content.


Steven Baker

Loved by Saints fans, not so much by the opposition, tough tagger Steven Baker gives us an insight into some of the dark arts he employed over the journey.


Roy Asotasi

Former Bulldogs, Rabbitohs and Kiwi front-rower reminisces on his time in the game, including the fierce rivalry with the Kangaroos.


Ian Herron

"Chook" tells us how his iconic goalkicking style came to be and what he said to Tina Turner after losing the 1993 Grand Final.


George Rose

How did the cult hero come to head up Australia's biggest boxing brand? Gorgeous George talks us through his journey from Walgett to world championship promoter.


Mark McGaw

Hear former Blues and Kangaroos centre Mark McGaw recall his dramatic Origin debut, his stint on Gladiators and how we wound up in a punch-on with Mal Meninga.


Robbie O'Davis

Former Newcastle livewire Robbie O'Davis reveals how he ended up in a paddy wagon after his epic Clive Churchill winning performance in the 1997 Grand Final and the circumstances behind his failed drug test.


Kevin Campion

The former rugby league hardman relives his memories as part of an all-conquering Broncos team and the day he put one on the chin of former teammate Shane Webcke.


Dean Widders

Dean Widders tells the story of how Artie Beetson and Brad Fittler helped him get his start in first grade and the season that went begging with the Eels.


Owen Craigie

One of rugby league's most exciting players, Owen Craigie tells the tale of his journey from the tiny town of Tingha to a first-grade premiership and the mental demons he battled along the way.


Richard Chee Quee

Former New South Wales batter Richard Chee Quee recounts his experiences playing in a stacked Blues team, scoring a ton against the might of the West Indies and fronting a rock band.


Matthew Nicholson

Matthew Nicholson reveals the incredible story behind his selection for his one and only Test match - an Ashes Boxing Day Test.


Eric Grothe

A mainstay of the powerhouse Parramatta sides of the eighties, Eric Grothe recalls the moment he learned how serious State of Origin would become.


Michael Hagan

A premiership winner as a player and coach, Michael Hagan details his journey into the Queensland Origin hot seat.


Graeme Hughes

"Heaps" has done it all, from playing for New South Wales in cricket and rugby league, to carving out a successful broadcasting career.


Sean Garlick

A captain on both sides of the Rabbitohs-Roosters rivalry, Sean Garlick shares the story of his playing career and his highly successful pivot to the world of pies.


Adam MacDougall

A cult hero at several clubs, "Mad Dog" turned a career as a premier first-grade outside back into a multi-million dollar business, changing lives along the way.


Gary Freeman

The first Kiwi to win the Dally M Medal, notorious pest and livewire playmaker Gary Freeman walks us through his colourful career.


Jeff Fenech

Legendary boxer Jeff Fenech speaks about his first love - rugby league. The Marickville Mauler opens up on his time running around in reserve grade for the Eels.


Dr Nathan Gibbs

A mainstay of sidelines and medical rooms across Australian professional sport, before he was a doctor, Nathan Gibbs was a hard-running forward.


Todd Byrne

Former Roosters winger Todd Byrne relives that Scott Sattler tackle in the 2003 decider as well as his post-career foray into cryptocurrency.


Bruce Gibbs

A hard man in a hard era, Bruce Gibbs tells us what it was like to play under Tommy Raudonikis and Roy Masters at Wests Magpies.


Mike Whitney

From an unexpected Ashes call up to a career in television, Mike Whitney is one of Australian sport's greatest characters. We hear about rooming with Dennis Lillee, facing out Richard Hadlee in the Boxing Day Test and that iconic Tooheys commercial.


John Jones

The forward who almost pipped Alfie Langer to the Rothmans Medal, we caught up with the one and only "Jughead".


Steve Gearin

The star of the 1980 Grand Final, Steve Gearin looks back on one of the most memorable tries of all time.


Matt Seers

Lighting on his feet, Matt Seers talks us through his highlight-packed career and, more recently, finding himself behind bars.


David Hosking

Few players fit the cult hero moniker quite like "The Mule". We chatted to the former Sea Eagles forward about what made him such a hit with the fans.


Moghseen Jadwat

Moghseen Jadwat recalls his inauspicious first-grade debut as a referee and why he left the game at the peak of his powers.


Mark Tookey

From barnstorming prop forward to a blind golfer's assistant, Mark Tookey shares his incredible story.


Adam Mogg

He was ridiculed when he was a surprise pick for the Maroons, but Adam Mogg and Queensland had the last laugh.


Jamie Goddard

Like it or not, Jamie Goddard will be forever remembered for whacking Andrew Johns in Origin. The former hooker tells us what Joey did to earn that infamous belting.


David Manson

Getting in between a fired-up Mark Geyer and Wally Lewis isn't for everyone, but David Manson was happy to do it. The referee also reveals the truth behind a controversial call in the 1996 decider.


Zali Stegall

Before she was in politics, Zali Stegall was Australia's first individual Winter Olympics medallist.


Steve Mavin

It's not often you start a game in first grade and you're in the pub by half-time, but that's exactly what happened to former Souths winger Steve Mavin.


Gene Ngamu

A foundation Warrior and 25-time Kiwi representative, Gene Ngamu talks us through the memories from his playing days and how he wound up back in Sydney.

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