max*d Issue 11

ISUZU UTE AUSTRALIA

ISSUE 11

! o g

The

Team

Tanks very much:

How the D-MAX did 1697km without a refill

Beers at the Banjo :

In search of the perfect high country ale

ower Precision and p AX with Team D-M

PLUS: coach trent robinson opens up on the roosters

To pick up Australian 4WD Action Magazine’s Ute Of The Year, the Isuzu D-MAX beat the toughest competition in the game. It won over seven of the 4WD world’s harshest critics. It outperformed six of the best utes ever built. Finally it triumphed over everything the Australian bush could throw at it. But the D-MAX didn’t stop there.

It then powered on to receive the 2013 Ute Of The Year award from the commercial vehicle experts at Delivery Magazine.

Discover why the D-MAX is Ute Of The Year for yourself. Test drive it at your Isuzu UTE dealer today. isuzuute.com.au

Depend on it. ^Whichever occurs first, excludes Government & National Rental customers; excludes accessories and trays.

: 7 9 9 1

flashback

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WIN 1 OF 5 $100 FUEL VOUCHERS

We’re always keen to receive feedback, so please fill out our online survey at www.mymaxd2013.com and tell us what’s on your mind. Not only will it help how we communicate with you, you might also win a Caltex fuel voucher!

max*d

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■ contents

ISSUE 11

04 News

The awards keep piling up for the Isuzu D-MAX

06 wishlist

Just in time for winter—gear to keep you dry wherever you are

08 me ’n’ MY max

Happy D-MAX owners share their stories about hitting the highway and heading off-road in their beaut ute

10 tech head

Top tips for getting the best out of a single tank of diesel

12 max tanks

Rally legends turn down the wick in the name of fuel efficiency

Features

34 special report

New Roosters coach Trent Robinson is already making his mark on the NRL

22 out of the box

38 Get stuffed

Whipping up a tasty treat can be a shellfish pursuit if done properly

Beer baron Dr Chuck Hahn crafts Australia's highest amber fluid in the NSW Snowy Mountains

40 hook, line ’n’ sinker

26 passport

A Top End fishing trip for barra ends up as a dangerous mission to steal eggs from an angry mother crocodile

Heard of the Samoan paradise of Savai'i? Maybe not; that's one of the reasons it's a Pacific Islands gem

44 dealer list

30 unsung heroes

The extraordinary story of Mark Middleton and his selfless parting mission for cancer sufferers

Where to find D-MAX dealers across Australia

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Taken on the outskirts of Otway National Park. Picture by Francesco Solfrini

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welcome

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H

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Eat my dust

There's no leap of faith here as the EMG Precision Driving team joins Isuzu UTE

ello and welcome to the 11th edition of max*d magazine.

2013 has already proved a busy and exciting year for Isuzu UTE Australia (IUA). Many of you will know the Isuzu D-MAX has recently won a string of awards. Locally, the D-MAX was awarded ‘Ute of the Year’ by both 4WD Action magazine and Delivery Magazine, while internationally the D-MAX has received another five awards, including the prestigious Auto Bild ‘4x4 Vehicle of the Year’ and Van Fleet World's ‘Best Pick-Up’ award. Our ute has been tested against the best in the market and triumphed—with our durability and fuel economy being noted by all who tested it.

In this issue you can read about our new partnership with Team D-MAX, Australia’s premier precision driving team.

Performing a variety of driving skills and stunts, Team D-MAX demonstrates the rugged capabilities of the D-MAX. The team travel all year round, so make sure you keep an eye out for them. We have also just completed our annual Max Run Challenge which again illustrated the D-MAX’s incredible fuel economy—you can read more about it on page 12. Our tech guru Marcus Dowling shows you how you can maximise your fuel consumption in our regular Tech Head section.

Team D-MAX, the Max Run Challenge promotion and the Ute of the Year awards illustrate the strengths of the Isuzu diesel engine. In fact, at IUA we believe so strongly in our product that as of January this year we implemented a five-year warranty and roadside assist across our range to give our customers further peace of mind.

I hope you enjoy this edition of max*d magazine.

Yasu Takeuchi Managing Director Isuzu UTE Australia

max*d

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news

All the latest and greatest from IUA ...

Isuzu D-MAX named Ute of the Year – again!

It’s certainly shaping up to be a successful 2013. The much-loved D-MAX has picked up yet another Ute of the Year (UOTY) Award, this time from Delivery Magazine. The latest accolade was announced at the annual Motoring Matters Magazine Group Awards and further cements the D-MAX’s solid reputation for reliability, economy and durability.

“Never before has the ute market and the various manufacturers that compete within this segment been so totally competitive,” said Chris Mullet, managing editor and publisher of Delivery Magazine. “The new Isuzu D-MAX builds on the reputation of the previous model, offering a strong and practical alternative to some of the more cosmetic attractions of alternative designs. It’s practical in use and durable in operation.”

The Delivery Magazine honour follows the D-MAX’s previous win of 4WD Action Magazine’s Ute of the Year award—widely considered to be Australia’s toughest 4x4 ute test. Put through its paces by the publication’s team of experts on every off-road terrain imaginable, the D-MAX triumphed over the rest of Australia’s one-tonne ute segment: the Toyota HiLux, Mazda BT-50, Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok and

Publisher Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd isuzu ute australia Managing Editors Victor Petelo Dave Harding

EDITOR Paul Rodger paul.rodger@edgecustom.com.au Consulting EDITOR Glenn Cullen CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Luke Anisimoff HEAD OF EditorIAL Michael Butler

Holden Colorado. What’s more, not only did the Isuzu D-MAX pick up the overall award, but it also proved the most fuel efficient of the seven utes tested.

Other wins this year for the D-MAX include the Australian 4WD & SUV Buyers Guide Ute of the Year, as well as several international UOTY honours. Readers of Germany’s influential Auto Bild magazine voted for the D-MAX as the 4x4 Vehicle of the Year in the imported pick-up category. The ute continued its international success by scooping ‘Best Pick-Up’ at the prestigious Van Fleet World Honours and ‘2013 Vans A2Z Pick-Up of the Year Award’ in the UK. These recent accolades again demonstrate that the Isuzu D-MAX is universally revered as one of the world’s best utes.

Designer Rhys Prosser

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Scott Crisp

director Sarah Willmott

HEAD OF DESIGN Shane O’Brien

ADVERTISING SALES Dennis Lee dennis.lee@edgecustom.com.au

CEO Eddie Thomas

Executive Creative director Matt Sterne ACCOUNT MANAGER Amy Story

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Fergus Stoddart OPERATIONS director Georgina Armour

Disclaimer: The information included in this magazine is intended for interest only. The opinions and views expressed in this magazine are provided in the writers’ personal capacities and are their sole responsibility. Their publication does not imply that they represent the views or opinions of Isuzu UTE Australia or Edge and must neither be regarded as constituting advice on any matter nor be interpreted as such. The reproduction of advertisements in this publication does not in any way imply endorsement by Isuzu UTE Australia or Edge Custom Media of products or services referred to therein. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. A selection of the images featured in this publication have been sourced from Getty Images and Thinkstock Images. Business Essentials trading as Edge ABN 22 062 493 869.

