NRL grand final stars’ lucrative side hustle businesses: Fashion designers, podcast hosts, brewers, and more

Meet the Grand Final business moguls. Nine Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers stars who moonlight as fashion designers, podcast hosts, brewers, and even transport operators.

It’s the NRL battle being played on and off the field.

Meet the Grand Final business moguls, nine stars from Melbourne and Penrith who moonlight as fashion designers, podcast hosts, brewers, or even transport operators.

The likes of Penrith enforcers James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota building a clothing brand over a joke nickname.

Best friends Brian To’o and Jarome Luai living out a dream to launch their own line of clothing from the minute they stepped into first grade.

Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Huges starting the only podcast who can lure Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy as a guest.

Nathan Cleary playing a role in one of Western Sydney’s largest brewing companies.

And even retiring veteran Tyrone Peachey turning his focus to his transport company.

It’s a post-football path well-worn by the modern day rugby league player, including former Broncos and Warriors winger Denan Kemp.

Former NRL player Denan Kemp has found success after leaving the game, launching a podcast studio, beer brand, coffee brand, and merchandising. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

The popular podcaster who has now made more money in retirement than in his playing days.

“The business would definitely earn me way more money than I would have in my NRL career, even if I had played a 10 or 12 year career,” Kemp said

“Let’s say I retired at 32 even, the business that I’ve set up now, long term in my lifetime, will absolutely set me up for way longer than the playing career will.”

Kemp launched his brand ‘Bloke in A Bar,’ and a podcast called ‘The Locker Room’, in 2015.

The 37-year-old has since evolved his brand into something even bigger than just a podcast, opening a clothing line, beer company, and more recently starting ‘Grumpy Coffee.’

Kemp says he’s made more money since retiring than he ever would have if he played a full NRL career.

His journey has only confirmed how important it is for current players to plan ahead.

“(If you make) 800 grand a year for three or four years, usually what happens is you either invest it and you might buy a couple of houses or whatever,” Kemp said.

“So you’ve got mortgages to pay, a certain lifestyle that you live.

“It’s very hard for a person, they’ve played six or seven years on a good contract, then all of a sudden they go out in the workforce and they’re earning 80 to 100 grand.

“That’s not going to be able to pay for three house mortgages.”

Almost 10 years on from starting what is now one of the biggest rugby league media outlets, Kemp has hailed this year’s batch of business-minded grand finalists for planning ahead.

Kemp admitted he was not thinking about life after footy while he was still playing.

“Guys like Fish (Fisher-Harris), Leota, are super smart with what they’re doing,” Kemp said.

“And Paps (Papenhuyzen) and the boys down at Melbourne Storm, because, funnily enough, if you build a business up long enough, they’re on good money now, but that business can last 30 to 40 years.

“While you’re playing NRL, just put something on the side, and instead of earning $5 million over five years, you might earn $20 million over 30 years.

“It’s smart, it’s actually a really good exercise to teach the boys, you’re more than a footy player, you’ve got something else to offer outside of rugby league.”

BASH BROS: JAMES FISHER-HARRIS AND MOSES LEOTA

It started as a nickname, it turned into an untouchable clothing brand with designs that sell out instantly for supporters demanding merchandise.

“It was just a muck around (Instagram) page and we just kept going with it, and now we got a brand,” Leota said.

“We knew that fans love merch, especially for us being the ‘Bash Bros,’ we just thought why not give the fans what they want.

Fisher-Harris’s departure from the Panthers after Sunday’s grand final may see the Bash Bros partnership on field end, but the pair’s business venture is only just beginning.

“We wanted to step out of our comfort zone, we are very reserved boys so it was pretty daunting when we first started,” Leota said.

“But it’s pretty cool now and it’s starting to gain a lot of momentum.”

DRINKWEST: NATHAN CLEARY

Teaming up with MMA fighters Tyson Pedro and Tai Tuivasa, Cleary has been a part of the DrinkWest team since 2022, with the trio owning a brewery in Penrith and the lager itself.

In light of this weekend’s grand final, the company has released a Cleary pale ale, and a limited edition T-shirt to celebrate one of their shareholders fifth consecutive appearance.

Boxer Tyson Pedro and business partner Nathan Cleary at their Drink West Brewery in Penrith. Picture: Richard Dobson

UNIVERSE 7: JAROME LUAI AND BRIAN TO’O

Another clothing brand which was a dream for To’o and Luai from the minute they stepped into first grade together, now a reality.

Launched earlier this year, Universe 7 was designed and created by the Panthers duo, with hopes of taking their first steps in being entrepreneurs.

“It is something we had been planning to do since we came into first grade, it was something we always wanted to do and never had the chance,” To’o said.

“It’s been a mad learning curve, and we are going to keep going higher,” he said.

THE CLUBHOUSE: CAMERON MUNSTER, JAHROME HUGHES AND RYAN PAPENHUYZEN

A trio of mates starting a podcast is not new, but these three members of the Storm spine have proven people care about the behind-the-scenes lives of the heroes they watch on TV.

Since launching six months ago, Munster, Hughes and Papenhuyzen have slowly built up their podcast following, recently accumulating a combined 184,000 YouTube views for their two episodes with supercoach Bellamy.

Although early days, the Melbourne teammates are growing a strong support crew for their new show.

NAINIMA CARE: TYRONE PEACHEY

Not engaging in Sunday’s grand final, but playing a massive role in his team getting there, Peachey has chosen to depart from the sport to focus on his thriving business.

Nainima Care is a shuttle bus transport business which takes airport employees to and from the train station and their worksite.

“Nine buses doing 12-hour shifts, it’s a lot of work,” Peachey said.

Starting his business last year, Peachey has grown a strong love for his new line of work and is glad the transition has been seamless after hearing stories of other players’ struggles.

“I have been pretty fortunate,” he said.

“I have heard stories of NRL players struggling post football, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

Originally published as NRL grand final stars’ lucrative side hustle businesses: Fashion designers, podcast hosts, brewers, and more