Albury Thunder coach Adrian Purtell opens up about personal challenges

The 35-year-old former Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers star became a fans favourite during six years with English side Bradford Bulls.

But an unhappy season at London Broncos was the trigger for Purtell to return home to Albury where he faced the reality that life would never be the same again.

"It was really tough," he said. "I went through some hard times when I retired.

"I've spoken to a lot of friends who have had the same thing because it's been your life and it's a privilege to play professional sport.

"Jeez, it's fun. You're with your mates every day and you've got plenty of spare time whether you're playing ping-pong, going to the mall and getting a coffee or eating out.

"You're treated like a rock star but then you just come back and it's like 'that's it, what do I do now?'

"That's been my image for the last 13 or 14 years and without realising, that's what you put your self-worth on - 'I'm this sportsman, I've done this, people come and talk to me because I play sport' and when you come home you don't have the people patting you on the back after a big win or people asking for your autograph.

"I've definitely matured and grown as a person but it was very challenging coming back. I was lost for a while.

"I was working at the meatworks so I'd gone from playing professional sport to chucking out bits of offal on hot days with flies in my face.

"It wasn't that I thought I was too good for that, it was just a change in culture and something I needed to adjust to.

"But now I'm really enjoying life and the slower pace of Albury."

Having trained full-time throughout his career, Purtell only has two hours a week to work with his Thunder players.

"I still haven't completely come round to that," he admitted.

"I still turn up to training and have some expectations of players like it is a professional environment.

"I have to step away from it sometimes and say 'Adrian, this is a hobby, these guys are working hard Monday to Friday and this could be a release for them.'

"At this level, we only get to train twice a week and most times these guys have worked eight-hour days so when they come to footy training they're going to be fatigued even more.

"I like to keep the sessions to an hour so it's a matter of trying to get the balance of the technical, the fitness and the game plan stuff.

"I can't engage in too much technical stuff at times so it's a matter of making sure everyone's comfortable and managing the emotions and personalities well so they come to training with the right attitude and rip in."

Despite not being able to "engage in too much technical stuff", Purtell believes Albury Thunder can do "something special" this season.

Defeat in last year's Group 9 minor semi-final represented improvement by Purtell's side but he wants more in 2020.

"We knocked off all the top teams and came within seven points of Tumut, who went on to win the competition but in sport, close isn't good enough," said Purtell.

"That just sticks more fire in the belly for this year, to try to improve and go one better.

"I'm really optimistic.

"I've seen these players grow as people and as players and we've made some really handy additions.

"They're really mature off the field, which I think makes a big difference and can show some of our younger guys a different approach to their football.

"I thought we were a really good team last year and potentially unlucky in our last game of the year to go down to Tumut.

"But you start the year on zero points and zero wins, the same as everyone else and I'm really confident with the signings and the local guys I've got that we can do something special."

This will be Purtell's third season as coach and the 35-year-old admits he's still a work in progress.

"It's definitely a challenge," he said.

"I've got a greater appreciation for coaching now I'm in that role.

"As a player, you're quite selfish and have a 'poor me' mentality at times but now the shoe's on the other foot I just wish I could have gone back to my playing days and bought into it a little bit more of what the coach was trying to do.

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"My whole career has been based on hard work so that was one of the main theories behind the way I would coach.

"But over the years I've evolved as a person.

"I guess that has changed my coaching philosophy in understanding the mind a little bit more and understanding the body from a more holistic approach, getting away from the old-school 'right, let's just flog these blokes' and being more meaningful in what we do and having a reason for doing it that way.

"Our season isn't kicking off until after Easter this year, April 19, so it makes for a really long pre-season but at this stage all the guys are training really well.

"We've tried to mix it up, do a few fun things and keep everyone engaged.

"Everyone's putting in the work which we'll need to do if we want to be successful this year."