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max*d magazine is proudly printed in Australia using renewable resources. Pacesetter Coated is an FSC Mixed Sources Certified paper, which ensures that all virgin pulp is derived from well-managed forests and controlled sources. It contains elemental chlorine-free bleached pulp and is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill.

max*d is published on behalf of Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd by

51 Whistler St, Manly NSW 2095 T +61 (0) 2 8962 2600

NEWS

Mark the date NSW

August 20–22 Gunnedah AgQuip Field Day Australia’s biggest agricultural field day event.

WA

September 28–October 5 Perth Perth Royal Show The city’s biggest community event attracts 40,000 visitors each year.

QLD

August 8–17 Brisbane Brisbane EKKA The largest annual event in the state showcases Queensland’s culture, produce, resources and initiatives.

SA

September 6–14 Adelaide Adelaide Royal Show The state’s farmers show off their livestock, fruits and vegetables in a fun family show.

October 24–26 Orange Australian National Field Day Visit Orange for the country’s oldest annual agricultural exhibition.

November 8–10 Perth Perth 4WD and Adventure Show A one-stop shop for all outdoor and adventure enthusiasts.

August 28–29 Dowerin Dowerin Field Day A diverse agricultural expo.

VIC

October 1–3 Elmore Elmore Field Day

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Isuzu

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wishlist

On Sea

Dry as a bone

This roll-top Kayak Deck Bag has six buckle connectors for secure and easy fastening to the deck of your kayak (or boat, or car roof-top). Made from PVC tarpaulin for super strength, it includes a main compartment for storing goodies that absolutely must stay dry and a front weatherproof zip pocket. If the worst should happen and the bag ends up in the drink, it’ll float safely.

RRP $79.95; coastinternational.com.au

Getting cold and soggy is no fun at all, but this awesome waterproof gear will ensure you’re prepared whatever the weather— rain, hail or snow

On Top Quite aside from the waterproof protection afforded by the Marmot Minimalist Jacket, the outer shell’s brilliant red will ensure you never get lost. The GORETEX exterior is guaranteed to keep the wearer dry, while the inner lining is all about keeping you toasty warm. Among the added features are a high-collared neck design, armpit zips to adjust airflow, zipped handpockets and a chest pocket with water-resistant zipper.

RRP $299.95; paddypallin.com.au

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On Land Tents don’t come much more rugged than the North Face Mountain 25, which has been designed to withstand even the most inhospitable climes. The compact, two-person tent is part of the company’s Summit Series of outdoor gear, which means it is expedition proven. Favoured by adventurers everywhere for its strength and light weight, it is capable of withstanding the worst thrown at it—including torrential downpours.

RRP $1000; thenorthface.com.au

On Foot No-one wants trenchfoot when they go hiking for the weekend—it’s guaranteed to spoil a good walk. These Scarpa Kinesis hiking boots ensure the last thing you need to worry about is wet feet. GORE-TEX waterproof lining keeps things nice and dry, while the Autofit foam ensures a suitably snug fit. They’re also lightweight, meaning they’re perfect for long and arduous treks.

RRP $399.95; paddypallin.com.au

Isuzu Ute (SP>Z)_Layout 1 19/07/12 3:23 PM Page 1

Mongrel ZipSiders Original thinking ... Copied by everyone Mongrel Boots launched the first ZipSider style work boot in 2007. A great success – it is now perhaps the most copied style on the market. But while our competitors have been copying we have been improving. Today ZipSiders come in 8 styles including our latest hi-leg 561050 in wheat. Features include rubber sole, new scuff cap, protected zip and Kevlar stitching. The technology in Mongrel ZipSiders is without equal – providing both superior safety and comfort along with the benefits of Australian Made quality control.

Visit our website – mongrelboots.com.au and checkout our full range of ZipSiders.

Aussie Born and Bred

Victor Footwear 15 George Young Street Auburn NSW 2144 p: 02 8667 2555 f: 02 8667 2500 e: sales@mongrelboots.com.au w: www.mongrelboots.com.au

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Feature me 'n' my max

Peter Handbury

Lives: Bayswater, VIC Drives: 2011 D-MAX 4x4 LS-U

I PURCHASED my first 4x4 ute and couldn't be happier it was a D-MAX! It's a great vehicle to use for carrying work tools and on the weekend it's ideal for dirtbikes and camping gear. This photo was taken on the barge to Fraser Island and what a trip that was! The D-MAX didn't let me down; only my fishing skills did! The ride height is great, it's very comfortable to drive all day long and I find the mirrors excellent.

Modifications include a TJM bullbar, spotties, KONI shocks, DVD/sat nav, lambswool seat covers and a Rhino tub liner. I wonder what the Isuzu will be like when I upgrade next?

Grahame Cook

Lives: Ningi, QLD Drives: 2012 D-MAX 4x4 LS-U

2 Me ’n’

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The first D-MAX I owned I took all the way around Australia.

It did a great job of towing my 18ft pop-top. I was so happy with it that I bought another one, and I’m over the moon with it, too. It gets a lot of general use, but I find it comes into its own when I hitch a camper-trailer to it when I go off travelling.

I’ve since added a lot of accessories to it such as a canopy, a nudge bar, driving lights and a car alarm.

-MAX These five D their owners love much they vehicles so write in just had to about them and tell us

feature

Craig Goldney

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Lives: Balaklava, SA Drives: 2012 D-MAX 4x4 SX

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I bought one of the last D-MAXs before the new model was released. After the first 3000km service I decided to take it away on a fishing trip. We went to Fowlers Bay, along the coast [of South Australia], which is a 950km trip. The D-MAX’s fuel economy was unbelievable and blew my mate’s 4WD’s economy out of the water. We hit the sand hills and, no matter what I did, I couldn’t get it bogged—perhaps I don’t need my max tracks anymore. I love my D-MAX!

Jarrod Martin

Lives: Bendigo, VIC Drives: 2012 D-MAX 4x4 LS-M I love my fishing and camping and when it comes to buying a new ute I couldn’t go past another Isuzu.

I have previously owned two utes, both with Isuzu engines (Rodeos), and I just can’t fault them. I put my D-MAX to the test recently by driving it from home in Bendigo to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory and back again towing a large boat. That trip was a distance of 7500km, including 500km off-road, and I couldn’t get over how smooth, economical and comfortable the ride was.

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Karen Beveridge

Lives: Capalaba, QLD Drives: 2011 D-MAX Limited Edition III When my husband retired, we decided it was time to travel. We knew we needed something that could tow so we chose the D-MAX in automatic form so that I could drive it. We recently followed the Adventure Way into South Australia and down the Strzelecki Track, through the Flinders Ranges to Adelaide. Then we followed the coast back home. The D-MAX never missed a beat and the fuel economy was unbelievable. I’m looking forward to many more trips in our D-MAX.

a caltex Fuelcard!

If your letter is published here you'll receive a $50 fuelcard!

Congratulations to this issue’s five winners.

Me ’n’ my Max is a segment reserved for you—the reader. If you’d like to see your ute appear in the mag, send a highresolution image along with your name, town, state, and the make and model of your D-MAX, plus a 100-word blurb, to maxd@iua.net.au. Or you can mail the details to max*d magazine, PO Box 1128, Eagle Farm, QLD 4009.

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Tech head

Words: Marcus Dowling

Fuel for

When it comes to getting the best out of your D-MAX, less is always more

thought

I

f there are two words that don’t normally go hand in hand, it’s ‘power’ and ‘economy’. Some would say when it comes to motor vehicles you can’t have both, but in an Isuzu D-MAX, they work together harmoniously.

