mozgrame
Engorged member
IT feels like the NRL season has only just wrapped up.
North Queensland is still touring the premiership trophy around the state, and many players remain overseas with their feet up, enjoying some time off.
So it’s strange to think Canberra kicked off its 2016 pre-season campaign on Monday.
It was a total of 20 days between the NRL grand final and Ricky Stuart calling his troops in to Raiders headquarters to begin preparing for next season.
Granted, the boys in lime green did play their last game on September 6, but it gives rugby league followers the feeling of a year-round season.
With the Auckland Nines, World Club Series, pre-season interclub games, and post-season representative matches, it seems rugby league is a 12-month sport these days.
Throw in a few State of Origin games, a City-Country, and the Anzac Test, and the Australian schedule is packed to breaking point.
It’s great for the fans, but what does it mean for the blokes out on the park doing the work?
Player burnout has been a growing issue in the game for a number of years, as the players’ workload increases.
Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston played a total of 31 games this year — 25 NRL games, the Anzac Test, three Origin appearances, one pre-season trial, and the All Stars game.
Rugby League Players Association chairman Clint Newton has no doubt the demands on professional rugby league players is increasing significantly and points out that it’s not just the physical side of the game contributing to burnout.
“Most people look at a player’s obligations and think they just have to play and train,” Newton told foxsports.com.au.
“In actual fact it’s not just about playing and training, there’s increasing demands for public appearances and community work.
“While the players love to do that stuff it’s certainly a slice of their time, like anything else.
“It all increases the actual demand on the players.
“We certainly think it’s incredibly important that there needs to be a good balance between football and personal life.
“That will then create better players, and more importantly better men.”
Most NRL clubs have staggered return dates for different groups of players.
Players who have performed end-of-season representative commitments, or don’t need as much physical training, are allowed to return later.
Raiders playmaker Sam Williams had no problem returning to training on Monday.
“To be successful next year we’ve got to be back this time of the year,” Williams said.
“We’ve got to train hard, that’s just part of the game.”
Queensland legend Billy Moore has the benefit of assessing the workload debate from both sides of the fence.
Moore played 211 clubs games for North Sydney Bears, 17 Origin games for the Maroons, and three Tests for Australia, during his 10-year career.
He now owns and manages a restaurant in the sunshine state.
“I’m a restaurateur, I have 20 permanent staff and they get four weeks off every year,” Moore told foxsports.com.au.
“I expect performance to be first class from them every weekend when we’re flat out in the restaurant.
“You’re mindful of burnout and making sure they stay fresh.
“Rugby league is like that nowadays, it’s a full-time job that’s 48 weeks a year.
“You’re not always on the tools, but there’s probably 30 (weeks) when you’re playing games.
“Players are smarter these days, more tuned in to what they need.”
Many pundits believe the current 26-round season drags on too long.
Newton understands the broadcast deals play a part in the NRL’s scheduling, and is happy to work with the governing body to find a happy medium.
“It’s incredibly important that we work with the NRL and the clubs, the three major stakeholders in the game, to ensure players are adequately rested and can perform to their best, as an athlete and a human being,” he said.
“The demands on the players have increased, from 2013 to now they have definitely increased.
“We’re trying to work out with the NRL what that actually means, and how the players can benefit from this.”
The NRL and RLPA signed a collective bargaining agreement in 2013 but Newton has been working to update the papers.
The RLPA met with the NRL in September and agreed in principle to altering some clauses in the agreement, largely centred around annual leave for players.
When your club returns to training
Roosters: November 18
Cowboys: November 30
Titans: November 2
Broncos: November 9
Sharks: November 9
Raiders: October 26
Manly: November 2
Knights: November 2
Panthers: November 9
Warriors: November 2
Eels: November 5
Bulldogs: November 16
Dragons: November 12
Rabbitohs: November 2
Tigers: November 2
Storm: November 4
http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/rl...physical-demands/story-fndujljl-1227585162951
North Queensland is still touring the premiership trophy around the state, and many players remain overseas with their feet up, enjoying some time off.
