Green 'fitter than league stars'
By Grantlee Kieza
April 5, 2006
WITH six weeks to go before he tackles Anthony Mundine at a celebrated rugby league stadium, Danny Green has been declared fitter than any player in the NRL.
At 76kg he may not have the size or strength of the game's giants such as Brad Thorn or Shane Tronc but the gurus behind the Parramatta Eels' conditioning say Green is in better mental and physical shape than any footballer in the country.
"Without a doubt he is the most complete athlete I've worked with," said the Eels' physical performance manager Hayden Knowles, the man overseeing Green's fitness training for the Mundine fight on May 17 at Aussie Stadium.
"Obviously there are bigger and stronger guys playing in the NRL but in terms of overall endurance, mental toughness, speed and power Danny wins.
"We had a junior league team training alongside Danny at Parramatta Stadium recently and they were just in awe of his work.
"In rugby league terms he has the passion of Mark Riddell, the professionalism of Nathan Cayless and the fitness and strength of a Nathan Hindmarsh."
Knowles and physical trainer Craig Catterick work closely with Green's boxing coach - Bangkok-based Cuban Ismael Salas - in ensuring the Sydney Olympian hits his peak for the shootout after sundown on May 17.
"I've worked with a lot of league players who were really dedicated with their training - Cayless, Stephen Kearney at New Zealand, Jason Taylor and Gary Larson. But Danny is as dedicated and committed as any of them and he has an intensity and determination all on his own."
Green resumed training with Knowles and Catterick yesterday after spending the last month in Perth and he says training at Parramatta Stadium has given a new dimension to his fitness.
"I've never felt fitter or stronger," Green said. "My back injury has come good and I'm tapering perfectly for the big night. I've been waiting six years to fight Anthony Mundine and I can't wait for that bell to ring."
The Daily Telegraph
By Grantlee Kieza
April 5, 2006
WITH six weeks to go before he tackles Anthony Mundine at a celebrated rugby league stadium, Danny Green has been declared fitter than any player in the NRL.
At 76kg he may not have the size or strength of the game's giants such as Brad Thorn or Shane Tronc but the gurus behind the Parramatta Eels' conditioning say Green is in better mental and physical shape than any footballer in the country.
"Without a doubt he is the most complete athlete I've worked with," said the Eels' physical performance manager Hayden Knowles, the man overseeing Green's fitness training for the Mundine fight on May 17 at Aussie Stadium.
"Obviously there are bigger and stronger guys playing in the NRL but in terms of overall endurance, mental toughness, speed and power Danny wins.
"We had a junior league team training alongside Danny at Parramatta Stadium recently and they were just in awe of his work.
"In rugby league terms he has the passion of Mark Riddell, the professionalism of Nathan Cayless and the fitness and strength of a Nathan Hindmarsh."
Knowles and physical trainer Craig Catterick work closely with Green's boxing coach - Bangkok-based Cuban Ismael Salas - in ensuring the Sydney Olympian hits his peak for the shootout after sundown on May 17.
"I've worked with a lot of league players who were really dedicated with their training - Cayless, Stephen Kearney at New Zealand, Jason Taylor and Gary Larson. But Danny is as dedicated and committed as any of them and he has an intensity and determination all on his own."
Green resumed training with Knowles and Catterick yesterday after spending the last month in Perth and he says training at Parramatta Stadium has given a new dimension to his fitness.
"I've never felt fitter or stronger," Green said. "My back injury has come good and I'm tapering perfectly for the big night. I've been waiting six years to fight Anthony Mundine and I can't wait for that bell to ring."
The Daily Telegraph
