Magazine Article

Standfirst

From almost hanging up his boots after sustaining a career threatening injury, to signing his
first professional contract. Joe Bajer talks about everything that led up to him signing that
contract and where he sees his career going next.

Article

Many young Rugby League players dream of one day becoming a professional player at one
of the world's biggest clubs, and for 18-year-old Joe Bajer that dream became a reality when
he signed his first professional contract for Warrington Wolves back in October 2022. It's
been a long and arduous journey for the prop forward, who first started playing the game 11
years ago. "I first got into the game through my Grandad. I used to go and watch him play
when I was younger, and then I started playing Rugby through that. I started passing the ball
about and kicking the ball about, and then I ended up joining my first team Newton Storm
when I was 7." Even at such a young age Joe had intentions to pursue a career in Rugby
League, and it were these intentions that prevented him from going down a potentially
dangerous path. "My grandad, my mum pushed it (a career in Rugby League) onto me - and
then I just enjoyed playing it as a kid. It was just a love of the game really, and I always used
to get in trouble as a kid so it was summat just to take my mind away from being out and
about on the streets.” Like any athlete, Bajer had people in his life and on the field of play
who inspired him to pursue his dream and emulate their successes. "(Inside Rugby) I'd say
Sam Burgess (is my biggest inspiration) because of the things he did on the pitch where he'd
work for you as a player. And outside Rugby League I'd probably say my Grandad I reckon,
but (in terms of) Rugby player Sam Burgess 100%."

After 6 years of playing, the Warrington Academy prop's career suffered a huge blow when
he suffered a serious ACL injury. He described the career threatening injury as the worst
moment of his career so far. "(The worst moment of my career so far is) Probably when I tore
my ACL in year 8. That was a big setback because I didn't think I was gonna come back
from that. I was gonna stop playing after that, but obviously (my) family pushed me and
obviously it's all in your head so I just carried on playing through that." After successfully
bouncing back from his torn ACL, Bajer was picked up by Warrington Wolves last year and
signed to their Development Academy. When asked how he's found his time at the Academy
he said, "Oh I've loved it, when I first started there last year the lads were so welcoming to
me. I enjoy every minute of it, I enjoy being there, I enjoy the culture and how the lads are
with each other. It's good to be there and it's good to be around." Joe is currently in his last
year at the Academy and will be moving up to Warrington's Reserve team at the end of the
season - a team that he wouldn't be able to move up to if it weren't for his current form. "I
reckon I'm playing the best quality of Rugby I've played in a long while," Bajer said. "And it's
because I'm enjoying it, you play your best when you're enjoying it." And it was this kind of
form that earned him a spot in the Under 18's squad that played Leeds Rhinos in the U18's
Playoff Semi-Final, something which he labelled as the best on field moment of his career so
 far. "(The best moment of my career so far is) Probably signing my first pro contract in
October, or on field probably being picked to play in the (U18 playoff) semi-final last year."

In order to be at his mental best going into every game, Bajer has a pre-match routine which
he makes sure to do before every game. "I do, I actually do (have a pre-match routine).
Every Saturday morning I'll go to my Mum's cafe and get some breakfast and a coffee down
me, and I have a weird ritual where if we're playing a certain team or if we're playing home or
away I have to enter Padgate a certain way - I've always done it. And the other one I have is
I'll always strap my right wrist and my physio will strap my left." Similarly, the 18-year-old also
has a health routine which he rigorously sticks to. "Yeah you have to (have a health routine).
I carb up, eat a lot of protein, go to the gym - it's just you've gotta eat healthy, you can't have
a day off or go off diet." As Joe did 11 years ago, many youngsters are beginning to play the
game at junior level. When asked if he has any advice for youngsters starting out he said,
"Just stick with it. I was fortunate enough just to sign for an Academy, I didn't go through any
Scholarship process- but when all your mates are signing Scholarships and you've not been
offered a Scholarship you feel like giving up. But I think the big one for me is there'll always
be a good ending, you'll always get where you wanna be if you just stick with it." The future's
looking bright for Joe Bajer, and he knows exactly where he sees his career to go in the
future. "Well the end goal is the NRL in Australia, but (I see myself) just playing for England
and having a good career."