Christmas with Josh Mantellato

What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

Getting all the family together and catching up over the holiday break. It is great to get the chance to see everyone again.

Best present you have ever received?

A ping-pong table a couple of years ago.

What Christmas traditions do you uphold in your family?

We always get my aunties and uncles together as well as my grandparents and we either go to each other’s houses or go to the beach if it is a good day. We enjoy a big dish of seafood and a surf. We all stick together.

What do you have planned for this Christmas and the Christmas break?

This Christmas my family will be getting together at my aunties new place over near the beach and just after Christmas I am going to Port Douglas for New Years.

How have you finding the pre-season?

It is very good, very tough but I am making sure I give it everything I have got and am enjoying it.

Who have you been impressed by so far?

Chris Adams, he is a bit of a terrier when it comes to training, even though he passes all he tests, he will go again even though he doesn’t have to. In the gym Kevie Naiqama and James McManus they are very strong and don’t take shortcuts.

What are you most looking forward to for the 2013 season?

Realising what I did this season and trying to take it up another notch. Remain injury free and just to enjoy it like I did last season.

Why do you think 2013 will be bigger and better than 2012?

I wasn’t in the first grade squad last year but I suppose after having a full season under the new coaching staff, players will know what to expect this time me around and basically build on the good finish we had to 2012.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!