STUNG by claims of being "soft", the Brisbane Broncos have been undertaking the toughest off-season training camp in the club's history.
"Operation Harden Up" has involved military-style training and anti-terrorist activities designed specifically for Australia's elite soldiers and top-level police.
The six-day secret camp, which ends tomorrow, has taken 20 elite rugby league players out of their five-star lifestyles and dumped them in rugged Glasshouse Mountains forests, energy-sapping McPherson Ranges jungle and closed urban training facilities at Kooralbyn, south of Brisbane.
The club's elite have endured heat, thunderstorms and demanding exercises in a bid to give the Broncos an edge in next year's National Rugby League season.
But not all were able to attend. Petero Civoniceva and Brent Tate are preparing to face New Zealand in the Tri-Nations final in England tomorrow morning, while captain Darren Lockyer is also in England but out injured. Halfback Brett Seymour is recovering from shoulder surgery and Shane Webcke had sponsors' commitments to fulfil.
A confidential club document said Operation Harden Up was to "develop leadership, initiative, teamwork, individual toughness in all participants". Tasks included carrying a 20-litre jerry can of water up Wild Horse Mountain and pushing a vehicle over rough terrain.
At the end of day one on Tuesday, players were shocked by secretly planned explosions which "injured" one of their observers, requiring them to carry the "victim" to an overnight camp by stretcher.
After a dinner that they cooked themselves, the players went on a night navigation exercise before settling in to sleep only to be roused at midnight for an emergency evacuation.
One player "wanted out" after day one but was convinced by his mates to "tough it out", a club official said.
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