As the third week of pre-season training comes to an end, Newcastle Knights' Performance Director, Colin Sanctuary explains the differences in this year’s pre-season training regime.
“We’ve had our usual conditioning and skills on Tuesday, followed by repeat efforts on the Thursday and we’ve just finished with skills this morning,” Sanctuary said after Friday’s session at the University of Newcastle.
“One of the things we’ve tried to do this year is a little more recovery work in the pool, so after the tougher conditioning session on the Tuesday, we’ve been going with ice baths.
“Then on the Thursday we’ve just been playing some games in the water, so it kept the boys in there and hopefully entertained for 10 to 15 minutes.”
This week followed on from Saturday’s Club training session, which Sanctuary hails as a success from both a coaches’ and players’ perspective.
“Everyone seemed to enjoy it,” he said.
Sanctuary caught up with James McManus about the variations to the 2015 pre-season program as the winger undergoes his ninth pre-season with the Club.
“The Thursdays have been a bit different, previous years we’d probably still be doing the grids and the longer distance runs, so it’s nice to see we are doing a bit of change of direction, repeat efforts and repeat speed,” McManus said.
“It’s all the game related stuff and I certainly feel that it’s helping us when we do come across into games in our ruck situations.
“It’s getting everyone up and down off the ground quicker.
“That’s certainly an area we need to be better at this year, that third man out, line speed and being able to contain teams a little bit more and stop them coming out of their end.
“I think it’s all going to be great for us."
Stay tuned for next week’s pre-season training update, which will feature the Knights’ hill training session at King Edward Park in Newcastle.
Don't forget, Run Newcastle will be held on Sunday November 30. Click here to register.
