Nathan Friend is the NRL captain who lays bricks in his spare time

HARD work, determination and not afraid to roll his sleeves up ... why Titans captain Nathan Friend is the perfect man to lead a Gold Coast revival.

QLD_CM_SPORT_FRIEND_11MAR16

NATHAN Friend is the NRL captain who lays bricks in his spare time.

The Gold Coast Titans wrote a fairytale story this season when the foundation hooker returned for an $80,000 swan song.

He is now a co-captain of the club alongside William Zillman and works casually as a bricklayer to supplement his income and prepare for life after football.

Friend completed a three-year masonry apprenticeship before scoring a fulltime NRL contract with the Broncos in 2002.

He has only done “odd jobs” during his 15 seasons as an NRL player but at 35 understands he must start preparing for when he hangs up the headgear.

While many club captains are on contracts north of $500,000-a-season, Friend is playing for the love of the game.

“I’ve been out of the trade for a while,” Friend said.

“I like to be active and I see life-after-footy will be in the building trade somewhere.

“Whether it’s renovations or bricking out new homes, I feel that’s where I’ll be so I have to get hands-on, get a feel for it and my knowledge back up again.”

Titans co-captain Nathan Friend keeps busy on his days off working as a bricklayer. Pics Adam Head

Friend worked eight hours on a job at Hope Island on Friday, trained with the Titans on Saturday and will lead them on to AAMI Park in Melbourne against his former club.

One day on the tools would be enough to make many feel like they need the rest of the week off but the 172cm Friend said it helps him stay fit.

“It’s the shoulders and lower back that’s required to do the work and they’re pretty strong with all the weights we do,” he said.

“You just have to get used to eight hours on your feet with only a half-hour break.

“League keeps you pretty fit.”

Friend, who played 34 matches for the Storm between 2003-06, is the second oldest player in the NRL behind Newcastle’s Jeremy Smith and played in the Titans’ first match in 2007.

He spent four seasons with the Warriors before Titans coach Neil Henry offered him a one-year deal to add some experience to his forward pack.

A veteran of 222 NRL appearances, Friend adheres to a strict diet “high in healthy fats, low in carbohydrates” and has undergone multiple shoulder operations but feels as fit as he ever has.

“The body’s a wonderful thing. I’ve treated it well and it’s repaid me,” he said.

Nathan Friend keeps busy on his days off working as a bricklayer. Pics Adam Head

“I’ve moved back because I enjoy the Coast and thought the club was in a rebuilding phase and I could help. I wanted to enjoy my footy once again.

“We’ve got a great group of guys, coaching staff and support crew. I appreciate I had the opportunity to come back and now I’m here I’m loving it.

“I’ve signed for one year and I was lucky to get that seeing as the club has a couple of hookers.

“I need to perform well. Hopefully I have another year of football left in me beyond this year.”

As for his bricklaying talents following a 14-year break?

“The bricks I’ve been laying lately get rendered so that helps,” he laughed.