Slimmed down Broncos believe theyll benefit from interchange drop
February 4, 2016 11:48am
Chris GarryThe Courier-Mail
WAYNE Bennetts ability to predict rugby leagues future has again given Brisbane an advantage over their rivals.
Broncos players believe their slimming pack is tailor-made for the reduced interchange in the NRL this season
While the Broncos pack was already one of the NRLs smallest, prop Josh McGuire is among a core group of players who have increased their fitness and slimmed down during the pre-season.
McGuire revealed he now weighed only 104kg as Brisbane seek grand final revenge aided by the now famous torturous Tuesday sessions.
McGuire said the NRLs move from 10 to eight interchanges would be a major asset for Brisbanes premiership hopes.
The desire to be fitter comes from a key philosophy introduced at Brisbane, where middle forwards must be able to play 20 minutes of consecutive NRL football.
McGuire said their light pack was perfectly suited to outrunning opposition teams this season with just eight interchanges allowed.
Ill be playing a couple kilos lighter than I did last season, McGuire said. I will probably play at 104kgm.
The new interchange rules mean I will suit the game better. The speed of the game is quickening and that makes it hard for the bigger fellers and hopefully I can use my speed.
I am excited about the new interchange rules. I think it will suit us with our smaller pack.
It will be interesting to see how it goes in the trials and then in Rounds 1 and 2.
Broncos strength and conditioning trainer Alex Corvo said the NRL was no longer a place for forwards who could only play 15-17 minutes at a time.
We have a philosophy here that as a middle forward you need to be able to play at least 20 minutes consecutively, Corvo said.
It is important for the interchanges that you can go for 20 minutes because if you are coming off after 15 minutes, the next guy will have to do 25.
There is no directive to lose weight across the board but there are some forwards who have taken it upon themselves to lose some weight.
McGuire has slimmed down for the 2016 season.
Josh has actually lost fat and added muscle mass which will help him return from the achilles injury.
Player fitness was heavily questioned during most of Anthony Griffins reign at Brisbane as the team often faded in the last 10 minutes of games and players were too heavy for their own good.
Those questions are no longer valid.
Giant props Dave Hala and Martin Kennedy were moved on within weeks of Bennett arriving, replaced by 105kg front-rower Adam Blair. Since then the existing players have lost more weight.
Even winger Lachlan Maranta has lost 4kg under Bennett and the coach recently released one of their heaviest players from last season, 110kg James Gavet.
Even halfback Ben Hunt looks noticeably slimmer at training this pre-season and Sam Thaiday will be the only one of the Broncos starting pack for Round 1 who weighs more than 105kg.
