PODCAST: The 'Big Marn' with a big life

DARRYL Brohman had just returned from holidays when he found out The Footy Show had been cancelled. The Big Marn, as he is affectionately known, had been a popular member of the show. But like most things he does in life, the lovable larrikin took it in his stride. A knowledgeable and admired face in the game, Brohman played over 100 NRL games and two State of Origin games. The first being the most controversial as his jaw was broken by an opposing player and Brohman took legal action.

LISTEN: Get the full chat with Darryl Brohman here:

Matt Collins:

I don't want to dwell on the broken jaw, but do you think it was because of the injury that you didn't go as far as you could?

Darryl Brohman:

No. I don't think so. However in saying that, had I not broken my jaw that night I probably would have been picked for Australia. I truly believe that. That hurts me a little bit that I didn't get that opportunity. I know in my heart if I had of been a bit fitter and a bit more dedicated to the game I would've reached greater heights.

MC:

You went on to coaching after your playing days, how did you end up coaching at the Broncos?

DB:

I coached the Broncos the first year they came into the comp in 1988, reserve grade, under the great Wayne Bennett. I got sack just at the end of the year by him. Then I got a call out of the blue from Phil Gould. He was looking for a reserve grade coach at the Bulldogs. Then the year after that he got the flick from the dogs and we ended up at the Panthers. He won the premiership with the first grade team that year. He took me as an assistant coach, but to be honest all I did was, what you do, drink coffee and eat donuts.

MC:

Was that hard to do? Someone with your talents, was that tough?

DB:

No, I love eating donuts.

MC:

But you would've been a wasted man on the sidelines Darryl.

DB:

I actually thought I'd be a good coach, but I wasn't. To be a good coach you have to be a special breed of person and I just wasn't that breed. I think I've got a reasonable knowledge of the game and I understand the game pretty well. But I did have trouble getting my thoughts across to the players and I think that showed.

MC:

But then you got a call out of the blue to do radio?

DB:

Yeah, I've been very fortunate with the media over the past 20 years. Especially the last seven or eight years I have been able to earn a decent living out of it. I've been very lucky.

MC:

I'm interested to know, what do you think are your strengths and weaknesses in working in the media?

DB:

Um, I am sort of one of those blokes who knows his deficiencies. I know I am not the best looking bloke in the world, I am not one of the great word smiths. I make a lot of mistakes, I probably use some words in the wrong context. But I realise I do that and I just try to be myself.

MC:

How did The Footy Show gig first come up for you?

DB:

I am great mates with Fatty (Paul Vautin) and he was doing The Footy Show. We both have a mate, Johnny Gibbs and he asked me if I wanted to do a small segment on the show. They liked it and I got asked back again and out of the blue I got a pretty regular gig there.

MC:

After 20 plus years, the show recently finished up. You saw that closer than most people. What were one or two things that were the demise of the Footy Show?

DB:

Thursday Night Football came in which hurt the show badly. The game would start at about 8pm and we wouldn't come on till about 10pm. I think most people, and I was the same, I'd get tired after the footy and so as soon as the footy was over I'd just go to bed. I think that was the beginning of it. A few years ago, we ended up moving to a Wednesday night but no one even knew it was on on a Wednesday night.

LISTEN: Get the full chat with Darryl Brohman here: