Knights find out secret to Wayne's success

[Jobdog]

The Newcastle Knights playing squad have their first taste of life under Wayne Bennett

By Barry Toohey

WAYNE Bennett has yet to officially clock on for his first day of work at the Newcastle Knights.

But already his new playing group has found out the hard way about the high standards the master coach demands.

At the same time, they've experienced a sobering insight into one of the reasons behind Bennett's success.

When more than 30 Knights players from the fulltime squad gathered for pre-season fitness assessments more than a week ago, all were aware of the punishment if they didn't measure up.

Those who failed the beep test and body fat criteria faced four compulsory 6am training sessions last week. The reward for those who passed was an extra week off. Two thirds of the group failed.

"More than 20 of the boys have been slogging it out this week," Knights CEO Matt Gidley said.

"They've had four 6am starts. A few of them might have been guilty of putting their feet up a bit too much over the past few months."

Bennett will oversee his first Knights training session at the end of the month.

LINK

 

[billy2]

Over 30 guys.
I assume some of the rehab guys weren't there.
Uate and Boyd weren't there.
Might be as many as 40 in the full squad.
Top 25.
Some NYC guys - maybe 5.
10 odd second tier guys.

 

[saints4ever]

Knights will be fittest team in the comp

 

[billy2]

The boys would actually be pretty happy they arn't starting with the Smith and Stone army boot camp.

They probably think it's a bit easy so far.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Knights will be fittest team in the comp

We hope so. Will stop our infamous fade outs. I just want us to be a war machine of defensive intensity. Literally bash teams into submission.

 

[EdLondon]

I wonder who the 10 were who got the rest days.

 

[saints4ever]

We hope so. Will stop our infamous fade outs. I just want us to be a war machine of defensive intensity. Literally bash teams into submission.

I don't think that's what wayne will do. He teaches players to work for each other to cover half breaks, improving efficiency etc. I dont think you will bash teams, but you def will be a lot smarter in defence, and give very little away.
If you do that right teams will fall apart on their own without the huge hits

 

[Newie is God's Country]

I don't think that's what wayne will do. He teaches players to work for each other to cover half breaks, improving efficiency etc. I dont think you will bash teams, but you def will be a lot smarter in defence, and give very little away.
If you do that right teams will fall apart on their own without the huge hits

I was alluding to the fact we are soft as a ice cream in summer heat when it matters most. So if we are smarter ,then as u say , we will be hard to crack. No reason Saints can't keep the rhythm Wayne gave you. As i see it that is the challenge for Price. Can he keep his ego in check enough to see most of his work is layed out already. Griffin hasat Brisbane. He simply tightened their defence.

 

[saints4ever]

Who knows mate. Price could end up like Henjak lol

 

[Joker's Wild]

I wonder what level they had to reach on the beep test

 

[sneaky_is_here]

I did it a few week's ago, me and others did level 10 comfortably.

So I imagine quite high if their failing.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Well 9.6 is what most emergency services require from their recruits, so I expect it would be above that

Id be worried if some of our guys were failing before 10

 

[sneaky_is_here]

If we still had Wicks...

 

[timka4]

Well 9.6 is what most emergency services require from their recruits, so I expect it would be above that

Id be worried if some of our guys were failing before 10

imo you wouldn't want any of your props falling below 11.5 - 12, that should be the minimum.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

If we still had Wicks...

Hahaha. I wonder what the results would have been like under the Hagan years. I'd love to have seen Wick's vs Perry. Clash of the titans!

 

[aqua_duck]

Well 9.6 is what most emergency services require from their recruits, so I expect it would be above that

Id be worried if some of our guys were failing before 10

My mate did his police screening test on Sunday and he said they had to get above 5 to be considered for the academy, he was shocked how many failed

 

[timka4]

That's terrible lol, you can power walk the first 7 levels

 

[Apey]

That's terrible lol, you can power walk the first 7 levels

thats some real quick power walking

 

[RABK]

yeh dunno about power walking, maybe to 4. I got as high as 10.2 in high school and i was sprinting from 6 onwards from memory.

 

[timka4]

thats some real quick power walking

might have been slow jogging then, cause i did it not long ago. Dunno, doesn't matter.