Dragons concede training almost impossible before Anzac Day clash
Table-topping St George Illawarra are resigned to having just one short session on the training paddock on the eve of their grudge clash with the Roosters as a scheduling quirk plays havoc with their normal preparation for the Anzac Day blockbuster.
The Dragons will put their unbeaten start to the season on the line against the in-form Warriors in New Zealand on Friday night, but so cramped will their turnaround be for the biggest match of the regular season they will virtually make field sessions off limits before Wednesday's match.
Anzac Day falling on a Wednesday was always going to provide a scheduling challenge and Dragons' high performance staff have virtually scrapped their roster's entire training load after they return from across the Tasman.
Despite pouring the majority of their energy into the Warriors, the Dragons have had one eye on their Anzac Day plans for a number of weeks as their red-hot start to the season faces its biggest test with two huge games in the space of five days.
Coach Paul McGregor has slated just one captain's run 24 hours out from the Anzac Day match as the only serious work his player will do on the training pitch to prepare for their traditional rivals, so focused they will be on rehabilitation after facing the Warriors.
Related Article
Dragons
Warriors more dangerous after perfect record ruined: Dragons coach McGregor
The Dragons won't travel back from Auckland to Sydney until Saturday and will be given a day off on Sunday before a further light recovery on Monday, leaving them a brisk Tuesday workout as the only time they will lace on the boots.
It will mean precious little time to iron out any kinks which may arise from against the Warriors, who will also feature on Anzac Day in their annual clash against the Storm in Melbourne.
The Roosters will have the benefit of an extra day's recovery in comparison to the Dragons and no travel burden given they were scheduled to take on the Bulldogs in Sydney on Thursday night.
St George Illawarra's sizzling opening six rounds has pushed them into premiership favouritism, but they will be well aware their season started in similar fashion last year.
Captain Gareth Widdop limped off with an injury and Mitchell Pearce broke his field goal curse on Anzac Day in 2017 as the Dragons eventually missed the finals.
And this year's Anzac Day assignment shapes as not much easier given the scheduling headache before the fixture temporarily shifts to the Sydney Cricket Ground from 2019, owing to the Allianz Stadium overhaul.
Having lost 13 of their last 14 clashes against the Dragons, the Warriors will be hoping to snap St George Illawarra's winning start to the year after coming off their first defeat of the season against the Broncos.
And halfback Shaun Johnson, who will line up against a rejuvenated Ben Hunt, wants some of the credit for the Warriors' fast start to be heaped back on their coach Stephen Kearney.
We have a couple of bad weeks and I guarantee 'Mooks' will be the one getting hit with it all
Shaun Johnson
"We can overlook the coach when we're going well," Johnson said this week. "We have a couple of bad weeks and I guarantee 'Mooks' will be the one getting hit with it all. A lot of credit has to go to him. As players we don't look any further than him. He's the full stop at the end of it all.
"Good or bad, win or lose he's always going to be there to take that. Communication stuff ... he's been working with the senior leadership group. [But] it's back to business and we don't like to get too ahead of ourselves when we win and same when we lose."
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dr...e-before-anzac-day-clash-20180419-p4zaiy.html
Table-topping St George Illawarra are resigned to having just one short session on the training paddock on the eve of their grudge clash with the Roosters as a scheduling quirk plays havoc with their normal preparation for the Anzac Day blockbuster.
The Dragons will put their unbeaten start to the season on the line against the in-form Warriors in New Zealand on Friday night, but so cramped will their turnaround be for the biggest match of the regular season they will virtually make field sessions off limits before Wednesday's match.
Anzac Day falling on a Wednesday was always going to provide a scheduling challenge and Dragons' high performance staff have virtually scrapped their roster's entire training load after they return from across the Tasman.
Despite pouring the majority of their energy into the Warriors, the Dragons have had one eye on their Anzac Day plans for a number of weeks as their red-hot start to the season faces its biggest test with two huge games in the space of five days.
Coach Paul McGregor has slated just one captain's run 24 hours out from the Anzac Day match as the only serious work his player will do on the training pitch to prepare for their traditional rivals, so focused they will be on rehabilitation after facing the Warriors.
Related Article
Dragons
Warriors more dangerous after perfect record ruined: Dragons coach McGregor
The Dragons won't travel back from Auckland to Sydney until Saturday and will be given a day off on Sunday before a further light recovery on Monday, leaving them a brisk Tuesday workout as the only time they will lace on the boots.
It will mean precious little time to iron out any kinks which may arise from against the Warriors, who will also feature on Anzac Day in their annual clash against the Storm in Melbourne.
The Roosters will have the benefit of an extra day's recovery in comparison to the Dragons and no travel burden given they were scheduled to take on the Bulldogs in Sydney on Thursday night.
St George Illawarra's sizzling opening six rounds has pushed them into premiership favouritism, but they will be well aware their season started in similar fashion last year.
Captain Gareth Widdop limped off with an injury and Mitchell Pearce broke his field goal curse on Anzac Day in 2017 as the Dragons eventually missed the finals.
And this year's Anzac Day assignment shapes as not much easier given the scheduling headache before the fixture temporarily shifts to the Sydney Cricket Ground from 2019, owing to the Allianz Stadium overhaul.
Having lost 13 of their last 14 clashes against the Dragons, the Warriors will be hoping to snap St George Illawarra's winning start to the year after coming off their first defeat of the season against the Broncos.
And halfback Shaun Johnson, who will line up against a rejuvenated Ben Hunt, wants some of the credit for the Warriors' fast start to be heaped back on their coach Stephen Kearney.
We have a couple of bad weeks and I guarantee 'Mooks' will be the one getting hit with it all
Shaun Johnson
"We can overlook the coach when we're going well," Johnson said this week. "We have a couple of bad weeks and I guarantee 'Mooks' will be the one getting hit with it all. A lot of credit has to go to him. As players we don't look any further than him. He's the full stop at the end of it all.
"Good or bad, win or lose he's always going to be there to take that. Communication stuff ... he's been working with the senior leadership group. [But] it's back to business and we don't like to get too ahead of ourselves when we win and same when we lose."
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dr...e-before-anzac-day-clash-20180419-p4zaiy.html
