Former NRL star Wendell Sailor reveals the crazy weights he lifted in his prime
Tristan Sailor turned heads when word came out he was squatting 300kg in the gym, but his old man Wendell reckons he’s got it beat.
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Wendell Sailor has revealed the secret to son Tristan’s standout gym sessions with St George Illawarra — genetics.
Among the breakout stars of the NRL Nines, 21-year-old Sailor also made headlines in Perth over the weekend after confirming his ability to box squat a staggering 300kg.
Despite weighing just 85kg, the Dragons rookie now sits top three at his club for the gym lift – with Korbin Sims best at 310kg – while also insisting he could hit a regular squat of “around 200kg”.
Yet speaking on Triple M’s Dead Set Legends over the weekend, Sailor’s old man revealed that, at the same age, he was squatting 240kg under the tutelage of famed Brisbane Broncos trainer Kelvin Giles.
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Asked about his son’s revelations in The Saturday Telegraph, dual international Wendell Sailor was then asked what he was doing at the same age?
“Other than playing for Australia?” he cackled.
“I was at the Broncos and Kelvin Giles had me squatting 240kg, full squats. I was 20.
“When I came into grade, I was only 86 to 88 kilos. And in two years, I went ‘bang’.
“Gordie Tallis used to give it to me.
“Said, ‘mate, you weren’t that big when you were at North Queensland. What were you doing at the Broncos?’.
“I said, ‘training hard brother’.”
The duel international also described his son, who will be pushing for a spot in the Dragons backline this year, as a “late bloomer” who recognises 2020 as “his opportunity”.
“People who have been in and around the game for a while, they know he’s been pretty dominant in those lower grades, in the twenties and ten doing some good stuff in reserve grade,” Sailor said.
“He got his taste (NRL debut) against the Roosters last year.
“So it’s been coming.
“He’s had a really good re-season and knows for him this is his opportunity.
“He’s a bit of a late bloomer.
“Came through with Victor Radley, Lachlan Lam, Campbell Graham, they were all in NSW Schoolboys together. They won the State championship.
“Tristan missed out on the Australian Schoolboys to Nick Cotric, who was like he is now, a big strong body.
“But he just rolls with it and I’m really happy for him.
“He’s a different personality to me too. He loves his books.”