Retired NRL player Sam Burgess is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars to sign up for this year s season of SAS Australia.
But it seems the show s directing staff didn t play favourites or go easy on the ex-Rabbitohs footballer, 32, according to chief instructor Ant Middleton.
Ant, 40, proudly told The Daily Telegraph he and his colleagues, all of whom are former British Special Forces soldiers, crushed Sam during the selection course. We crushed him : SAS Australia chief instructor Ant Middleton has revealed he identified Sam Burgess (pictured) biggest weakness and exploited it during the brutal selection course Just because he is a big lump, I am not scared to try and push those buttons, Ant said, revealing how he rooted out and exploited Sam s weaknesses.
An open letter to Eddie McGuire A Set the default text size A Set large text size
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Dear Eddie,
You came to Collingwood when the club was on its knees – just ten years after their historical drought-breaking 1990 flag, the club was now a wooden spooner, struggling financially, and rudderless.
You poached premiership coach Mick Malthouse from his West Coast contract, and rebuilt Collingwood into an off-field powerhouse. Share
You had to oversee the heartbreak of the 2002–03 grand final losses but, amazingly, after just two years out of the finals, the club was already trending back upwards. Despite losing a swath of experienced champions over 2007–09, Collingwood made the preliminary final in 2009, and won the flag in 2010.
Share We know he s tough, but it s a mental strength of how much he wants it in that moment, is that right? Wippa asked. It comes down to mental strength to be honest. I won t give too much away, but you ve named a good one there, Billy, a decorated former SAS solider, replied.
Contender: It comes down to mental strength to be honest. I won t give too much away, but you ve named a good one there, the decorated former SAS solider said. Pictured: Sam Burgess
Co-host Sarah McGilvray then asked Billy, who shares a son and a daughter with his ex-wife Phoebe, if Sam had impressed the Directing Staff.
Share A good few dropped in the first couple of days, but once we get them in that mindset and headspace you see a change in them, he added.
Ant also told radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson that former NRL star Sam Burgess was someone we had to get a grip of . I ve never done so much shouting in my life and spitting at people s faces so they frustrated me a lot but we got so much out of them. A good few dropped in the first couple of days, Ant told The Kyle and Jackie O Show
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During his chat with Kyle and Jackie O, Ant revealed a good few celebrities quit the show, which recently finished filming in the Blue Mountains, within the first few days. I ve never done so much shouting in my life and spitting at people s faces so they frustrated me a lot but we got so much out of them, he said.
Comfortable: Ant wore a grey jumper, white T-shirt and black jeans for his visit to KIIS FM A good few dropped in the first couple of days, but once we get them in that mindset and headspace you see a change in them, he added.