As our recent Max Run Challenge proved, a D-MAX can go far on a single tank of diesel if you drive and maintain it correctly.

It all begins with Isuzu’s refined 3.0-litre 4JJ1 engine, which ensures torque is available from idle. At just 1000rpm, 73 per cent of total torque is on tap, with maximum torque

achieved and maintained at 1800rpm through to 2800rpm. This means you’re getting plenty of power without the engine working overtime and consuming unnecessary fuel.

The manual and automatic transmission ratios have been specifically matched to maintain legal cruise speeds at around 2000rpm, giving maximum torque where it’s needed most. This is the D-MAX’s biggest secret exposed—and why the vehicle can achieve the best fuel economy figure in its class for automatic transmission models, an impressive 8.1L/100km.

Here are our top 10 tips to achieve maximum fuel efficiency in your D-MAX.

Speed can hurt your wallet in two ways

Drive too fast and you’ll get caught. But it’s not just the risk of a speeding fine that will play havoc with your bank balance.

Reducing your speed will reduce the amount of fuel consumed by the engine—the faster your vehicle goes, the more effort is required to get it there and maintain it. At 110km/h, your engine can consume as much as 25 per cent more fuel than if you were travelling at 90km/h.

Drive smoothly

Aggressively accelerating or braking not only makes you look a bit silly, it wastes a substantial amount of fuel. When pulling away from the lights, try to accelerate gently. Avoid harsh braking and hard acceleration—be soft on the throttle and smooth on the brakes. Less throttle means less brake applications. Where possible, make use of the D-MAX fuel shut off on deceleration and coast to a stop.

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Keep your vehicle well maintained

Be sure to get the specified maintenance procedures carried out on time, using the correct fluids, filters and lubricants. Clean oil and filters are essential to get the best performance and maximum efficiency from your engine.

Weight

It’s simple—the heavier your vehicle is, the more engine power it requires to move it. So don’t use your vehicle for additional storage. Make it as light as possible and only carry what you need.

Tyres

Make sure your tyres are checked for wear and damage on a regular basis—ideally, you should do this weekly.

Ensure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressures. Refer to your tyre placard fitted inside the driver’s door panel, or your owner’s manual.

Different conditions, loads and speeds require different tyre pressures, and maintaining the correct tyre pressure will reduce the rolling resistance between your D-MAX and the road, further reducing the effort required to drive your vehicle, and hence reducing fuel consumption.

Also, ensure your wheels are correctly aligned—particularly if you drive off-road. When going bush, knocks and big bumps can upset the balance of your car when you get back on the bitumen, creating more work for your engine.

Tech head

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Reduce aerodynamic drag

Roof racks, roof-mounted cargo trays, ladder racks and even larger exterior mirrors all change the shape of your roof line and vehicle profile, creating additional drag, which in turn decreases fuel economy.

Make sure you remove any unnecessary items from your roof racks or tub, and keep the vehicle clean—polished is best—to aid the slipstream effect. If towing a large van, a roofmounted scoop will help deflect wind over the van.

Use your air conditioner wisely

Using air conditioning places more load on your engine. A slight increase in effort is required as the air conditioning pump takes a small amount of engine power to run.

While driving at higher speeds—say, 75km/h or above—leaving the window down creates more drag and hence engine effort than operating the air conditioning system, so it’s best to wind the window up at speed.

If the ambient temperature isn’t extreme, keep the air conditioner off and have the cabin fan on to increase interior airflow with the windows up, with the fresh air vent open and not on recirculation.

Always Drive in the correct gear

When driving a D-MAX equipped with an automatic transmission, the best suggestion is to leave the transmission shift up to the expert— the transmission computer—especially when towing.

When driving a D-MAX fitted with a manual transmission, be aware that driving in a gear lower than you need uses fuel by increasing the engine RPM. Make sure you change up into a higher gear as soon as it’s possible and safe to do so. This will maintain a steady cruise speed using the engine torque. You’ll feel the torque ‘pull’ as the vehicle gains speed.

Minimise fuel consumption

Your D-MAX’s diesel engine has many features to aid economical fuel consumption.

It has an engine warm-up cycle to get things to running temperature as fast as possible, reducing unnecessary engine wear as well as preventing excessive fuel use.

The D-MAX engine also shuts off fuel delivery on deceleration, meaning when the throttle is closed and the engine is in an overrun situation, no fuel is consumed—for example, when coasting down a hill.

Plan your journey

Are you going out to run all your weekly errands, or are you just dropping a letter off at the post office before heading back home?

You will essentially cut distance travelled and fuel usage in half by making all your stops at once, instead of taking lots of short roundtrips.

Cold engine fuel use and emissions are higher until the optimum operating temperature is reached. As a rule of thumb, this can mean up to 10 kilometres of normal driving before it reaches that point.

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max tanks

Tank

Words: Steve Kealy Photos: Bruce Garland & Harry Suzuki

It’s mission accomplished as The Isuzu D-MAX smashes the MAX RUN CHALLENGE record

Commander Start: Goondiwindi, QLD

Broken hill, NSW

Finish: Red Cliffs, VIC

Map courtesy of Hema Maps

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max tanks

It’s a question motorists ask

regularly: “How far can I go on one tank?” No matter how efficient modern vehicles get, the rising cost of fuel makes economy a serious issue.

So Isuzu UTE Australia called on off-road rally legends Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki to find out how far they could push the latest D-MAX. But this was a very different challenge for the pair, whose normal drives in the Dakar Rally involve charging flat out over mountains, deserts, raging rivers, border crossings—and in the past, gun-toting bandits.

This time, Garland and Suzuki were tasked with driving across regular Australian roads to see how far a D-MAX could go on a single tank of fuel.

While the D-MAX has blitzed the challenge in the past, the interesting thing was always going to be how the new 4x2 LS Crew Cab auto transmission ute would go.

Out came the maps to find a route that would be as kind to fuel consumption as possible—flat, straight roads. Goondiwindi in Queensland would be the start, heading towards Broken Hill in New South Wales.

The vehicle was given a regular service, filled with premium oils, just as an Isuzu UTE deserves, and then topped up with Caltex Vortex diesel before being sealed by the RACQ. And no, this wasn’t a hand-built competition vehicle like Garland and Suzuki are used to—just a regular fleet car with about 16,000km on the clock.

Preparation was limited to a thorough polishing and tyres pumped up to maximum recommended pressures as per the handbook.

Despite normally being the navigator, Suzuki ended up doing a lot of the driving—across three 12-hour days. “I am the lightest—only about 60kg—so Bruce made me drive. I think he’s about 100kg—too heavy!” he jokes.

With the air-con off, windows and vents closed and no extra weight in the car other than a two-way radio, concentration was a big part of the challenge.

Garland found his stints behind the wheel less than riveting, explaining, “Driving to a speed and rev limit is not the most exciting drive in the world!”

With a back-up ute carrying a drum of fuel for when the inevitable final drop was consumed, the team made their way through the changing outback scenery.

Using just its standard trip computer to measure instantaneous fuel consumption, the D-MAX was driven at a steady pace, only stopping for meal and rest breaks—and a random herd of cows that wandered onto the road.

