Superstar winger Josh Addo-Carr believes his Koori Knockout saga was a “blessing in disguise”, revealing how he has since changed his approach to life and football.
The Canterbury veteran was banned for two games and fined $5000 – mostly suspended – by the NRL after being caught on camera punching a rival player at the Aboriginal rugby league carnival in October.
The suspension was served during the Pacific Championships, for which Addo-Carr had initially been selected by Australia but then axed after the video was leaked.
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“To be honest it was probably a blessing in disguise,” Addo-Carr told 9News in Townsville this week.
“I know I made the wrong decision… but I’ve worked my backside off to be where I’m at right now, I’ve sacrificed a few things.”
Addo-Carr is one of the best wingers in the world but admits he was stagnating after eight seasons in the NRL.
Ahead of the All Stars game in Townsville on Friday, where he will line up for his beloved Indigenous team, he revealed big changes which have reinvigorated his mind and body.
“I’m on a diet, I only eat meat now. It’s helped me heaps, transformed my body into what I want it to be,” Addo-Carr said.
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“I think there was lamb (in All Stars camp), I pretty much ate the whole tray.
“I write in a journal now, I do the gratitude journal and all that kind of stuff.
“I don’t want to talk myself up, but I’ve achieved a lot of things in the game. I needed a change. I figured it out, and it’s made me happy.”
Addo-Carr became accustomed to success at Melbourne, winning two premierships with the Storm in five seasons.
He’s found a completely different environment at Belmore, where he won only five of the 15 games he played for the Bulldogs last season.
He’s now intent on dragging the struggling side up the ladder and into finals in 2024.