In elite rugby environments, mindset isn’t just a personal trait—it becomes the DNA of a team. I want to share a powerful story that highlights how quickly a team’s culture can shift and how adopting either a fighter or victim mentality can massively influence performance.
While working in a high-level rugby program, I saw firsthand how fast perception can flip. One coach was targeted after a single block at training didn’t go well. Comments started flying:
"This bloke’s terrible... he doesn’t know how to run a drill... what are we even doing here?"
What followed was a snowball effect—within hours, five players had turned on the coach and were pushing to have him removed from the program. It was eye-opening. One rough session was all it took to plant seeds of doubt and spread negativity throughout the squad.
This is exactly what happens when a victim mentality starts to take hold. It infects the team, spreads fast, and becomes the dominant culture before you even realise it.
From Victim to Fighter: The Melbourne Storm Example
When I spent two seasons with the Melbourne Storm, one of them was during the peak of the COVID era. The team was forced to live in a resort bubble—stuck away from home, families, and all the comforts of routine. This could have been a breeding ground for complaints, excuses, and a complete breakdown of team morale. But instead, they made a conscious decision.
They chose to live in a fighter mentality.
It didn’t matter if their rooms got moved because of cleaning, or if they had to sit apart on the team bus due to protocol. Every challenge was met with the same response:
"We’ve got this. Let’s get on with it."
That mindset filtered through the entire squad. It wasn’t just a motivational quote slapped on the wall—it became the standard. And when the season finished, their on-field performance was a direct result of what they cultivated off the field.
Why It Matters in Your Rugby Journey
If you’re a player, coach, or part of a rugby club, this concept is massive.
At an individual level, how you approach adversity in training, competition, and even life can define your results. If you're constantly pointing fingers, blaming others, or leaning on excuses, you're operating as a victim. But if you're looking at setbacks as chances to grow, adjust, and push harder—you’re operating as a fighter.
At a team level, mindset is contagious. Leaders and coaches have to set the tone, but so do players. Victim thinking can drag down a squad. Fighter thinking lifts it.
3 Questions to Check Your Mentality
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Do I complain or do I adapt?
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Do I blame others or take ownership?
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Do I look for problems or solutions?
If you lean toward the first half of those questions, it might be time for a shift.
Final Takeaway
Whether you're chasing high performance, coaching a team, or simply navigating life—adopting a fighter mentality will always take you further. In rugby, like life, culture is king. Be the kind of player or coach who builds a strong one.