With Goondiwindi a distant memory and Broken Hill passed and forgotten, the D-MAX drifted along, burning about 4.5 litres per 100 km for hour after hour. A 76-litre tank and an abstemious thirst meant the drive would always be a long one, but even Garland and Suzuki, who have been Isuzu UTE competitors, engineers, tuners and ambassadors for years, were surprised when they finally hit Red Cliffs near Mildura in northern Victoria and the D-MAX finally slowed gracefully—and silently—to a halt, bone-dry, a massive 1697.3km from Goondiwindi.

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FACT FILE Max Run Challenge Vehicle: D-MAX 4x2 LS Crew Cab auto Drivers: Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki Fuel: One 76L D-MAX tank of Caltex Vortex diesel Start: Goondiwindi, QLD Finish: Red Cliffs, VIC Result: 1697.3km covered Fuel efficiency: 4.47litres/100km

THE winner A little bit of homework went a long way for Noosa’s John Goodman— 1697.3km in fact. And that was the precise number that saw him win an Isuzu D-MAX 4x2 LS Crew Cab Ute, a year’s supply of Vortex Diesel from Caltex and a $2000 Turu Travel Voucher in the Max Run Challenge competition.

John successfully guessed the distance that Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki would travel when they set off from Goondiwindi in their D-MAX. John did his sums though, looking at the history of the event, the roads the pair would travel and bearing in mind the gear they would take. Far from being a stab in the dark, John hit the target spot on—along with three other contestants among the 55,000 entries! He was suitably delighted when he was drawn out as the winner and already has plans for a trip to Rockhampton and Far North Queensland in his new D-MAX.

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EAT MY DUST

e h t als e t s X A M D

EAT MY DUST

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w o sh staments e t e l ib is v re d e fewer mo an the abuse hande b n a c e r e m Th th driving tea oughness n t io X is c -MA e D r P o p t e Kealy Words: Stev tralia’s to am D-MAX Te of sy out by Aus te ur Photos: Co

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EAT MY DUST

the SX crew-cabs only have a fruitier exhaust note and a bit of chrome bling between them and their showroom-standard cousins. They even roll on standard alloy wheels.

The country’s best-known

Car 1 Jack Monkhouse Besides being a respected stunt driver, team leader Jack Monkhouse is an experienced rally driver, drifter, monster truck instructor and all-round good guy. Monkhouse was a regular top-10 privateer contender in the Australian Rally Championship before moving to the emerging sport of drifting six years ago. In his mid-thirties, the South Australian is sometimes known as ‘Princess Sparkles’.

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stunt squad underwent major changes at the beginning of 2013: not just a change of name but also a change of vehicles to D-MAX utes— and for the first time, a switch to diesel power.

Yet the EMG Precision Driving team’s hectic schedule of events, shows and demonstrations had to continue seamlessly, so there was little time for their four main drivers to acclimatise to their new D-MAX partners.

Luckily, they needed very little time at all. Nor were any major mechanical modifications needed: the stunt team slides, slithers, jumps and leaps in pretty much standard D-MAX SX crew-cab low-ride turbo-diesel utes, just like those driven by thousands of Australians every day. They’re not even four-wheel drives!

In fact, aside from an ADR-approved miningspecification roll-cage, racing seats and harnesses for safety—along with Bilstein shockies, Detroit Locker-style diffs to make two-wheeling possible and a hydraulic handbrake to cut maintenance—

Power and precision

The SX’s car-like ride, predictable handling and vast spread of turbo-charged power made the transition from petrol to diesel an easy one for the team, despite the stunt drivers needing pinpoint timing and immediate, predictable power throughout their displays.

Almost immediately, the drivers described their new D-MAXs as being “deceptively fast”— the low-down torque from Isuzu’s twin overhead cam, intercooled turbo three-litre four-cylinder engine peaks at a huge 380Nm. Before the team’s switch to D-MAX was decided, a gearbox was sent over to them for analysis; this is the most critical component as it can’t be changed easily between shows, so the manual transmission had to be rugged enough to handle hundreds of hours of harsh treatment.

Most of the team’s stunts are done in second and third gears and there are a lot of sudden, quick shifts up and down.

An engineering assessment of the Isuzu UTE vehicles quickly revealed that under the skin, the

EAT MY DUST

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“There is definitely no-one in Australia that can drive a car on two wheels better than him.”

D-MAX utes are even tougher than they look: the gearboxes appeared indestructible—and that’s exactly how they’ve proven to be.

new beginning

Although Team D-MAX is just a few months old, having kicked off at the 2013 Royal Canberra Show in February, it’s been operating in one guise or another for more than 45 years.

Set up by 19-year-old aspiring rally driver Lloyd Robertson after he’d visited the 1966 Brisbane show with his dad, the stunt team rotated through various homegrown Holden models for decades. The Aussie icon made good use of the publicity generated by breathtaking displays at shows, expos and festivals the length and breadth of the country.

But all good things must come to an end and after nearly 40 years, Lloyd decided to retire,

handing the keys to a new generation: business partners Wayne Boatwright and Scott Anderson.

Shortly after Isuzu UTE became a stand-alone vehicle importer into Australia in 2008, the value of the team as a unique communications medium was identified by the company’s marketing experts: here was a group of pro drivers, demonstrating its vehicle’s capabilities and ruggedness directly to Isuzu UTE’s main customers—tradesmen, farmers and fleet operators in every outback town, inland city and bustling capital in Australia.

Very early on, an approach was made, but an existing contract with another manufacturer was already in place. When that expired at the end of last year, a deal was quickly done—and Team D-MAX was born.

Car 2 Dave Shannon Shannon joined the team in 1981. Like his team leader, he comes from a rallying background and has been behind the wheel in many action movies and TV shows. “We tease Dave about his age, but he goes alright for an old guy, that’s for sure,” says Monkhouse.

“There’s definitely no-one in Australia that can drive a car on two wheels better than him. Just don’t tell him I said so!”

An engineering assessment revealed that under the skin, the D-MAX utes are even tougher than they look: the gearboxes appeared indestructible. max*d

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EAT MY DUST

Above: The drivers describe their new crew-cab D-MAXs as “deceptively fast” Bottom right: Team D-MAX—always ready to set pulses (and engines) racing

Car 3 John Boston Entertaining crowds with daredevil antics isn’t enough of a thrill for Boston. Like Shannon, he works in advanced driver training and is an occasional test driver for Wheels and Motor magazines. He’s also a handy DJ at team events and doesn’t mind a bit of mountain biking and skiing.

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On with the show

Besides Team D-MAX’s four regular drivers, the crew includes a couple of reserve drivers, as well as a promotion and marketing executive who doubles as live commentator at the actionpacked events, describing the stunts for the thrilled trackside spectators.

Although each show is a series of individual stunts joined into a smooth, seamless display of nerve, daring and skill, the order in which the tricks will be done is decided according to the space available. The drivers walk the course, examine the surface and consider important safety issues, such as crowd protection, before designing any show.

The space available for the team to spin, slide and leap their D-MAXs varies greatly: some

arenas are the size of footy fields or trotting track infields; some are not. Some surfaces are grass, others are gravel or sand; it depends on who and what else uses the area. And all the surfaces change dramatically if it rains.

This makes the choice of tyres critical, as churning up wet grass on a showjumping arena isn’t going to make the groundskeepers—or the horsey set—happy. Bridgestone is a long-time supporter of the team, and the D-MAXs all wear the company’s standard street-legal light commercial vehicle tyres.

