I understand what you're saying John and I agree with you, what I'm getting at is that juniors don't always understand the mix of power and athleticism which offers them a real chance of being the best they can be as opposed to just being big strong players who don't get bullied. This perhaps means they're not the best judges of what their conditioning programmes need to aim for.

I don't know the truth of what's happening at Wakefield, I'm just offering up some insight into what might be behind it.

Good, because that was my intention.

If what you've said is true in terms of the players disgruntlement, it certainly doesn't look like anything particularly unusal - it's a common symptom of a staff team that has been in-situ for too long and have grown complacent and a bit bored. They start to see their charges en-masse rather than as individuals and they treat their work as a series of processes, without really concentrating on the detail.

I've said it many times before but I don't mind saying it again; a total change of culture is required at the club, starting with the HC and including all of his mates/staff team.

Correct the players do not know the balance, but they also understand the game and I do not think the staff do fully. Rugby League players are not aerobic athletes, they are reliant on a mix of anaeroboic and aerobic energy systems and also require protection in the form of mass.

They do not have to be experts in the game they play to understand and feel the weaknesses they have, and in truth I feel the results both in brining junior players through and how physically some of the first team get dominated. Its interesting to see a few of the senior players leading weights sessions out of hours.

The worrying thing is that this was happening in the first 6 - 12 months of their appointment.

That's a different matter to what my long post was addressing but I agree we need to start promoting some of our better youth products or risk losing them.

One result of promoting them might be that none of them are good enough but that in itself will tell us that there's something wrong with our talent spotting, youth recruitment, development or a mixture of all. If that were the case then we know we have to change philosophies, staff etc.

The main issue I see is a lack of flexibility. You cannot adopt 1 philosophy for a sport requiring so many different facets with a group of individuals of different shapes/flaws/strengths.

No you're right there is no 'one size fits all' philosophy for a sport like rugby league and the club could and should adopt a system of individual assessment based on sport science and then develop a regime specific to each player. The regime must then be monitored and developed on a regular basis dependent upon the results achieved, injuries etc..
This type of system requires a real long term commitment and should be maintained even if the coaching staff changes.

How far and how deep you can go with it is down to the resources that a club like Wakefield have but there is the potential to partner with Leeds Met Uni who have all the necessary facilities to prepare players to the same level as the most elite athletes in the world. Day to day practicalities would prevent the club from going to that extreme but the further you can go the better our young players will be.

If this approach were coupled with a more traditional method of player preparation delivered by coaches who understand the demands that a single game and a long term career will have on a player you wouldn't go far wrong.

The club have done a lot of work with York Uni, due to the connections with the lecturing staff.

I find it a real shame that Trinity are in this position and whilst much of the blame has to be laid at the doors of TR, the coaching staff also need to accept their part in the clubs seemingly guaranteed demise. Sad for the club and also a City that in many other aspect seems to be booming yet the potential heart of that city seems destined to be ripped out in the next 2 weeks.

I will also add that this type of system, if employed early enough, will help clubs to identify and develop players based on their inherent and genetic potential. What this leads to is the discovery of the next Greg Inglis and his successful development as an outside back as opposed to being shoved into the pack because he's a big lad.

Etc......

I have banged this drum for years, talent id should not be based on what can be and is coched, it should be based on athletic potential and athletic id, which is a very simple process.

The Aussies own it.

We are too busy taking tall outside backs and banging them in the pack ruining their career.

Which goes back to the excellent points made last week by vastman, about the dearth of coaching talent at junior level and the focus on 'big is best.'

The squadbuilder chap who was on YR earlier made an observation - the RFL, instead of throwing good money after bad on vainglorious expansion projects that are doomed to fail, should invest much more in the sport at junior level, including the development of proper coaches and officials. I have to agree.

So if a job as a conditioner came up at a pro RL club, say Wakefield Trinity, in the near future, say the end of this season, would you think of applying for it?

I'd be lying if I said I didn't harbour ambitions to coach and I've spent years admiring my brothers while also being envious that my personal circumstances didn't allow me to follow their lead.

All that's changed now and I would consider such a position, whether I'm ready for it is a different matter but I believe I wouldn't be the worst coach ever to grace or besmirch the game.

Would you be a nice Andy "dead chilled" type or a Neil "I'll kick you from here to the other side of the changing rooms" type of coach? Made me laugh when he lost it with them at HT!

I don't know your personal circumstances, but if the opportunity arises I'd say go for it.


You clearly have the pedigree and the passion.
Life changing opportunities don't come around too often and there's always a risk, but if you don't try you don't know. Good luck with it.