So it’s strange to think Canberra kicked off its 2016 pre-season campaign on Monday.
It was a total of 20 days between the NRL grand final and Ricky Stuart calling his troops in to Raiders headquarters to begin preparing for next season.
Granted, the boys in lime green did play their last game on September 6, but it gives rugby league followers the feeling of a year-round season.
With the Auckland Nines, World Club Series, pre-season interclub games, and post-season representative matches, it seems rugby league is a 12-month sport these days.
Throw in a few State of Origin games, a City-Country, and the Anzac Test, and the Australian schedule is packed to breaking point.
It’s great for the fans, but what does it mean for the blokes out on the park doing the work?
Player burnout has been a growing issue in the game for a number of years, as the players’ workload increases.
Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston played a total of 31 games this year — 25 NRL games, the Anzac Test, three Origin appearances, one pre-season trial, and the All Stars game.
Rugby League Players Association chairman Clint Newton has no doubt the demands on professional rugby league players is increasing significantly and points out that it’s not just the physical side of the game contributing to burnout.
“Most people look at a player’s obligations and think they just have to play and train,” Newton told foxsports.com.au.
“In actual fact it’s not just about playing and training, there’s increasing demands for public appearances and community work.
“While the players love to do that stuff it’s certainly a slice of their time, like anything else.
“It all increases the actual demand on the players.
“We certainly think it’s incredibly important that there needs to be a good balance between football and personal life.
“That will then create better players, and more importantly better men.”
Most NRL clubs have staggered return dates for different groups of players.
Players who have performed end-of-season representative commitments, or don’t need as much physical training, are allowed to return later.
Raiders playmaker Sam Williams had no problem returning to training on Monday.
“To be successful next year we’ve got to be back this time of the year,” Williams said.
“We’ve got to train hard, that’s just part of the game.”
Queensland legend Billy Moore has the benefit of assessing the workload debate from both sides of the fence.
Moore played 211 clubs games for North Sydney Bears, 17 Origin games for the Maroons, and three Tests for Australia, during his 10-year career.
He now owns and manages a restaurant in the sunshine state.
“I’m a restaurateur, I have 20 permanent staff and they get four weeks off every year,” Moore told foxsports.com.au.
“I expect performance to be first class from them every weekend when we’re flat out in the restaurant.
“You’re mindful of burnout and making sure they stay fresh.
“Rugby league is like that nowadays, it’s a full-time job that’s 48 weeks a year.
“You’re not always on the tools, but there’s probably 30 (weeks) when you’re playing games.
“Players are smarter these days, more tuned in to what they need.”
Many pundits believe the current 26-round season drags on too long.
Newton understands the broadcast deals play a part in the NRL’s scheduling, and is happy to work with the governing body to find a happy medium.
“It’s incredibly important that we work with the NRL and the clubs, the three major stakeholders in the game, to ensure players are adequately rested and can perform to their best, as an athlete and a human being,” he said.
“The demands on the players have increased, from 2013 to now they have definitely increased.
“We’re trying to work out with the NRL what that actually means, and how the players can benefit from this.”
The NRL and RLPA signed a collective bargaining agreement in 2013 but Newton has been working to update the papers.
The RLPA met with the NRL in September and agreed in principle to altering some clauses in the agreement, largely centred around annual leave for players.
When your club returns to training
Roosters: November 18
Cowboys: November 30
Titans: November 2
Broncos: November 9
Sharks: November 9
Raiders: October 26
Manly: November 2
Knights: November 2
Panthers: November 9
Warriors: November 2
Eels: November 5
Bulldogs: November 16
Dragons: November 12
Rabbitohs: November 2
Tigers: November 2
Storm: November 4
http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/rl...physical-demands/story-fndujljl-1227585162951