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Melbourne Storm's hard way
Craig Bellamy at Storm training. Source: HWT Image Library
EVERYONE in rugby league wants to know the secret to Melbourne Storm's success.
Two premierships and four successive grand final appearances is unheard of in the modern era, so it's clear it is doing something special.
And the best team in the NRL has become the best team in the world after winning the World Club Challenge in Leeds.
Storm has a core of experienced stars, who know each other's game inside out, and also arguably the best coach in the game. But those ingredients alone don't automatically equal success.
So what is the key to Storm's ability to back up each success?
The best people to mine for an insight are those new to the club, who have a fresh perspective.
And to a man they believe the answer is a simple one - Melbourne works harder than everyone else.
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Related Coverage
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Luke MacDougall, who joined Storm late last year, has been at three other NRL clubs and seen a lot of different training methods.
But he has never encountered anything like a Melbourne pre-season where every session, be it skills, weights or rehab, is intense and full of purpose.
"It is probably the hardest thing I have had to go through," the 28-year-old said. "The amount of running, the toughness of the training sessions and the intensity of training is so high.
"I have suffered more than most because my body hasn't been used to it. It has been quite a shock. Newcastle (where he was last season) was very skill based, very science based. But they don't work half as hard as the guys down here."
Todd Lowrie, who has done pre-seasons at Parramatta and Newcastle, agreed and noted how a summer at Storm not only made him physically fitter, but mentally stronger as well.
"It is that hard it all comes down to your mental capacity to handle it, and I think that is what they are trying to achieve," Lowrie said.
"They want you to be strong in the important moments, the pressure moments. That's their big philosophy and and they do a good job of achieving that.
"It's quite a bit tougher than anything I have done; the volume, the intensity, everything about it."
But while the strength and conditioning staff work the players hard, they are sensible, too.
Last week an extra fitness session with Ryan Tandy, the day after the big forward arrived home from the UK, was stopped early when it was clear the travel had taken its toll.
And individual training programs were created for the players who may not have coped as well as others with the big trip.
The ingrained work ethic of each player at Melbourne comes straight from the top.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy was renowned as the hardest trainer in his playing days with Canberra.
Bellamy was never the most talented player but squeezed every last drop out of himself by working harder than everyone else.
MacDougall noted the team's superstars led the way and set the example for everyone to follow.
"The club is very lucky that the players are so grounded and hard working, which is not the case at other clubs," he said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/melbourne-storms-hard-way/story-e6frf9if-1225837801177?
- <LI class="byline first ">Russell Gould <LI class="source ">From: Sunday Herald Sun
- March 07, 2010 12:00AM
Craig Bellamy at Storm training. Source: HWT Image Library
EVERYONE in rugby league wants to know the secret to Melbourne Storm's success.
Two premierships and four successive grand final appearances is unheard of in the modern era, so it's clear it is doing something special.
And the best team in the NRL has become the best team in the world after winning the World Club Challenge in Leeds.
Storm has a core of experienced stars, who know each other's game inside out, and also arguably the best coach in the game. But those ingredients alone don't automatically equal success.
So what is the key to Storm's ability to back up each success?
The best people to mine for an insight are those new to the club, who have a fresh perspective.
And to a man they believe the answer is a simple one - Melbourne works harder than everyone else.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related Coverage
- Inglis mercy flight Herald Sun, 14 Feb 2010
- Storm invite has Luke fired up Herald Sun, 11 Feb 2010
- Wing may need prayer Herald Sun, 28 Jan 2010
- Wanting a Big Dell-Mad Dog showdown Herald Sun, 2 Dec 2009
- We will turn Luke's career around Herald Sun, 17 Nov 2009
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Luke MacDougall, who joined Storm late last year, has been at three other NRL clubs and seen a lot of different training methods.
But he has never encountered anything like a Melbourne pre-season where every session, be it skills, weights or rehab, is intense and full of purpose.
"It is probably the hardest thing I have had to go through," the 28-year-old said. "The amount of running, the toughness of the training sessions and the intensity of training is so high.
"I have suffered more than most because my body hasn't been used to it. It has been quite a shock. Newcastle (where he was last season) was very skill based, very science based. But they don't work half as hard as the guys down here."
Todd Lowrie, who has done pre-seasons at Parramatta and Newcastle, agreed and noted how a summer at Storm not only made him physically fitter, but mentally stronger as well.
"It is that hard it all comes down to your mental capacity to handle it, and I think that is what they are trying to achieve," Lowrie said.
"They want you to be strong in the important moments, the pressure moments. That's their big philosophy and and they do a good job of achieving that.
"It's quite a bit tougher than anything I have done; the volume, the intensity, everything about it."
But while the strength and conditioning staff work the players hard, they are sensible, too.
Last week an extra fitness session with Ryan Tandy, the day after the big forward arrived home from the UK, was stopped early when it was clear the travel had taken its toll.
And individual training programs were created for the players who may not have coped as well as others with the big trip.
The ingrained work ethic of each player at Melbourne comes straight from the top.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy was renowned as the hardest trainer in his playing days with Canberra.
Bellamy was never the most talented player but squeezed every last drop out of himself by working harder than everyone else.
MacDougall noted the team's superstars led the way and set the example for everyone to follow.
"The club is very lucky that the players are so grounded and hard working, which is not the case at other clubs," he said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/melbourne-storms-hard-way/story-e6frf9if-1225837801177?
Last edited:
oh well.
