State of Origin 2025: Queensland Maroons prop Lindsay Collins spends $1000-a-week on groceries to fuel his NRL career

Lindsay Collins’ $1000-a-week grocery bill has divided Australians but the Maroons prop makes no apologies for the diet that’s driving him to State of Origin success.

This is the $1000-a-week grocery bill fuelling Queensland’s new Origin ironman.

Maroons prop Lindsay Collins’ strict diet and dedication to thriving in the NRL has divided Australians – but he makes no apologies.

The towering 106kg Collins gorges on grass fed beef, free range chicken, organic eggs and mountains of avocados in a bid to stay at the top of his game with the Roosters, Maroons and Kangaroos.

Collins’ wife Kaylah caused a stir earlier this year after posting a video on social media outlining the family’s weekly grocery shop amid Australia’s cost-of-living crisis.

The Bondi-based couple, parents to 11-month-old daughter Georgia, shop exclusively at farmer’s markets and organic butchers to fuel Collins’ 6000 calories-a-day intake.

Collins, 29, said his diet played a major role in his NRL success ahead of his 13th Origin for Queensland in Wednesday’s series-opener at Suncorp Stadium.

Maroons prop Lindsay Collins is gearing up for his 13th State of Origin game. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“I’d love to not spend $1000-a-week on f***ing groceries but that’s what I’ve got to do,” he said.

“If I didn’t have to spend that much I wouldn’t.

“I’m also trying to fuel my family with the right stuff. It’s bigger than me.”

A Brisbane junior, Collins has been constantly tinkering with his diet since making his NRL debut for the Roosters in 2017 and has worked with former NSW fullback Anthony Minichiello, a wholefoods advocate.

With 117 NRL games and nine Tests for Australia now under his belt, the bruising prop forward has learned what works, and what doesn’t, for him.

“I used to have Weet-Bix with sugar on them every morning,” Collins said.

“I learnt over time through the club and associating myself with other people. I’ve done my own research and listen to who I like.

“You test, try and figure out what works and what doesn’t work for you. It’s been a long trial and I’m still working out the kinks.

“We had some good role models at the club. I’ve touched base with ‘Mini’ and he’s had a big part in that culture around how we fuel ourselves.

“We are professional athletes and have to look after ourselves.

“It’s not only your footy career – it’s also life after. There is a huge impact in what food can have on your body and how you feel.”

Collins and wife Kaylah follow a strict diet. Source: Instagram

Collins loads up on beef mince, eggs and avocado for breakfast, snacks on fruit and yoghurt during the day and usually has steak for dinner, which he admits Kaylah has grown tired of.

He steers clear of gluten, heavily processed and fast foods.

You won’t catch him scoffing burgers, chips and six cans of Coke Zero for breakfast like Blues winger Brian To’o.

“I try to stay away from anything with more than four ingredients and all the processed stuff,” Collins said.

“If I don’t know what the ingredients are I usually won’t eat them.

Collins loves playing for Queensland. Pic Peter Wallis

“I’ve got a farmers market down the road from me where I get my fruit and veg from and a butcher I get all my meat from. It’s all grass-fed and sourced well.

“Don’t get me wrong, I still indulge every now and then but there are rules I follow.

“My guilty pleasure is chicken wings from a local burger store. I stay away from the fast food chains.”

Whatever Collins is doing seems to be working.

He has become a mainstay of the Maroons since his 2020 Origin debut and is ready to rip despite missing a month of footy with a knee injury.

“I felt like I could have come back a lot earlier but we had a bye which ended up being good because it gave me another week,” he said.

“It worked out really well. I got in a hit-out and was fortunate enough to get a call from Billy (Slater, Queensland coach).

“It’s five years on from my debut and it’s still hard to explain (what it means to play Origin). I try not to take it for granted.”