Simply the best

The team performs several times a day for around 100 days a year, and a big part of each show is getting members of the audience, sponsors and competition winners to participate: to slip on helmets, strap in and hang on as the D-MAXs

EAT MY DUST

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Car 4 Michael Long

“It’s a great job ... There’s plenty of skill and experience in the team, so it was an honour to get the opportunity to join them.”

The team’s ‘new boy’, Long’s background encompasses all sorts of motorsports. “It’s a great job,” he says of Team D-MAX. “We get paid to travel all over the country and do what we love.

There’s plenty of skill and experience in the team, so it was an honour to get the opportunity to join them.”

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EAT MY DUST

arket ... m e th n o te u t s onably the be ti s e u onomical.” q c n e u t s is o X m A e -M th D ’s e it , h “T e best-backed th ’s it t, s e h g u to It’s the are put through their paces. Being a passenger in a ute that’s driving along at a crazy angle on just two wheels has been called “the best seat in the house”.

Although the kicker-jumps offer the hardest landing, only in the ramp-jumps are passengers not taken along for the ride—the driver needs perfect balance as the car flies through the air.

Have there been mishaps? Very occasionally there’s what they like to call some “paintswapping” or even a bit of work for a local panel shop, but in all the years the team has existed, no-one has ever been hurt. That’s a pretty good record for such an exciting, high-energy display of precision close-quarter driving.

“It’s an exciting new beginning for the team and we couldn’t be happier with the vehicles and the support we’ve had from Isuzu UTE Australia,” says Boatwright. “The D-MAX is unquestionably the best ute on the market now and the sales growth proves it. It’s the toughest, it’s the best-backed, it’s the most economical and it performs brilliantly.”

Stay up-to-date with Team D-MAX events by joining them on Facebook. Check out the team’s page at: facebook.com/TeamDMAX.

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OUT OF THE BOX

Beer glass deep,

mountain

Can a big brewer make a craft beer?

Dr Chuck Hahn reckons he’s got just the prescription with Jindabyne’s Kosciuszko Pale Ale

Words: Glenn Cullen Photos: Steve Cuff

22

W

ith a PhD in chemical engineering and almost four decades associated with some of the best-known beer names in the world—from Coors to Steinlager and plenty in between—Dr Chuck Hahn knows a thing or two about amber ale. And having grown up with the ranges of Colorado at his doorstep, he’s comfortably acquainted with mountains.

So given he’s been in Australia for 30 years, it’s perhaps a little surprising that it took Hahn so long to combine his two passions to come up with a high country beer.

Slow off the mark he may have been, but the result is in the tasting with Australia’s highest brewed beer—the Kosciuszko Pale Ale. A fruity number concocted under the Banjo Paterson Inn at the NSW Snowy Mountains town of Jindabyne, it’s now starting to make a dint in the local market—and beyond.

“I like to climb in the mountains, ski and fish.

It really just gives me another excuse to go down there [to Jindabyne], put a brew through and call it work,” Hahn says with a chuckle.

“Back in the States you have brew pubs in almost every ski town. And we reckoned Jindabyne was the ideal place to put in a little brewery because there’s no other one really down there.”

Kosciuszko Pale Ale is very much a boutique offering. It moves around 15,000 litres a year in

OUT OF THE BOX the ski resort hub, with obvious spikes during the winter season when the population swells from 2000 to up to 10,000.

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FROM JINDY TO SYDNEY

But in Sydney, where it is now brewed under licence at the Malt Shovel Brewery, it’s growing in popularity, with the 20–30,000 litres made per month moving through a number of inner-city pubs or sold in liquor chain stores by the 12-pack.

“We openly admit it,” Hahn says of also brewing the beer away from its highland base. “Because of the demand, that’s how it is. But that’s also where my office is so I can personally supervise it.”

The ‘off-licence’ production is sometimes a bugbear with beer purists, along with Hahn’s association with big breweries (KPA is owned by Australasian giant Lion Nathan). Critics say a major brewer can’t produce an excellent designer beer. But Hahn counters that’s exactly what he does—by also producing the range of craft beers for James Squire (also owned by Lion Nathan).

After being headhunted from Coors in the US in the early 1980s, Hahn ran the beer side of the

Below: Cheers! Dr Chuck Hahn toasts max*d with a drop of his finest pale ale Bottom: Masters at work— Hahn and colleague Mick O’Rance on the job

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OUT OF THE BOX

FACT FILE VITAL STATS

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“Jindabyne was the ideal place to put in a little brewery.”

Kosciuszko Pale Ale 4.5% alcohol Brewed: Banjo Paterson Inn, Jindabyne and Malt Shovel Brewery, Sydney

Tooth and Reschs brewing operation in Sydney before linking up with Steinlager in New Zealand.

Then it was time to branch out on his own with the Hahn brand in 1988 before that was sold off in 1993. From there, he became chief brewer for what would eventually become the Lion Nathan Group before pitching the idea of a boutique range to his employer. The Malt Shovel Brewery was born in 1999 and the James Squire range became its most popular product. It has gone on to win a number of Australasian brewing awards.

A FRUITY NUMBER

“We are the craft arm,” Hahn says. KPA may have some territory to cover if it’s to reach the boutique heights of the James Squire range, but it’s getting attention courtesy of a 2011 ‘Grand Champion Beer of Show’ award at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show.

And the actual taste? Hahn describes it as a true Australian pale ale that follows in the fine tradition of Coopers—with noticeable differences.

“Ours has slight passionfruit or grapefruit notes which comes from the hops,” Hahn says.

Given the lighter nature of the beer, Hahn recommends a match with simple foods like fish and chips, chicken salad and the mountain trout that you can catch yourself in these parts.

While there aren’t too many bodies on deck when it comes to the beer itself in Jindabyne— assistant brewer Richard Burton is the main helping hand—it certainly hasn’t prevented the Kosciuszko Brewery from taking advantage of its craft roots and experimenting a little.

One of their special brews includes a pumpkin ale. Plus, there’s a tasty cherry tart ale and a rich German bock beer with strong flavours that packs a seven per cent alcohol content.

But when push comes to shove, it’s about the Kosciusko Pale in Jindabyne, a place that likes its beer. As Hahn explains: “We only serve middies of it [the bock] but that’s tricky because the Banjo Paterson is more of a schooner pub.”

Right: Hahn brings four decades of experience to making a high country beer Below: Jindabyne local Richard Burton looks after the dayto-day operations at the Kosciuszko Brewery

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Passport

Adventures in

Words: Ian Neubauer Photos: Getty Images and Kirklandphotos.com

Savai’i

FACT FILE Savai’i nickname: Soul of Samoa Main Port: Salelologa population: 43,000 (2006 census) Highest point: Mt Silisili (1858m)

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Upolu

passport

Left: Swimming with endangered turtles is one of the highlights of any visit to Savai’i Right: It’s the largest of Samoa’s islands, but Savai’i is little visited by tourists

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Take a deep

breath. If you can read this with your eyes shut, try doing so now.

It’s dusk. You’re sitting on a kayak in a tropical lagoon looking towards a small village on the coast. The only structure of note is a whitewashed Victorian church that towers over thatch huts and bungalows like a house of angels.

Coconut trees lean over a sugar-white beach where gentle waves break in perfect undulating rhythm. Larger waves smash loudly over a fringing reef as stars come to life in the purple and pink sky. Suddenly you hear a loud splash and you turn your head expecting to see fish. Instead, you are thrilled to witness a turtle surfacing for air.

