Being a complete novice in the area of conditioning but I'm guessing that it would take the best part of 6 months to get Feka down to his optimum weight and fitness levels to the required standards.

Maybe somebody with more knowledge will know better than me, but to get Feka in tip top shape will not be an easy or quick process were all hoping for.

Stopping him flying to Memphis twice a week to eat deep fried peanut butter sandwiches will be the first box to tick...

You're probably right, but look at it this way, 3 months into the new regime he's going to be a lot fitter than he was last season!

Oh absolutely any improvement is better than none, hopefully we'll see a gradual increase in his fitness levels throughout the season indicated by the amount of minutes he plays each week and the increased work load he'll undertake.

I think the hardest challenge for the new regime is not Feka or Piggy but Big Karl.
He needs to be fitter and if MM or SW could press his "on" switch then he could be awsome. He is fast, huge and has all the skills but somewhere someone needs to get him motivated.
Although Karl doesn't do enthusiasm he can be an excellent rugby player when he wants to be. Anyone who remembers his last game at the JJB for Bradford will know how he ran us ragged all game. Made two trys and scored two.
If they could get Karl Pryce very fit, very motivated and playing well then they will have done a great job.

Ricky Hatton has a boxing camp of about 12 weeks, and he goes from lardy beer swilling kebab eating layabout, to fit as a butchers dog and ripped.

So i gues if he can do it any professional athlete should be able to as thats all they do.

A bit harder for the average joe like us who work full time, but seen lads drop a stone in a month after starting the gym, and they about the same size as feka!

The difference with Hatton is he'll have 3 months off after each fight too as a minimum to rest!

You don't want to push Feka too hard because he'll be knackered after the first months matches. its all about balance between getting an improvement and not tiring yourself out too much.

I was talking to the new conditioner at Wire the other day and he said that if Bitcon couldnt get feka into shape then no one could. He also said it was a great signing for us

Good stuff

I have seen the youtube video before but never associated it with Britcon, i especially like the lifting of weights plates rather than bars and the use os a medicine ball on the Jammer.

All too often you see "the experts" training with bars and both sides of the body in pairs ie both legs at the same time both sides of the chest etc, but rarely are do they work in unison in a real match situation, its great functional training.

I hope he has the budget to incorporate the heart rate monitors etc, heart rate training zones are the best way to get the results you desire and there is no hiding place for players when they are strapped up to these, all the NRL team use them to assess real time training.

It should be a piece of cake to get someone like Feka a good stone or maybe 2 off in the off season without harming other aspects of his performance too much.

I've just watched the video.

And developed a limp, a bad shoulder and swine flu.

Mark I'll have to give training a miss.

PMSL

All this change is really refreshing to see. People brought in specifically for their ability and specialism in the relevant area and Maguire making sure all the areas of staffing are covered properly rather than having one man doing the work of 3 etc.

Im actually excited for the next season because of all the positives that are being shown atm with the new coaching set up. Theres alot of potential for success if all what is being put in place works to plan.

I am struggling to see a series of events which will see us not be succesful in the next 3 years.

Looks good.


Are we to take it that heart rate monitors have NOT been used thus far then?


Pathetic if true.


Jonh- I disagree about the weights btw I think lots way overcomplicate the "strength" side of things.

I agree it's not "all" about lifting weights ala weightlifters etc however, this still provides the basis of any decent routine.

Sure mix some "novelty" stuff in there but frankly the benefit here is insurance against boredom and a slightly different angle while working the muscle.

Attitude of the lifter is about 95% of any routine.