KEITH T. DENNETT | New South | CONTACT
An NRL journeyman is fumbling with some speech cards this morning as he prepares to launch into the next stage of his career on the corporate speaking circuit.
Just before stepping on stage at the Betoota Council “Small Business Allstars” Breakfast, Clint Berrigan has spoken with The Advocate about how he was going to turn years of getting concussed on the footy field into a 15 minute speech about business leadership.
With a career boasting 256 games, 14 appearances for Queensland and countless weeks on the sideline due to suspension, Betoota’s favourite NRL export is reportedly cashing in on his reputation for being the player that broke Braith Anasta’s ribs in an Origin series.
Armed with stories about his debut for the Maroons as a 19-year old and his tours with the Kangaroos, Clint said he had some good speaking tips from fellow Queensland legend Gordon Tallis, who got him into the gig in the first place.
“I think I’ll hit them with the Origin debut story, that’s what Gordy told me to lead with,” said Clint, as he reshuffled his palm cards.
“He said to name drop a few other legends early, talk about playing with ‘Locky’, ‘Tuqiri’ and ‘Langer’, just to remind everyone who you are!”
Asked if he had any real business experience to draw from, Clint said whilst he does fancy himself a bit of an entrepreneur, he’ll probably just stick to stories about how he played in a grand final with three broken fingers and eleven stitches in his ear.
“Yeah after I finished playing footy I bought into a Jims Mowing franchise with my medical retirement payout, and it’s probably breaking even at the minute.”
“But I won’t bore the guests with my taxes, they just wanna hear stories about the time I got Nathan Hindmarsh so drunk he had to climb a balcony stark naked to break into his hotel room in Paris.”
“On those were the days…”