Untouched beauty

Swimming with turtles is just one of the ways you can commune with nature on the Samoan island Savai’i

You’re not in a remote atoll at the ends of the earth, nor are you in a colonial backwater during the age of discovery. You’re in Savai’i (Big Land), the largest Polynesian island outside New Zealand and Hawaii, and one of 10 islands comprising the tiny South Pacific nation of Samoa. It attracts only a fraction of the 70,000 tourists who visit Samoa every year.

“Tourism is still in its infancy here,” says Warren Jopling, an Australian living in Savai’i since 1980.

“But there’s enormous potential.”

If that’s true, it’s bittersweet news for Saliemoa Vaai, owner of Va-i-Moana Seaside Lodge at Asau Bay in Savai’i’s northwest. The son of a timber baron and educated in Australia, Vaai’s property features a dozen overwater and beachfront bungalows without internet or TV. “Life in Savai’i is still deeply rooted in family and culture,” he says. “We have not been commercialised; we don’t have any 5-star resorts. In one way it’s a hindrance to tourism, but at the same time that’s an attraction because it still feels genuine.

“Visitor numbers are increasing in Samoa but not too much,” he adds. “The challenge is to find the right mix of development and conservation so we don’t become another Bali.”

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passport

FACT FILE Getting there Air New Zealand (airnewzealand.com) flies from Sydney to Fagali’i Airport (Apia) from $781 return. Samoa Air (samoaair.ws) flies from Fagali’i to Maota Airport in Savai’i for 184 tala ($80).

Where to stay Va-i-Moana Seaside Lodge (www.vaimoana.ws) at Asau Bay charges 85–160 tala ($37–$70) per person, per night. Savai’i’s Beachfront fales charge 50–90 tala ($21–$39) per person, per night.

Contact the Samoa Tourism Authority (info@samoa. travel) for current listings.

What to do A popular tourist attraction is the Alofaaga Blowholes (also known as the Taga Blowholes) in the district of Palauli. Samoa Sports Fishing (www.grander marlin.com) also offers charter game fishing in Savai’i for 4000 tala ($1702) a day for up to eight people.

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Left: Falealupo Beach is one of the last in the world to see the sun set every day Above: There’s a church in nearly every village in Savai’i Right: The island’s spectacular Alofaaga Blowholes are a tourist drawcard

Saleaula, a 90-minute drive east of Asau Bay, is another example of Savai’i’s untouched beauty. The village is home to a row of budget accommodation properties where guests sleep in open-air ‘fale’ beachfront bungalows. It’s also home to the Saleaula Turtle Reserve, one of the few places in the world where you can feed and even swim with endangered green sea turtles.

“Twenty years ago my mother went to Brisbane to visit a friend who had a big turtle in her pool and every day many people came to see it,” says manager Papalii Faafetai. “When she returned, she decided to make a place where people could come to enjoy the turtles here.”

a Swim to remember

Swimming with turtles is an otherworldly experience, like visiting a zero-gravity world inhabited by amiable aliens. One can’t help but jump with fright when one brushes against your back, or be in awe as you swim to keep pace with them. “The photos don’t do it justice. You really have to see it yourself,” says tourist David Rouse from New Zealand.

A few kilometres to the west are the Saleaula Lava Fields. Major volcanic eruptions in 1905 and 1911 flattened every building in a neighbouring village, with the exception of two churches and the grave of a revered nun. Today they are holy sites in this eerie black moonscape that covers 64km2 of the island. They’re stark reminders of the unstoppable force of the 450-odd extinct volcanoes that pockmark the 1858m-high range at the centre of Savai’i.

To see where the lava came from, take the 10km drive up to the Mount Matavanu Crater. The road

is accessible by 4WD only and is maintained by an erudite hermit called Craterman who collects a 20 tala ($9) entry fee, a right afforded to traditional landowners at all Samoan sites.

For an additional 50 tala ($21), Craterman will engrave your name, the date of your visit and a message on one of the wooden signposts marking the walking track around the rim of the crater. “Life is short,” reads a sign commissioned by a visitor from Germany in 2002. “Travel it well.”

Carpeted with tree ferns and 30-metre-high hardwood giants dwarfed inside gargantuan vinecovered black walls, the crater’s an awesome sight to behold—capped off by outrageous views of Savai’i’s northern lagoons where 200 kinds of coral and 900 species of fish live.

“These waters are untouched so no-one really knows too much about what’s down there,” says Pele Emelio, a marine biologist who runs big-game fishing charters on a 43-foot Cabo sportsfishing boat moored at Asau Bay. “What we do know is that they can produce great game fish. There are tonnes of sailfish, barracuda, yellowfin tuna and ‘grander marlin’— specimens that weigh more than 1000 pounds.

Nine are caught in the world each year. We’ve only ever caught one but then again, we’re the only ones out there.”

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Unsung Heroes

Below: Two of Mark’s best mates were all too happy to lend their support

mark Making his

Facing the fight of his life, Mark Middleton was inspired to do something extraordinary

Words: Claire Chaffey Photos: Helen Middleton

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Unsung Heroes

On 14 December

2012, Mark Middleton finally gave up his struggle with mesothelioma, a rare form of asbestosrelated cancer. For three long years, he’d battled courageously against the terminal illness that ravaged his body and vowed to take him from his wife and three young sons.

But Mark wasn’t about to go quietly, nor was his determination diminished. There was one last thing he wanted to do.

Heart and soul

The small mining town of Karratha in Western Australia is home to a resilient bunch. At the heart of the Pilbara region and driven by iron ore mining, the community is as tight-knit as its pubs are full at the end of a long, hot day.

So when Mark decided to embark on a mission to raise money for men’s health, he knew that his town would get behind him—but he had no idea to what extent.

Founded in Melbourne in 2003, the Movember initiative has blossomed from a Melbourne-based event with just 30 committed ‘Mo Bros’ into a global movement that has men around the world sporting varying styles of moustache for the entire month of November.

When Mark’s wife Helen mentioned in passing that she’d again be donating to the cause, as she did every year, Mark had an idea.

“He just thought, ‘That might be something I can do as a final legacy, before I go’,” reflects Helen. “Once he’d decided to do it, that was it. He was like a bull at the gates, headstrong and ready to do whatever he could.”

With the first few sprouts of a cookie duster moustache forming on his top lip, Mark decided

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Above left: Boxing champ Danny Green got behind Mark’s Movember effort Above: Local café staff were among the many Karratha locals showing support

he would commit to raising $5000. But within days, his employer, the Pilbara Motor Group, donated the entire amount, and Mark had to reset the goal posts.

“He took it up a level and said, ‘Now I want $10,000’,” says Helen.

The next few weeks saw an army of collection tins dispatched throughout Karratha’s shops and shopping centres; a flurry of sausage sizzles and car washes; and a wave of text messages and emails sent to everyone the Middletons knew.

Word of Mark’s struggle with cancer and his determination to raise money for Movember quickly spread throughout the town. “The more people he contacted, the more donations flooded in. It was absolutely amazing,” says Helen.

“We had donations from people we didn’t even know. They had seen Mark’s story up on the Movember website. It was just incredible.”

Soon, though, all their expectations were exceeded. “When we hit $40,000, we couldn’t believe it,” says Helen. “Mark was just so proud and so pleased. It blew him away. Often, he was up late at night, constantly checking the amount of donations coming in. He would sit there in tears, not able to believe that people were being so generous.”

