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If ANY sight embodies the new direction of the Roosters, it is over there, in the middle of the field, in the slender form of Nate Myles.
"I haven't had a beer for 12 weeks," he said. "It's something that's been very different. I had Christmas up in Cairns, and not having a drop of alcohol for 12 weeks is a bit of an eye-opener. Especially with the way North Queensland is in the heat and the way my family likes to spend Christmas. It's been a learning curve."
As a consequence, Myles is an eternity away from the man who was stood down for six matches for defecating in the hallway of a Terrigal hotel after a boozy session last year. These days, he might be in the clubs at 5am but he is the designated driver.
The result: He's lost 10kg and is humming along at 102kg. "He's almost got a six pack," captain Braith Anasta laughed.
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The weight loss means Myles is expected to move from the front-row to lock when the season starts - but he has gained in other areas.
"For the first time in my life I have to watch how light I'm actually getting," he said. "For my position, I need to be carrying some weight.
"But the biggest thing is watching my behaviour, and seeing how other people act on the drink."
This is a considerable admission for Myles, who said after he was stood down that he did not have a drinking problem.
"You can sort of work out what happened last year," he said. "I've got to work out what works for me and I don't know that at the moment. I'm overstepping the line too much on the drink so I've got to work out what works for me.
"My life has been better, to be honest. The things I have to get done through the week, they get done.
"Don't get me wrong: I want to go out and have a game of golf and have a beer. Or sit at home at Chrissie and have a beer. I'm not going to go cold turkey. I want to work out the balance for me, and I don't know that yet, so I'm going to not take the risk of getting into strife."
It makes you wonder: has Myles effected this change for him or the club? "For myself, mate," Myles said. "I want to stay at this club. I love being a part of this club. I didn't want another f ... up, get sacked and then deal with it."
"I haven't had a beer for 12 weeks," he said. "It's something that's been very different. I had Christmas up in Cairns, and not having a drop of alcohol for 12 weeks is a bit of an eye-opener. Especially with the way North Queensland is in the heat and the way my family likes to spend Christmas. It's been a learning curve."
As a consequence, Myles is an eternity away from the man who was stood down for six matches for defecating in the hallway of a Terrigal hotel after a boozy session last year. These days, he might be in the clubs at 5am but he is the designated driver.
The result: He's lost 10kg and is humming along at 102kg. "He's almost got a six pack," captain Braith Anasta laughed.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
The weight loss means Myles is expected to move from the front-row to lock when the season starts - but he has gained in other areas.
"For the first time in my life I have to watch how light I'm actually getting," he said. "For my position, I need to be carrying some weight.
"But the biggest thing is watching my behaviour, and seeing how other people act on the drink."
This is a considerable admission for Myles, who said after he was stood down that he did not have a drinking problem.
"You can sort of work out what happened last year," he said. "I've got to work out what works for me and I don't know that at the moment. I'm overstepping the line too much on the drink so I've got to work out what works for me.
"My life has been better, to be honest. The things I have to get done through the week, they get done.
"Don't get me wrong: I want to go out and have a game of golf and have a beer. Or sit at home at Chrissie and have a beer. I'm not going to go cold turkey. I want to work out the balance for me, and I don't know that yet, so I'm going to not take the risk of getting into strife."
It makes you wonder: has Myles effected this change for him or the club? "For myself, mate," Myles said. "I want to stay at this club. I love being a part of this club. I didn't want another f ... up, get sacked and then deal with it."
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