Ricky’s NRL Interviews Pt 23: Nick Kouparitsas

This time, we had a chat with former Sydney Roosters, Canterbury Bulldogs forward and Greek international, Nick Kouparitsas. 

The proud Greek will talk about rugby league life, what it meant to play for Greece, post-footy and more.

Just another insight into the life of a rugby league player so sit back, soak it in and enjoy.

Here are the questions we put to Nick Kouparitsas:

1. You were born in Canberra; what are your earliest memories of rugby league in the nation’s capital? 

My earliest memories definitely was the cold mornings.

I remember the younger you were, the earlier on Sunday mornings you played so most Sunday’s you were first on the oval and the fields were covered in frost and fog.

But we all loved it. I played for West Belconnen Warriors throughout all my junior footy.

2. In 2001, you made an appearance for the Australian Schoolboys side; describe to us how it felt to make that side.

It was a great feeling.

We had a pretty good side too with a few of the players going on to represent Australia at senior level also.

The traveling English team was supposed to be the best they had sent in years.

I am pretty sure they had players in the team that were playing regular first grade in the Super League at the time.

We beat them both games.

3. You had stints in the NRL with both the Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters; what was it like to play in the NRL and did you think you would play for over 5 years? 

Playing in the NRL was my dream and growing up, that is all I wanted to do.

I used to think to myself I would be happy to play just one NRL game.

Then when I got my first taste of it I didn’t want to go back to reserve grade.

I was lucky to debut during the Origin period.

At the Bulldogs, we had a fair few players out representing so I got my opportunity.

It was against the Raiders, I don’t think I had a very good game.

4. You then joined Harlequins (now the London Broncos); what prompted the move to England and how did the English game differ from the NRL at the time?