Leigh Leopards stalwart Dan Norman can't wait for the Super League season with his new club, and revealed he has a burning passion away from the sport.
The Ireland international has just completed pre-season preparations with new club Leigh, having signed a two-year contract with the Challenge Cup winners from St Helens in the off-season.
Norman is only 26 years old and has plenty of time left in his professional rugby league career, but he is already making plans for his future beyond his playing days.
Norman is a qualified personal trainer and now uses his time away from the rugby league field to run a successful online coaching business.
“I do online coaching. I started it during lockdown to help people get fit for holidays and things like that,” Norman said. I love rugby league At Lee's media day.
“I have a real passion for it too. Helping someone reach their full potential with their health and physique is satisfying and I enjoy doing that away from rugby. 'It kind of takes my mind away from rugby and it's something that I want to work on when I'm done playing and I want to continue to develop that. ”
Originally from Warrington, Norman grew up in the Widnes Vikings academy where his passion for physical fitness and mental health began.
“I've always played sports and my family is very interested in training and the gym,” he continued.
“I came through at Widnes University and they really valued how fit and strong you were during that period.
“I had some great role models like Hep Cahill, who taught me how to manage myself, how to deliver myself in training, and how to deliver myself away from training. He was someone I looked up to because of how hard he pushed himself. He was a really big role model for me, so I'm carrying that on.”
Dan Norman talks about how his time at St Helens helped him become a Super League regular with Leigh Leopards
Norman spent the past three seasons at St Helens, making 21 first-team appearances for the Red Vs while enjoying loan spells at Salford Red Devils, Swinton Lions and Leigh.
At 6ft 5in tall and weighing 109kg, the big front rower didn't play as well as he expected for the Saints, but said his foundation in a championship environment helped shape him into the established super player he was. talk. Leopards league player.
“They've been the best team in recent years and they've achieved the World Club Challenge and their history of winning four in a row, so it was great to be a part of that,” Norman said. I love rugby league When I look back on my time with the Saints.
“They've got some world-class players in a good system, so I think we're in a good place moving forward now to bring those good habits over here and start my career. Masu.”
“It was very good[here in Leigh]. It didn't really feel like I was joining a new club, because I had played here a few times on loan and I already knew all the players anyway. .So it wasn't like going to a new club.''A new club, if that makes sense.'' It's good, they're good players here and they have a good relationship with the coaching staff.
“I just want to keep improving. I still have a lot left and I still have a long way to go, so I just want to keep improving and build on what the players achieved last year and hopefully take another step forward. We want to move forward.”
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Representing Ireland in the Rugby League World Cup
Born and raised in Warrington, Norman is of Irish descent through his grandfather and made his international debut for Ireland at the Rugby League World Cup just over a year ago.
“I'm originally from Warrington and have Irish heritage through my grandfather, who now lives in Canada and is now a Canadian citizen,” Norman said.
“He's from Ireland and it was also a really good experience for me to represent him and his family on the Irish side at the World Cup. We had a good crack there and it was a great experience.”
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