NRL legend Robbie Farah wants to run marathon, finish Rubik’s cube in 2022

He played professional footy for many years and is opening a few gyms, but super fit league legend Robbie Farah has a different goal in mind for 2022 — completing the Rubik’s cube.

After leading the Wests Tigers in the NRL for six years, captaining the Blues in the 2013 State of Origin series, and playing at an international level as part of the Kangaroos squad, you’d expect that there aren’t many mountains left to conquer for NRL legend Robbie Farah.

Yet, there is one pressing goal that the celebrated hooker has his mind set on in 2022: mastering an iconic 3D puzzle that was huge in the 1980s.

“It may sound like a funny one but I really want to complete a Rubik’s cube this year,” the 38-year-old Sydneysider, who likes to train his brain, as well as his body, says.

“I also want to run my first marathon this year, as a physical challenge. I took up running during the lockdowns and started to build my kilometres up gradually, however now that gyms are open again, I have let running go a bit but it is something that I really want to get back into this year.”

Ex-NRL player Robbie Farah is opening new gyms. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Not only are gyms open again, but Farah is opening a few himself, with BFT (Body Fit Training) studios set to open Five Dock, Marrickville and Concord (also the site of a KX Pilates studio, another one of Farah’s business ventures).

“Training always puts me into a better mental state and that is a big reason why a lot of the businesses that I have gone into are centred around fitness, as I want to be in a space that helps to improve other people’s lives,” he says.

“BFT, for example, is a nod to my training days as a footy player, as they use scientifically validated training methodologies to develop their programs into eight-week progressive training blocks, which is how we were trained by many of our S&C coaches back in the day.”

Farah says regular training is the key to staying in the right frame of mind while juggling all of his various business ventures.

“I can find myself in a rut if I am too busy to train for three or four days, but if I am in a bad mood I go out and train and that makes me feel better straight away.

“For me, regular training is just so important, and there is no better medicine, in my opinion.”

Robbie Farah on…

Mindfulness

“I do a little bit of meditation every day, even if it is just three or four minutes in the morning after my coffee. If I try to meditate for too long, I tend to lose focus and my mind starts thinking of other things. I also like positive affirmations and visualisation. When I used to play footy, I would close my eyes and visualise having a good game, how I saw the game going and what I wanted to achieve in that game. I found it put me in a very positive frame of mind and helped my game a lot, too.”

Robbie Farah in action for the Wests Tigers in 2019. Picture: AAP/Craig Golding

Best advice he’s ever been given

“As a young footy player coming into first grade, for the first couple of seasons I was injured a lot. It was tough because I obviously wanted to make it in footy, but there were a few setbacks with injuries in the early days. I was put into a squad with Michael Buettner, and he said to me once ‘The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little bit extra’. That quote stuck with me, I tried to live my life that way, both physically and mentally, ever since.”

Most important lifestyle lesson he’s learned

“One thing that comes to mind for me is giving gratitude, and that’s something I am really big on. I think in life we tend to take things for granted, but if you are grateful for what you have in life and the things that come your way, you are going to put yourself in a better frame of mind. When you focus on the good things, more positive things will come your way.”

Diet

“A good diet is important – getting good quality food, lots of whole foods, minimising food that comes out of a packet or food that is processed. Getting a good night’s sleep and lots of water/hydration is important, too. While I will very occasionally eat fast food, 90 per cent of the time I am eating good quality protein, fruit, veggies, nuts and I am staying away from packaged foods, soft drinks and junk. That is what works best for me.”

Sleep

“Sleep is so crucial for me, even now that I am post-career. I try to get at least seven hours, and anything less will leave me struggling a bit. I am an early riser, so I aim to go to bed at a decent hour. I get off my phone 30 minutes to one hour before bed to help my brain wind down for a good night’s sleep.”

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