Adam Gardini
23/02/2012 5:35:36 PM

Champion halfback and new club coaching consultant Andrew Johns today dropped in on Jetstar Gold Coast Titans training as the club put the finishing touches on its pre-season camp in Ballina.

Johns ran an eye over the Jetstar Titans squad in what marked their final field training session before the intense build-up to the club?s Round 1 preparation begins next Monday.

Children from Ballina junior rugby league clubs and local schools also took in the session at Ballina Seagulls before getting autographs and photos with some of their favourite Titans players.

Jetstar Gold Coast Titans Coach John Cartwright said it had been a great concept to take the camp and the training session to Ballina which is part of the club?s catchment area.

"The camp has been nice and relaxing but today was a tough session and I was very happy with it. It was hard and everyone got through and there was a lot of local people to come down to watch.

"Ballina is very close to us and we'd like to think that we can get a lot more Ballina people and people from these regions up to our games.

"We are the nearest NRL club to them and it's only natural that we should want them to support us.''

Cartwright said the three-day camp had been a perfect mix of fun team building and serious training.

The camp has seen players split into four different groups and divided into large dorm rooms containing bunk beds as well as preparing meals for each other.

"It's been fun, the guys are used to staying in five-star hotels and getting served so we've come down here with that in the back of our minds,?? said Cartwright.

"Clarky (General Manager of Football Scott Clark) has done a great job in organising everything. The breakies, the lunches and the dinners have all been up to the players and we've all had a lot of fun along the way.

Cartwright said the players had embraced the overall theme of the camp which involved working together in a different environment to what they are used to.

"It's indicative of the group we have. They're pretty laid back and casual types of guys, especially the new guys that have come in. A lot of the guys that have been here a while it's been like a breath of fresh air I suppose.''

The Jetstar Titans playing squad will receive the weekend off before the build-up to Round 1 commences next Monday.