From barefoot beginnings to NRL Grand Final glory, Corey Thompson shares his remarkable 10-year professional rugby league journey. Discover how a late-blooming athlete with wires in both ankles and a metal plate in his hand conquered the NRL and Super League across 180 professional caps. Corey reveals the brutal reality of post-retirement at just 33 — losing identity, purpose, and fighting through a dark year before finding his way back. Learn the visualisation techniques that prepared him for the biggest games, why he went alcohol-free for 18 months, and the competitive mindset that separates elite athletes from everyone else. This episode unpacks the hidden sacrifices behind professional sports success and offers powerful lessons on resilience, goal-setting, and rebuilding your life after your dreams are fulfilled. 00:00:00 - Introduction to Corey Thompson's career 00:04:58 - Childhood in Brisbane and family challenges 00:14:15 - Breaking into professional rugby league 00:21:42 - Grand final experience and first NRL contract 00:29:05 - Challenges of playing in England and returning home 00:35:47 - The toughest opponents and most difficult games 00:42:12 - Post-retirement struggles and identity crisis 00:51:21 - Mental preparation and visualization techniques 00:57:09 - Leadership insights and coaching wisdom 01:09:24 - The competitive mindset of elite athletes 01:22:57 - Life lessons and goal-setting strategies 01:31:43 - What separates the true greats from everyone else 01:36:58 - Finding purpose after retirement and new career path Want to learn my exact strategy for building a successful property portfolio? Check out School of Property for a step-by-step investing blueprint that's helped thousands of Aussies start and scale their investments: https://schoolofproperty.com.au Follow me for more investing & business insights: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samgordonproperty Business: https://www.instagram.com/australianpropertyscout Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thetoponepercentpodcast Follow Corey Thompson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corey_thompson15 #NRL #CoreyThompson #RugbyLeague #MentalToughness #TopOnePercent #RetirementTransition #Resilience #ProfessionalAthlete #Bulldogs #TitansNRL #SportsPerformance The content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, business, or legal advice. The hosts and guests of the podcast are sharing their personal opinions and experiences, which may not be applicable to your unique situation. We strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified financial advisor, business consultant, or legal professional before making any financial or business decisions. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is solely at your own risk. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information provided. All information is provided "as is" without any guarantees of completeness, accuracy, timeliness, or results obtained from the use of this information. Any references to specific financial products, companies, or services are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast or its hosts. By listening to this podcast, you agree that the podcast and its affiliates are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided in this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices