Josh Mansour’s run-in with Ivan Drago

JOSH Mansour’s impressive physique is admired by Panthers fans - it also just happened to catch the eye of a Hollywood heavyweight.

IT’S been impossible to miss Josh Mansour with his shirt off at Penrith training in recent months as the mercury often soared out west.

And while Mansour’s impressive physique is admired by Panthers’ fans, it also just happened to catch the eye of a Hollywood heavyweight.

Mansour recalled being on the Gold Coast for the NRL clash against the Titans last season when he crossed paths Dolph Lundgren, or the man mountain better known as Ivan Drago in the film Rocky IV.

“I went for breakfast in the hotel with a few of the boys and we were a bit starstruck when we spotted him, we couldn’t believe he was sitting near us,’’ Mansour said.

Josh Mansour during a Panthers training session at Pepper Stadium. Picture Gregg Porteous

“We didn’t say anything to him as we walked off, but (Panthers’ trainer) Alan Mair approached him and started to talk to him. Right before he (Lundgren) left, he said to Al, ‘the guy with the basketball shirt, he’s very strong’.

“He was referring to me. He even said ‘strong’..

“I didn’t know he had said that until later in the day. I thought it was funny. He was massive. He’s tall and still chiselled.

“I’ve always loved the gym. Ever since I’ve come through the ranks, I’ve loved ripping into the weights. I also put a lot of effort into what I eat as well. I try to stay as fit as I can. I actually feel the fittest I’ve felt this pre-season. There’s still a bit to go, so hopefully I can get a bit stronger.’’

Mansour said fullback Matt Moylan looked after his body, but quipped prop Jeremy Latimore “loves his vanilla ice-cream, and you can tell when you look at his body’’.

Dolph Lundgren.

Josh Mansour.

The bearded flyer was just one of the many Penrith big guns plagued by injury this time last year.

After being robbed of a pre-season because of shoulder and ankle surgeries, Mansour said he always had to play catch-up.

“And during the season you want to be maintaining what you’ve got rather than trying to build, so it was tough to get back to full fitness,’’ Mansour said.

“I injured myself in that Gold Coast game as I went to dive on the ball for a try. My knee got caught in a solid tackle. The doc told me I’d done my medial ligament, I was back running four weeks later, which (I was told) was pretty phenomenal, but I felt it go again during a training session before my comeback game.

“I was out eight or nine weeks, and when I did return against the Wests Tigers, I did it again in the last minute, and missed another month.’’

Having already represented Australia at the end of 2014, Mansour is now keen to chase his Origin dream and play for the Blues. He says it’s at the top of his to-do list, and knows rep honours will come if he can stay on the park and play well.

Mansour will form a handy combination on the Panthers’ left wing with new recruit Peta Hiku. The Penrith back five features Moylan, Mansour, Hiku, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Dean Whare, which will trouble most sides.

Originally published as Josh Mansour’s run-in with Ivan Drago