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Malc & Mike Eccles(new conditioner) atended the meeting to answer Q.
First up was, are any of the players back in training now.
Malc said they are coming & going, its their own time up until mid November, New Year for the overseas players, but they have all been given specific programmes to adhere to, ie, diet sheets & the emphasis for the season is the off season training. Some players have been in who are in the area to work with them both, & the overseas players have all got programmes to follow whilst back home at their respective former clubs. They have all come from clubs with good structures so hopefully they are carrying on the Canterbury contingent are working with the conditioner there
Q. What of the players coming in next season.
Malc. the club have invested heavily in the final season player wise, need to use the likes of LeoLatu more, as he is normally an impact type player of the bench, will get more game time with us.
Q. Where will Stef play
Malc. It is up to Sean, but Stef can fill a number of positions, played well at F/B at latter end of games. He may be on the bench to interchange so Matty Smith can move to hooker.
Q. What happened to the defence last year?
Malc. Because our offence was bad it causes bad defence, using too much energy all the time, so hopefully with Mike, they will be a lot fitter & importantly, stronger. Did some stats on discipline, - where penalty given away, where kick went & how long we took to get back to position pre penalty, that happened too often, fatigue sets in causing more penalties, so got to improve massivly on that.
Q. What will you both be doing that is different.
Mike. Everything, all training programmes are specific to the individual, not a one size fits all programme, pre season process needed re-structuring completly, will be based on power & speed.
Not having enough ball during games, got to complete sets all game, got to do lots of small things right & put it all together.
Q. Kicking game? Who will be kicker?
Malc. Always in wrong positions for our kicks, too far in our own half to make any impression. Dan will more than likely be kicker, but Stef or Matty can kick aswell, they all practice incase of injuries.
Q. Will Paleasina have more game time.
Malc. Will have to, especially as interchanges are dropping to 10, told to keep a check on his weight, but if he loses too much he loses his strength, so it is a fine line with him, he is a momentum player. When asked about other props, said Adam Neal & Jewitt are having a good off season & improving massivly, so along with Cashmere we look good. Need controlled aggression in the pack, will be a lot tougher next season, need to bounce of one another & they can be a formidable team next year.
If everything goes well, the players gel, with the new personel on board, we can make the 8, if we dont, will see it as a failure.
Q. Are all the rest of the back room staff as was. Mike. Yes, new ass coach to be announced soon.
Q. Can the players overtrain.
Mike. Not if they get the recovery right, wasnt last season,need to do aerobic fitness & speed training, was asked if swimming helpfull, said in some cases, take Dan, he could swim all day & no after effects, but others, who are not good swimmers struggle ie Malc & Rob, Malc said feels more stiffness after swimming than other training.
Q. Match day players experience?
Malc. Will change pre game plan, will be broken down & some will be done in the changing room, more specific & shorter, burning too much energy too soon before the game. Need to know your players, their match day body language to prepare the team.
Q. Will you be having any input in the reserve teams.
Mike. Yes, more input with them so if they have to play in the 1st team, the core skills are all the same, they are not at present so need to build that up.
Q. Malc will you have input into picking the team.
Malc. Hopefully, & the team will be picked on performance, no garaunteed places.
Q. Young lads who came through last season, are they signed on again.
Malc. Jack Spencer, Gaz Owen, Toby Adamson& Mark Sneyd are all in the 1st team squad.they appear to have a massive future the likes of Gaz & Jack need building up but they have great heart, toby doing a law degree, put it on hold to pursue his rugby career, he has got massive potential. Ben Cross, has not been kept on as he wasnt fully commited to full time training.
Malc & Mike went on to say if they can all be as professional as Dan Holdsworth, his mind set is leaps & bounds ahead of a lot of the players, so hopefully it will rub off on the rest of the squad.
Q. Friendlies & last game at the Willow's.
Malc. Playing Leigh at Leigh on Dec 27th, no others decided yet, maybe Swinton.
Last game at Willow's maybe Warrington or Wigan.
Both appeared very commited to their job in hand & have got massive expectations for the coming season, & as already said, if we dont finish at least 8th, they will feel they have failed.
Asked if they would come back maybe mid season to follow up the progression.
No more meetings until in the new year, which will hopefully be a "Meet the New Players" forum for Q/A before the season starts.
If interested in the New Stadium plans Forum,possibly late November, please post so we can gage approx how many will be interested in attending. Cheers
