Gold Coast kids aren’t the only ones counting days to Christmas, with the Titans’ playing group eyeing off the promised land of the festive break as the intensity of pre-season training continues to be ratcheted up each week at Parkwood.
The Titans have been highly impressive on the training field since their return in November from their off-season break.
Established stars, veterans, rookies and train-and-trial hopefuls have all put their best foot forward trying to impress Head Coach Justin Holbrook and his assistants Jim Dymock and Jim Lenihan.
They are all rising to the challenge each week as the coaching staff lifts the intensity of preparations, turning up the heat as the players slog it out under the summer sun.
“Every week we train them we expect them to go a bit harder, and go a bit further,” Holbrook said. “Everything is a progression. We are no different here.
“It will continue to get harder coming into that Christmas break.”
No Longer At St Helens, But Titans Boss Holbrook Still Red And White
Holbrook said the easiest part of the pre-season was keeping the players motivated in their work, with the squad burning to get back on the field and right the wrongs of a disappointing 2019 campaign.
“It is what they expect,” Holbrook said of the lung-busting conditioning work. “We are in professional sport, so they have to expect that – and they do.
“What we ask them is achievable – we are not setting unrealistic tasks so that they don’t want to do them.
“Similar to what I said on the first day, I want them to work hard but I want them to enjoy it. I want them to enjoy coming to training.
Refreshed Taylor Looking Back On Track For Titans
“I think with the variety of the things we are getting done in training keeps them that way – it keeps them motivated.
“It is not just one particular area we are working on. We are working on all parts of their game, and that is what is needed in rugby league.”