With Block 2 of pre season completed, the squad have a well-earned ‘de-load’ week this week as they prepare for the build-up to our ‘friendlies’ against Ulster and Richmond. Those games are coming up fast on the horizon…so how is Head Coach Craig Newby feeling with two thirds of pre season done?
“That’s a great question! We’ve made progress in fitness – that’s one big area we’ve been going after, how fit and strong we are. We’re a healthy squad as well – injuries. touch wood, have been very minimal. We’re making progress. This is the point now where the players are jostling for positions with games just around the corner, so competitions starting to heat up. Until we start playing, though, we’re not going to know if that progress is good enough or where we’re at. I’m not one to sit back and be satisfied with what we’re doing – we’ve always got to strive to be better – but we’re in a good place, we’ve got a good bunch of guys, they’re enjoying themselves, they’ve ‘bought in’. That’s all I can ask at this stage and we’ve got to continue to raise the bar.
“The players are chomping at the bit – we’re having to rein them in a little bit. They’ve got to realise we’re trying to work on stuff and sometimes we can’t do that if some are going ‘harder’ than others. First and foremost we’re a rugby club that needs to play rugby and be better at rugby. We’re driving clarity on what we’re trying to do and who we’re trying to be. The players know that, and understand that, and are now having more input into that detail. It’s been clear from Day One what I want – the environment, and what the team should look like on the field – and their personalities need to shine within that. I’m trying to provide a platform, a space, in which they can be themselves and express themselves.
“That transfers across into the social side of the Club. We know how well supported it is, we know how good the Minis and Juniors are, we know the girls and women’s game is growing here. We’re a cog in that machine, and being a big part of the whole Club is important to me and to the players. We’re not just an isolated semi-professional team – we’re part of something cooler and bigger. We’re the underdog this season and we have to train like we’re the second best in order to achieve everything we want. We’ll have some brilliant days, we’ll have a few tough days at the office, we’ll have some really cool days where we’re proud of what we’ve achieved whatever. Enjoying ourselves, and creating memories and friendships, is a big part of my measurement of what’s successful as well – when the tough times come, we’ve got to rely on that, our bond together, to get us through and connect and get back to what will work for us the week after”.