It was a festive season of over-indulging for many, but not for the Titans NRL squad it seems.
Titans High Performance Manager, Klint Hoare has heaped praise on the way the squad has returned from the Christmas break.
"The players have been exceptional on their return. Hoare said.
"Every player that we had available pre-Christmas has come back and (they) haven't really lost any of their fitness which is a good sign that they have done the work over the Christmas period (2-week break)."
As the season approaches the Titans training now starts to focus on more rugby league specific fitness drills and with the Gold Coast sunshine providing 30+ degree days, the players will no doubt be looking for more football and less conditioning training.
"We are starting to move a little bit more into specific rugby league conditioning with a lot more of the ground and contact work in in our conditioning drill but we are still trying to build up that anaerobic capacity for them.
"Today we were in the heat chamber upstairs and finished up with a bit of boxing, which is always fun for the boys." Hoare said.
On the injury front, the Titans' list is ever-diminishing as more and more players join the full-time training squad.
AJ Brimson has made a return to the training paddock from his Lisfranc injury and subsequent surgery, which is sure to delight Titans Members and fans.
"AJ is travelling really well and we are looking for a Round 1 return.
"The physios are really happy with his recovery at the moment from the operation.
"He is in a good place and he has started his on-field running this week.
"It is really important that we get some good running into them and to see if we can increase that intensity." Hoare said of Brimson.
Ash Taylor is another who is recovering from multiple surgeries (wrist and hips) but has started to rejoin the main group and is on track for Round 1 also.
"Ash Taylor has been great- in pre-Christmas he was in the rehab group but as of the new year he is back in the squad with a little bit of limited contact, which is why he will be in the pink bib (safety bib) for a couple of weeks, but he is full running." Hoare said.