A Mo Bro legend

Mark’s final tally was a staggering $40,521, making him the highest fundraiser in Australia— earning him the ‘Mo Mo – James Dean Memorial Award’—and putting him in the top 10 highest fundraisers globally.

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Unsung Heroes

THE MOVember story From humble beginnings in Melbourne, Movember has grown—like hair on an upper lip—to become a global fundraising phenomenon that’s earned hundreds of millions of dollars to help the fight against prostate cancer and male depression.

The idea behind the annual month-long event is as simple as not shaving.

Just register at the group’s website as a freshfaced ‘Mo Bro’ before 1 November, then throw away your razor and get friends and family to help you help a worthy cause.

Since 2010, Isuzu UTE Australia has been a sponsor of the initiative, putting up a brand-new D-MAX as a prize. Any Mo Bro who raises more than $100 is in the running to win—which is even more reason to take part!

But don’t take the event’s name as a rule—you can donate to help out men’s health any month of the year. Just head to movember.com.au

32

Above: Mark ‘went pink’ throughout the campaign.

He’s flanked by two breast cancer awareness volunteers Right: Mark’s sons remember him by the ute he won

“Mark’s commitment to Movember is inspirational,” wrote the Movember team on their website. “Battling illness, Mark remained steadfast in his endeavour to raise awareness for men’s health.”

Even Aussie boxing great Danny Green was impressed, and took the chance to meet Mark during a visit to Karratha.

“Meeting Danny Green was incredible,” reflects Helen. “Mark had a group of mates who would go away on an annual golfing trip and they were called ‘The Green Jackets’. They organised to have Danny come to the house and meet Mark. He loved his sport, so he knew Danny and followed his achievements. It was ‘The Green Machine’ meets ‘The Green Jackets’.

It was very special. Danny’s a wonderful man, a real gentleman.”

But there was one more happy surprise in store for Mark.

Each year, Isuzu UTE Australia sponsors Movember and gives ‘Mo Bros’ who have raised more than $100 the chance to win a brand new D-MAX ute. This year, it was Mark’s name that was drawn from the barrel.

“Winning the car was an absolute joy and a complete surprise,” says Helen, still thrilled at the memory. “Mark’s never really won much of anything, so when the news came through, he got very emotional. He burst into tears and couldn’t believe he’d won a car. It just doesn’t happen to many people, does it?”

“It’s lovely to get up in the morning and hear the boys say, ‘Mum, can we go to school in dad’s car today?’”

While Helen and Mark had originally decided to sell the D-MAX, given that it was a manual and Helen only drives automatics, the Isuzu UTE Australia team came to the rescue and offered to switch it for an automatic.

“That sealed the deal,” says Helen. “They didn’t have to do that for me and go to all that trouble, but I’m just so pleased that we have kept the car.”

More than just a vehicle, the ute has become a moving memorial to a humble man whose story touched so many and whose final weeks were spent in the service of a greater cause.

“I’ve just secured personalised number plates for the car—I’ve got ‘Movember1’,” says Helen.

“It’s a great tribute to Mark. It’s lovely to be able to get up in the morning and hear the boys say, ‘Mum, can we go to school in dad’s car today?’”

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Special Report

He may not have the illustrious playing background of some of his contemporaries but rookie coach Trent Robinson is making a mark at the sydney Roosters

the

Graduate 34

Words: Glenn Cullen Photos: Getty Images

Special Report

T

he history of the Sydney Roosters rugby league club includes a roll call of the game’s royalty.

It started with one of the code’s first true professionals in Dally Messenger back in the early 1900s, and has gone on to include the likes of flaxen-haired fullback Russell Fairfax, ball-playing forward and indigenous icon Arthur Beetson, and fleet-footed five-eighth Brad Fittler.

Of the NRL’s present-day greats, the tricolours’ Sonny Bill Williams is among the elite. Then there are the club’s storied coaches, such as Jack Gibson, Phil Gould and Ricky Stuart. So at first glance, Trent Robinson may seem a curious choice to mentor the foundation franchise.

Featuring in just four top-flight games during his time as a player, he’d be the first to admit his exploits on the field aren’t exactly the stuff of legend. And at only 36, he’s the youngest coach in a competition that demands fast results.

But in speaking to Robinson, you get an understanding why Roosters chairman Nick Politis wanted him on board—and how he’s enjoyed almost immediate success.

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Above: The Roosters celebrate their Anzac Day victory against the Dragons Left: The Roosters cheerleader squad strike a pose with an Isuzu D-MAX Bottom: Captain Anthony Minichiello says Robinson’s age isn’t an issue

A DIFFERENT TACK

“It was obviously a big call to recruit a person like me,” Robinson tells max*d. “Historically, the Roosters haven’t gone for coaches like myself.

They have either been very experienced players or great coaches. I was neither one nor the other.

But I was confident in the grounding I’d had and the capacity to do the job, so that pressure was never felt by me.”

That grounding included assistant coaching stints under Brian Smith at the Roosters, where he was part of the side’s run to the 2010 grand final. But perhaps more important was his time in France; first as player/coach with Toulouse Olympique, then when he returned to coach Catalans Dragons in the English Super League.

The latter gig was at a cash-strapped club that wasn’t used to success. Yet the methodical Robinson—who also has a degree in sports science—embedded himself in the culture of the club and the country. “It gave me a good understanding of who I was,” he explains.

Robinson continued to learn the language and used his technical nous to extract the best from his players. Les Catalans went from the bottom of the ladder when he arrived to fourth place the next year.

In many ways this was the making of the man.

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Special Report

He was forced to create a reputation outside the comforts of home. And it allowed him, at least for a time, to avoid the pitfalls often encountered by young coaches who return to a club they’ve played at to take up the head-coaching role. When you are seen more as a contemporary than a mentor, establishing authority can prove difficult.

For Roosters stalwart Anthony Minichiello— who played with Robinson briefly when both were members of the tricolours’ under-20s side—it’s a non-issue. “He seems like an older guy,” Minichiello says. “His mannerisms and the way he carries himself is a lot more mature.

None of the players think about his age.”

Robinson doesn’t shy away from his relative youthfulness and is quite happy to straddle the sometimes difficult divide of critic, confidante and motivator.

“It’s been my whole career because I have often been the age of the players I’ve had to coach,” he explains. “The players understand that you can talk to them about personal stuff, but when you’re a coach, you’re a coach. It makes you be honest with them but you can have a separation when it comes to what is best for the team. I don’t think you need a complete separation from the players, otherwise you don’t understand them well enough.”

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE

Management skills are one thing, but for Roosters chief operating officer Brian Canavan, Robinson is no one-trick pony. Canavan says there were things that he noticed when he was recruited as a junior player at the club in 1996.

“Even in those formative years as a player you

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“His mannerisms and the way he carries himself is a lot more mature. None of the players think about his age.” could see the coach in him,” says Canavan. “He was just one of those very inquisitive types of people, asking questions like: ‘Why are you doing certain things, why are you planning this and why do you structure things in that way?’”

Nowadays, the skill-set is very much refined for the job. Asked what he brings to the table, Canavan quickly rattles off Robinson’s strengths.

“In the first instance, composure,” he explains.

“He’s very intelligent, he’s got an in-depth understanding of sports science and sports medicine, and a continued passion for them. The other thing is he’s honest and he’s transparent.

