Just had a nosey at [url=http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/ox-tipped-to-tame-rhinos/this[/url and spotted this quote:




Anybody noted any loss of 'size' on these two? Any lack of strength in their play? I remember last year when Hicks took Bennett (was it?) against Saints on his own, it was an awesome show of strength, I hope it's just a loss of size and not actual strength.

Anybody picked up on this?

swapped the bone and muscle regime for the fags and beer one

And I thought this was going to be about their daft haircuts

It just surprised me. Monaghan is quite a big lad for his size, his arms are big. Considering most were saying they'd expect Halmshaw to have us beefed up and ripped, I'm surprised for people to say they've lost a bit on upper body.

That was first comment from seeing pictures of Higham wasn't it on here?

Its very clear to see both of them have trimmed down.

Hicks was the top bencher when he was at Manly, he had freakishly strong upper body strengh, as did Monaghan. I'm not saying they still don't. But it is very noticeable that they have both lost alot of muscle.

I remember reading about that, and that fact that he could run 100m in 10.76 seconds, which he clearly can't now, unless Halley is Ato Boldon.

How do we see this? Positive, negative or a mix? Will this have effected their game at all? I wouldn't for one moment question their commitment in training, so I'm guessing it's down to the coaching that they've sized down.

For me it just backs up my claim that the fitness and conditioning coach's are garbage and/or that it seems both players have fallen foul to the Lee Briers of the pitch training routine.

So did I actually

Manly as a club are leading examples of Sport Science and Anatomy and Physiology in Rugby League, though. There are few, if any, coaches who are as thorough with the Sport Science side of training and preperation than Des Hasler, so it only makes sense that they would suffer from some degree of Muscular Atrophy since dropping down in (at least weight) training intensity levels.

Enough to surprise the Manly side, though?