High Steaks: How criticism in politics is a ‘whole other level’ to being in professional sport

In an exclusive interview, new dad David Pocock opens up about shielding his new baby from the brutality of politics, shedding the ghost of rugby stardom and why he’s a different type of independent.

He’s stared down the All Blacks in a Rugby World Cup final and tackled the major parties in parliament.

But David Pocock’s biggest challenge may be yet to come – fatherhood.

In his first sit-down interview since the birth of his child, the former Wallaby turned Independent Senate kingmaker spoke candidly about why he is keeping details of he and wife Emma’s new boy scant.

“We’ve been trying to keep it private … I’ve been in rugby (where) you’re in the public eye, and you cop criticism. But in politics, it’s a whole other level,” he said, following the November birth.

“When you’re playing rugby, you don’t get crazy threats emailed in.

“So (we’re) really trying to have a bit of privacy family-wise, for as long as we can.

“People can abuse me and tell me what they think, that’s fine …(but) I think once the focus turns to … your wife and kids, that’s … too far.”

Senator David Pocock and his wife Emma are trying to keep details of their son private. Picture: Instagram

Despite the pressure politics places on family life, Pocock is gearing up for re-election, just three years after he made history by becoming the first independent ACT Senator.

Unlike state Senators, who get six-year terms, their territory counterparts have to win over voters every three.

It means, as the prospect of an election campaign looms, Canberra local Pocock has to squeeze in a High Steaks lunch between his own campaign office being set up and back-to-back meetings.

Former Wallaby turned politician David Pocock at The Old Canberra Inn. Picture: Martin Ollman

David Pocock cut out the carbs with slaw and salad on the side of his 300 gram Riverina rump steak. Picture: Martin Ollman

We meet out the back of The Old Canberra Inn, conveniently located between the various commitments the ACT Senator has to run to.

We both order a 300 gram Riverina rump steak, medium-rare, with Pocock cutting out the carbs with slaw and salad on the side.

Before he comes, I’m informed his wife Emma has enforced a sugar ban on the pair, not that sweet treats make up much of the famously fit former athlete’s diet, so my offers of a Coke to wash it down are politely rebuffed.

Given his measured, considered manner of speaking, combined with how quickly his political stocks have risen, it’s almost easy to overlook the decade-plus career he forged in professional rugby after moving here as a teenager from Zimbabwe.

Pocock wasn’t just a Wallaby – he was a great Wallaby, with more than 80 international matches and three men’s world rugby player of the year nominations under his belt.

David Pocock playing for the Wallabies against Manu Samoa in 2019. Picture: AAP Image/David Gray

And he admits the transition period between retiring from professional sport in 2020 and getting elected in 2022 was ­difficult.

“For the first … two, maybe three seasons after I retired, I couldn’t watch (a game of rugby),” he said.

“I was still getting nervous watching the Brumbies and Wallabies, I was getting nervous for the team, and then, when the commentators criticised them, I’d get really angry at the commentators.

“But I think I’ve got to the point now where I can just enjoy it.”

Pocock said the realisation he could fully appreciate watching footy again hit him when, perched in the stands with a farmer mate at a ­Brumbies Super Rugby game, he was called upon to provide some halftime comments on TV.

When the presenter asked Pocock what he was seeing at the breakdown – a domain he dominated for most of his life – he had little to say.

“What went through my head (when I was asked) was that I’ve been sitting chatting to (my mate in the stands) … I’m not analysing the game and working out who’s doing what … so, yeah, that’s been enjoyable,” he said.

While the days of clattering into 120kg South Africans and Kiwis are over for Pocock, he wasted no time bringing his robust style to politics.

With Labor in minority in the Senate, he rapidly became a crucial vote on the crossbench – with the government’s need for his support helping him secure a whopping 220 amendments.

The 36-year-old Pocock has criticism for both Labor’s most recent term and the prospect of a Coalition government, accusing the Albanese Government of not being “ambitious enough” in facing challenges like housing and cost of living.

David Pocock with crossbench MPs and community sector leaders during a press call about cost of living in February. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

He adds he has “real concerns” about the track record of the Coalition “and just how genuine they are on climate and the environment”.

Despite receiving funding from the Climate 200 juggernaut in 2022, he says he doesn’t identify as a Teal.

He maintains that his campaign platform was broader than that of the Teal lower house MPs who picked up crucial seats in Sydney and Melbourne.

“If you look at my policy platform at the last election, it was pretty broad,” he said.

“I’ve really tried to push on things like cost of living, housing (and) security of payments for tradies and subcontractors.

“I’m accountable to people in the ACT, and I view my job as serving them.”

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