Athletes, do you face
these problems?
- Do you train hard but don’t get the results?
- Does your mind let you down?
- Do your nerves overcome you?
- Do your competitors intimidate you?
- Does your anger stop you from winning?
- Do you lose because of little mistakes?
- Do your negative thoughts hurt you?
- Is your mindset a mess?
- Do you find it hard to bounce back?
- Do you find your results are not consistent?
- Are you a talented athlete but your negative mindset hurts you every day?
- Is your mindset like quicksand that drags you down?
- Does it stop you from winning and performing at your best?
Areas you can get help with to compete and dominate at the very highest levels of Rugby League…
“At the elite level, its 80% mind and 20% body. At the top in any sport, the most successful athletes are not only physically talented, they have the mindset of a champion.”
- Positivity
- Motivation
- Best Self
- Focus & Concentration
- Nerves & Anxiety
- Team cohesion
- Peak Performance Planning
- Bounce back
- World class attitude
- Champions Body Language
- Mastering your reactions
- Consistency
- Cutting Edge Mindset
- ‘Mind Hacking’ techniques
- Mind Game plans
- Mindset skills, strategies and procedures
- Visualisation & visual assimilation
- Mindfulness
- Emotion management
- Deal with pressure
- Creating Positive team environments
- Competition & Game day Systems
- Goals, targets & trackers
- Sports Growth Mindset
- Self belief, Trust and Faith
- Confidence
- Champions systems, processes and SOPs
- Mindset simulation in training
- Reflection & Projection
The Key Mental Challenges in Rugby League
The Elite Sport
Mindset Coach
John Novak is widely known as Australia’s No. 1 Sports Mindset Specialist, with his athletes reaching National and International success at World Championships, Olympics and Major Championships.
His athletes include Grace Kim (Evian Championship Winner 2025) and Jake Weatherald (Australian Test Cricket, 2025–26 Ashes). John has published numerous Sports Mindset books and presented across TV, radio and podcasts.
John has worked at the highest levels of professional sport as Mindset Coach for Sydney FC (A-League 2021–2023) and Melbourne FC (AFL 2023). He was previously Head Mindset Coach at Manly Sea Eagles NRL (2019–2022), Canterbury Bulldogs NRL (2012–2017) and Sydney Roosters (2009). He also has been the mindset coach of the Sydney Kings (NBL) and NSW Waratahs (Super Rugby).
He has worked with hundreds of elite athletes and teams in 50+ different sports. His extensive experience in sports mindset is unparalleled.
What John’s Rugby League Mindset Program Covers
1+1=3
What happens when you add an Elite Mindset Coach to an Elite Athlete or Team?
John’s proven and tested mindset program has a multiplication effect. He helps the athlete or team achieve results far greater than usually possible.
His program has guided athletes and teams to achieve results quicker. His strategies vastly improve your performance to achieve outstanding results.
John’s athletes become leaders, going on to captain national teams in a variety of sports. The program is simple, clear and easy to action. This is why his athletes enjoy the multiplication effect.
Every athlete or team John works with develops laser focus on what’s required and how to achieve their targets.
His athletes and teams get the results!
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How it works?
Even though every athlete requires a tailored mindset program, the formula to fast track success is the same.
Step 1
Initial Mindset Assessment
Step 2
Develop Specific Sports Mindset Targets
Step 3
Tailored Mindset Program with Detailed Action Plan
Step 4
Track and Celebrate Progress
Step 5
Review and Create Higher Tragets
While Working with John, his athletes achieved:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a rugby league mindset coach do?
A: A rugby league mindset coach works with players and teams on the mental skills that determine performance under pressure — focus, aggression management, resilience, team cohesion, and game-day composure. John Novak has served as Head Mindset Coach at three NRL clubs and was appointed the first full-time Head of Mind Management in Australian professional sport. His work covers individual player mindset, team culture, and the change-room environment that produces consistent performance throughout a long NRL season.
How can mindset coaching help an NRL team?
A: At NRL level, the physical and tactical differences between teams are small — the teams that win championships consistently are those with the strongest mental culture. John Novak’s work with NRL clubs focuses on building the shared mindset that makes a team greater than the sum of its parts: handling adversity together, maintaining belief in tough periods, and producing their best football when the season is on the line. His clubs have won premierships, reached grand finals, and made semi-finals consistently during his tenure.
Has John Novak worked with NRL players?
A: Yes. John Novak served as Head Mindset Coach at Manly Sea Eagles (2019–2022), Canterbury Bulldogs (2012–2017), and Sydney Roosters (2009). Manly won the NRL Premiership in 2011. Canterbury reached the Grand Final in 2012 and 2014 and were Minor Premiers in 2012. Individual players he has worked with include Dally M Winger of the Year 2023 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, among many others across his 25+ year career.
How do rugby league players manage aggression?
A: Managing aggression in rugby league means finding the sweet spot between controlled intensity and reckless over-aggression that leads to penalties, sin-bins, or suspension. John Novak teaches players a specific arousal-management framework — understanding their personal optimal intensity level, recognising when they are going over it, and using a quick reset trigger to return to controlled aggression. This is one of the most valuable skills for forwards who need to be physically dominant without compromising their team.
Can junior rugby league players benefit from mindset coaching?
A: Absolutely. John Novak has worked with rugby league players from junior level through to NRL, State of Origin, and international representative level. For junior players, mindset coaching builds the resilience, confidence, and coachability that accelerate development. Players who develop mental skills alongside physical and technical skills progress significantly faster and handle the competitive pressure of pathways programs, Intrust Super Cup, and NRL trials far more effectively.
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