Players know what he’s thinking; they don’t have to second-guess him at all. We have a very open environment among players and staff, and that’s led by Trent.”

Currently signed to a three-year contract at the Roosters, Robinson is acutely aware of the longer-term goals of player development, recruitment and working within the competition’s salary cap system.

Yet he also knows the club and fans demand results. Still, for everything Robinson brings to the Roosters, he is more than happy to defer to a team that contains such luminaries as Williams, Minichiello, Mitchell Pearce and Michael Jennings. So how does he deal with all those big names?

“It’s really easy,” he concedes. “They’re driven individuals and they push us to become better coaches. Hopefully, vice-versa, we are pushing them to become better players.”

FACT FILE Trent robinson Age: 36

Playing: Position: Prop • W ests Tigers 2000–2001 • Parramatta Eels 2002 • T oulouse Olympique 2003–2005

Coaching: Position: Assistant coach, • N ewcastle Knights 2007–2009 • Sydney Roosters 2010 Position: Head coach, • Toulouse Olympique 2005–06 • Catalans Dragons 2011–2012 • Sydney Roosters 2013

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get stuffed

D.I.Y.

THE K.I.S.S. PHILOSOPHY (KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID) PAYS OFF WITH PRAWNS. sydney’s LUGARNO SEAFOOD RESTAURANT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, SO PUCKER UP AS THEY SHOW YOU HOW it’s done

SPARE PARTS (For entrée size) • • • • • •

3 x 125g king prawns Olive oil Clarified butter (see tip three) Salt Jasmine rice Coriander to garnish

Sauce • • • • •

400ml fish stock 100ml sweet chilli sauce 50ml soy sauce 25ml Chinese cooking wine Shallots

Bring ingredients to the boil and add shallots to serve. Excess sauce can be refrigerated.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE • • • • •

Chopping board Medium-sized sharp knife Flat tray Heavy frying pan Tongs

try the real thing Find Lugarno Seafood Restaurant at 220 Forest Road, Lugarno, Sydney.

Open Mon–Sun for lunch from 12pm and dinner from 6pm; call 02 9534 5136 or check out www. lugarnoseafood.com

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1

PEEL IT Take off the whiskers.

Hold the shell next to the head so that when you peel it off the prawn stays otherwise intact.

DE-VEIN IT Run your knife through the centre of the body and use it to pull out the vein. Quickly rinse the prawn if the vein is runny.

3

PREPARE IT Oil a flat tray with olive oil. Coat with clarified butter (boil butter then remove milk solids for a cleaner, lighter taste).

Salt to season.

PAN FRY IT Pan frying or grilling is the best for finish and taste.

Ovens tend to dry out shellfish.

Three and a half to four minutes should be plenty for a 125g king prawn. Don’t bother turning them—they’ll cook right through. Look for firmness and a rich orange colour to tell you they’re done.

SERVE IT Once cooked, serve your king prawns on a bed of jasmine rice with lashings of warm homemade chilli sauce and a coriander garnish.

The Fisher King You know you’ve reached the end of Forest Road in Sydney’s southern suburb of Lugarno when you hit the Georges River—and Lugarno Seafood Restaurant.

A local institution since the early 1980s, it’s been run in its current incarnation by Spiro Cardamis for almost two decades.

Don’t expect nouveau seafood creations or a slick inner-city ambience.

Instead, come for simple dishes cooked well, and with relaxing river scenery as a backdrop.

Head chef Theo Misdanitis fits in perfectly here. First an apprentice then

a sous chef, he now runs the kitchen after a 10-year labour of love. Brought up on a Mediterranean diet, his parents gravitated more towards seafood than the frequent Greek preference for meats.

Theo follows the same path and loves nothing more than fresh steamed fish, prawns or mudcrab and the occasional fish curry or stew. And of course, he’s a big proponent of the ‘less is more’ ethos.

“Always buy fresh, keep the sauces light and don’t go for too many flavours,” Theo insists. “And stay away from cream—it defeats the purpose.”

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hook, line ‘n’ sinker

Don’tTry Words: Nick Duigan

this at Home!

TV fishing legends Nick Duigan and Andrew Hart’s top end target changed from barra to croc eggs

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Left: If anyone can help you bag a big barra, it’s local guide Matt Top: Collecting croc eggs starts with a dangle below a chopper Above: Salties: Handle with scare Below: Some blokes will go to heli and back to cast a line

As far as fishing destinations go,

they don’t come much better than Australia’s final frontier—the Northern Territory! The offshore waters teem with large, fast-running tropical speedsters, while the rivers are, of course, home to the legendary barramundi.

But for every fisherman who visits the Top End, there’s another aquatic animal that is never far from their thoughts—Crocodylus porosus, better known as the estuarine or saltwater crocodile.

In the barra creeks and billabongs of the wild region, it’s not uncommon to see 20-plus of the solid beasts in a typical fishing session—and every now and then, an absolute monster slides off the bank and silently vanishes beneath the coffee-coloured water.

With these thoughts in mind, we loaded up the D-MAX and left Darwin, heading south-west for the drive to Crab Claw Island. It wasn’t long before the bitumen gave way to dirt and the

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hook, line ‘n’ sinker

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“The rivers are, of course, home to the legendary barramundi.”

D-MAX was in its element. Being wet season, there were more than a few swollen rivers to cross, not to mention kilometre after kilometre of corrugated gravel, all of which were dispatched in typical no-fuss D-MAX style!

The main purpose of our journey was some heli-fishing, using a chopper to access the maze of run-off channels that drain the floodplains.

Our host and pilot for the trip was local legend Matt Wright. As well as being a very capable fishing guide, Matt’s ‘real job’ is collecting crocodile eggs from wild nests to supply the various commercial croc farms in the Territory.

Andrew and I weren’t sure if Matt was joking when he offered us the chance to come on an egg mission, so we laughed and said, “Sure, why not.”

Next morning, I could think of plenty of reasons why not but it was too late. I was at the end of a 30-metre rope, dangling beneath a helicopter about to be lowered into an angry croc’s nest to steal her eggs. Fortunately, Matt was already in position and standing three metres away from mother croc who was dutifully guarding her lair.

In order for us to collect the eggs, the mum needed to be persuaded to leave the area. This,

to put it mildly, was the tricky bit! Armed only with a stick and a plastic milk crate, Matt engaged her in a fight that involved lots of shouting, jousting and running backwards.

If everything goes according to plan, the croc eventually takes flight to her safe haven some distance from the nest and the egg collection can take place in relative safety. It’s one hell of a way to make a living—and a day on the job we won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Top: Andrew and Nick show off a Top End barra beauty!

Above: Heli-fishing is a great way to access remote spots, such as run-off channels

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dealer list

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ISUZU UTE dealers

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ASO = Approved Satellite Outlet

We’re in tune with your D-MAX.

With factory trained technicians equipped with all the right tools, Isuzu UTE Service Centres are the right choice for D-MAX owners.

Visit www.isuzuute.com.au to find your local authorised Isuzu UTE Service Centre.

WE CLEAN WHILE YOU DRIVE. It’s off to work we go, helping to break down and remove deposits left behind on critical parts of the engine. The result; improved power, enhanced performance and better fuel efficiency. So every time you fill up, choose Caltex Vortex Premium Diesel, and we’ll keep it clean while you enjoy the drive.

A LW AY S K E E P I T C L E A N

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