For the past two decades Paul "The Chief" Harragon has been one of the most recognisable and respected personalities in the world of Rugby League.
From 1989 – 1999 "The Chief" played 169 matches for his beloved Newcastle Knights and represented Country, NSW and Australia. He led the Knights to victory in what is considered one of the modern era's most memorable grand finals against the Manly Sea Eagles in 1997.
Following his retirement two years later, "The Chief" continued to be a part of the game by being a director with the Knights and within his high profile role as a panellist for Channel Nine's The Footy Show which has its final 2008 broadcast on Thursday.
In September he released Gold, a tongue and cheek charity pop single, which debuted at No.8 on the ARIA Singles chart. He lives in Newcastle with his wife and three children.
The Epoch Times: Why the nickname "The Chief"?
Paul Harragon: From the movie called One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest with Jack Nicholson. There was a Chief in it who was basically a big tall mute. As a young fella I was very quiet, an introvert.
ET: What are the effective ingredients that make up a leader?
PH: Leading can be done in lots of different ways. You've got people who are natural leaders in the sense that they like organising or talking in front of people and really like being out in front. Or you can get other people who naturally aren't leaders but who just lead by example – by their actions. I think as far as underlying qualities go you need to be courageous and have the ability to inspire in your own way. Everyone has their own style, but for me it's about really having faith in yourself and everyone else will come with you, and that's what leadership is to me, I think.
ET: What inspires you?
PH: As you get older you seem to change a little bit, the [earlier] individual goals and achievements were great and they drove me as a young bloke, but they have faded away a bit and now time goes so quick. I've got a family; I know that that is the centre of all things. It doesn't matter what you do in your vocation; no one really cares too much about it in 30 years time. Whether you were a chief executive of a big company or you made this team – no one really cares except your family. Your kids will only know if you were there for them or you weren't. I'm really a dad now, and that is my highest sense of duty. Apart from that, you know like everyone else, you try and do a little bit of good for the greater good, you try and help out here and there by doing different things.
ET: Are there pressures in being a public figure?
PH: I am still involved with the football club and every little thing that goes right or wrong there. You get people who say "what's going on" and you find that a bit tough. With the kids they sometime may see dad on a commercial, but they seem fine about it. Overall I don't find it so much of an inconvenience. It's been pretty positive more than anything.
ET: What do you hope the future holds for you?
PH: I don't know what lies, but maybe something in the business world or something different. All I know is that I enjoyed my football but had enough in the end and wanted to move on. I have enjoyed this stage as well and you know a couple more years, or however it goes for, and look forward to something else. The future is nice and simple for me; slow it down, enjoy the moment, and try to learn a little bit more about why we are here and what's going on is a bit more of a passion of mine among other things.