Give us a break
Mick Daly
August 08, 2006 12:00am
EXHAUSTED North Queensland players yesterday pleaded with club officials to alter a rigorous training regime they believe is killing their finals chances.
The Courier-Mail understands there has been growing unrest in Townsville over the Cowboys' focus on fitness under hard-nosed conditioner Billy Johnstone, with many players believing they have nothing more to gain from his notorious sweat sessions.
The weary squad is sick of the physical beatings and has been desperate for a break for several weeks.
The players' discontent came to a head in a productive 90-minute team meeting yesterday afternoon at which several Cowboys raised their concerns with coach Graham Murray.
Senior trio Mitchell Sargent, Matt Sing and Justin Smith were particularly vocal, claiming the players were being run into the ground by Johnstone.
The squad had previously asked a six-man leadership group ? Travis Norton, Sing, Paul Bowman, Johnathan Thurston, Luke O'Donnell and Ty Williams ? to put its complaints to the coaches but no major changes had been forthcoming.
Of particular concern to the squad has been its Monday and Wednesday weights sessions, which have become progressively more difficult and taxing on the players' bodies.
Johnstone often tells the squad:"Train hard in the gym and it will be easy on the paddock". But the players have become increasingly sceptical.
Team sources say the squad is now working harder than it did in the pre-season. Just yesterday afternoon the players were forced to complete a modified beep (endurance) test and other running drills less than 48 hours after their weekend match.
Words used by players to describe the training have included "ridiculous" and "stupid". Some have even started casting an eye towards the off-season as they search for a rest.
A candid Sargent raised his concerns following last Saturday night's humiliating 54-14 defeat by Canterbury.
The NSW Country Origin representative said the battling Cowboys were tired and felt new training methods had to be found if they were to save their season.
He suggested more time needed to be spent addressing their on-field problems, which have caused the one-time premiership favourites to lose nine of their past 11 matches and crash to 10th on the NRL ladder.
"Johnstone will be touching us up again. I don't know if that's the way we should be going," he said.
"I think we should freshen up. It's 22 rounds into the year. We're obviously fit enough. I just think we need to concentrate on where we are going wrong rather than getting touched up.
"Physically I'm fatigued. The training we are doing is very tough. It's really hard to take."
The coach said last night he was aware of the players' concerns and acknowledged not all were happy with the present program.
But he said the club's training demands were similar to what they had been throughout his five years in charge and some aspects had even been tinkered with to please the players.
He understood the players' position but added their displeasure with the training had probably been heightened by their poor form.
The Courier Mail