Queenslander
31-12-07, 10:04 AM
Titans train with police SERT unit
With Greg Davis
December 30, 2007
HOW tough is Titans pre-season training? It must be be unspeakably gruelling if a "break" from renowned fitness taskmaster Billy Johnstone is working with an elite police squad trained to handle sieges and riots.
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5820253,00.jpg
SWAT a trio . . . how we see Scott Prince, Anthony Laffranchi and Luke Bailey in pre-season training.
The Titans players were recently pushed to their physical and mental limits by Queensland Police's crack unit SERT ? the Special Emergency Response Team.
In other words, SERT is our answer to those American SWAT teams you see on TV or in the movies. The gruelling four-hour session at Tallebudgera just before Christmas was designed to enhance communication and leadership skills by performing a series of demanding tasks under extreme duress.
Titans football manager and 2003 NRL grand final hero Scott Sattler said the session was a success, with the Gold Coast boys responding well to being taken out of their comfort zone.
"It was all about getting the guys to work mentally. When they got tired we wanted to make sure they communicated with each other the right way," Satts said.
"There was some mind-numbing stuff in there designed to wear away at people to see how they would react. The players were really good and everyone got something positive out of the day.
"Gone are the days where you can yell at NRL players and tell them to do something.
"In professional sport now it's all about working in with them so it was going against the grain to have the SERT instructors yelling at them and demanding things of them on the spot.
"The feedback from the boys has been all positive and hopefully the whole exercise rammed home what we've saying: Attention to detail and maintaining discipline will be our best asset."
Satts said it was no surprise to see co-captain Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi lead from the front, while the efforts of props Michael Hodgson and Daniel Conn were eye-catching. The Titans will resume normal pre-season training early in the new year.
www.thecouriermail.com.au
With Greg Davis
December 30, 2007
HOW tough is Titans pre-season training? It must be be unspeakably gruelling if a "break" from renowned fitness taskmaster Billy Johnstone is working with an elite police squad trained to handle sieges and riots.
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5820253,00.jpg
SWAT a trio . . . how we see Scott Prince, Anthony Laffranchi and Luke Bailey in pre-season training.
The Titans players were recently pushed to their physical and mental limits by Queensland Police's crack unit SERT ? the Special Emergency Response Team.
In other words, SERT is our answer to those American SWAT teams you see on TV or in the movies. The gruelling four-hour session at Tallebudgera just before Christmas was designed to enhance communication and leadership skills by performing a series of demanding tasks under extreme duress.
Titans football manager and 2003 NRL grand final hero Scott Sattler said the session was a success, with the Gold Coast boys responding well to being taken out of their comfort zone.
"It was all about getting the guys to work mentally. When they got tired we wanted to make sure they communicated with each other the right way," Satts said.
"There was some mind-numbing stuff in there designed to wear away at people to see how they would react. The players were really good and everyone got something positive out of the day.
"Gone are the days where you can yell at NRL players and tell them to do something.
"In professional sport now it's all about working in with them so it was going against the grain to have the SERT instructors yelling at them and demanding things of them on the spot.
"The feedback from the boys has been all positive and hopefully the whole exercise rammed home what we've saying: Attention to detail and maintaining discipline will be our best asset."
Satts said it was no surprise to see co-captain Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi lead from the front, while the efforts of props Michael Hodgson and Daniel Conn were eye-catching. The Titans will resume normal pre-season training early in the new year.
www.thecouriermail.com.au