Rugby League World Magazine UK (Published Sept/08)
My Move into Rugby league
I was recently asked to talk about how Physical Preparation for Rugby League has changed during my 12 years in the sport. I can only give my slant on this question from my experiences, my observations, and the information shared by coaches that I have been in contact with.
It is a good question, and it goes without saying that the last 12 years has seen a massive shift towards a more professional attitude in regards to preparation. This has created the sport that has evolved into what we see today, one which has an ever increasing shift towards the importance of physical preparation.
During my 5 years at Bradford between 1996 the end of 2001 the game went through massive changes on and off the field it was during this time that I believe I learnt my trade, I also know that since 2001 until the present day working in the NRL I have mastered my trade.
I came into the sport in Nov 1996 with an extensive knowledge that I had build up during my time as an International athlete, as well as mixing with many other elite sports people & coaches from around the world. Having no pre-conceived ideas on how to prepare a Rugby league team, I believe was a massive asset to me, as I came into the sport with fresh up to date ideas.
Luckily Matt Elliott (Head coach at the time) and Brian Noble (Assistant coach), were pretty forward thinking, and although I can remember sitting down with them in those early days, persisting to get through the blank looks, laughs, and challenging questions. What I was suggesting at the time was new to the sport, seemed a little bit out there, and challenging as it went against the more traditional training methods they had become used to. Looking back I supposed they were taking a bit of a risk, this was reflected in the club cautiously offering me a 6 months contract in Nov 1996 to see how things went, 12 years later , thankfully I am still involved in this great sport.
I now work at the Penrith Panthers in the Australian NRL and work in a multi million dollar purpose built gymnasium with every piece of Machinery, Free Weights, and Cardio Equipment ,you can imagine. But back in the winter of 1996-1997 the Bradford Bulls trained in a local school gymnasium, with old second hand free weights & equipment, so things were a little limited, But the group of players I had at the time were tough and committed, and worked hard with what we had.
The basis of that first off season was to develop a good solid strength base, I also started to experiment and introduce drills and exercises to develop functional strength, power & Speed. It proved to be successful as in 1997 the Bradford bulls won 20 games straight to win the title, with a team which on paper was no way the most talented bunch of players, but were definitely a team of committed tough hard working players. Champion people that evolved into a championship winning team.
It is interesting to recollect some of the things we discussed and implemented during those early years at the Bradford Bulls between Nov 1996 and Nov 2001, things which at the time seemed so revolutionary, and new to the game, But now have filtered into the sport and are common practice, I have listed a few of the things we discussed and implemented below:
1. The development of a Sport Specific Physical Training Program. By designing & implementing a system of Gradual Progressive Training that enhanced the required Muscular, Neural, & Energy systems required for the new breed of rugby league Player. We did this by experimenting & developing the right balance in training in regards to Aerobic & Anaerobic Endurance, Body building for biomechanical, Muscular, & structural balance (Injury prevention), Strength, Power, Speed, Speed Agility, & Speed Endurance. These principals have evolved over the past 12 years and are now the base Template for any successful Head Strength & Conditioning Coach in the modern game. The game has now moved on to such a level that a team which doesn’t implement an elite Strength & Conditioning program will never achieve success in this sport
2. 1997 I implemented what I believe was the beginnings of the first high performance Nutritional strategy in Rugby league, which included education about eating for performance. Feeding the players with the right nutrition during their time at training , as well as expecting them to eat the right type, quantity, & quality of food while at home. You can imagine this was a battle initially as the players were way off the mark in this regard with their eating habits, and ideas on recovery, but through persistence we achieved fantastic results . I can remember travelling to Denver in USA with the Bulls Coaching staff and somehow procuring a full sponsorship from EAS who up until that time only sponsored the Denver Bronco’s NFL team . We were the first team to implement a nutritional strategy at this level. Everyone followed suit and EAS became readily used by teams in the UK and the NRL. When I began working in the NRL at the end of 2001 I began to search for another high quality Nutritional company, to build a relationship with my new employers the Canberra Raiders, after an extensive process I began working with Bsc Body Science I introduced them to the Sport and helped them develop their market, Bsc are now used around the rugby league world.
Correct nutrition works hand in hand with correct Training, without feeding the body the correct levels, & quantities of the right types of nutrients, players will never reach their true physical potential. This statement was radical and confusing to many in 1997; Today it is accepted as a recognised fact.
3. In 1997 the Bradford Bulls were the first Super league team to travel to a warm weather training camp in the off season. I was familiar with the benefits 2 weeks training hard in a fantastic environment would bring, from my years using these facilities as an International Athlete. I can remember that first trip with the Bulls , I am sure the players involved have great memories of that time not only due to the hard work but also the knowledge that was achieved in regards to their development as individuals, as well as collectively, it was priceless at the time. Along with some of the other aspect I have mentioned it is now recognised as something any modern day UK sporting team does , but the Bulls were the first.
4.These are just a few major examples how the game has changed since 1997, and I have tremendous pride in the fact I was part of a coaching staff at the Bulls which was forward thinking, as well as brave enough to help push the boundaries of the British game.
Other aspects that have become part of the Modern day preparation mix are:
1. Post Game Physical Recovery Programmes, & strategies, due to the increased physical nature of the game.
2. The implementation of In Season & Pre season, Pre-habilitation & Rehabilitation Programmes. Structural and Skeletal injuries are more common in the modern game, therefore it is imperative that Strength & Conditioning experts & Physios run programs to try and limit the occurrence of these type of injuries, as well as get players back on the playing feed as quickly as possible.
3. Management of available Physical & Mental Energy due to the increased physical nature of the game. Every minute of preparation needs to be planned and measured as not to impact on the energy availability of the player for Game day performance. The battle between under preparing & overtraining is a fine balancing act, one which takes a high level of expertise to get right.
4. The development of Technique after contact on the field to minimise energy expenditure, while at the same time having an effective Attack & Defence is evident. The increased fitness requirements to get more men in the tackle, the increased speed elements, the increased speed agility in attack and Defence have created new challenges. The introduction of only 10 interchanges instead of 12 has created a need for more durable, fitter players.
The game becomes more physical every year if you improve but your opponent improves more you are going backwards.
The Physical training programmes I implemented with great success only relatively a few years ago at the Bradford Bulls, with great success, would not be sufficient for success in the modern game, it has improved out of sight.
