St Helens | Archive | 2005 | November | 10
From the archive, first published Thursday 10th Nov 2005.
TRAINING resumed this week for those lads not on international duty as we begin preparing ourselves for the rigours of the 2006 season.
At this stage it is all about working on the core skills but the emphasis is on developing and building strength and speed.
Most players crave an uninterrupted off season as this invariably equates to a successful playing year.
Monday was my first day back in the new office at the Excell UPVC Saints Training Facility at Ruskin Drive.
I have enjoyed the break, spending time with my family and getting away from the game.
I have, however, been taking in the Tri-Nations series.
I know a lot of the Kiwi boys and coaching staff from my time over there. The New Zealand squad are actually training in St Helens and I wish them all the best, and hope they enjoy their time here.
They are doing very well and I am pleased for my successor as national coach Brian McClennan as much as for the players. He is an excellent coach, who just needed an opportunity.
That chance came along and he has grabbed it with both hands.
I am sure that you will see a bit more of Brian in the years to come. New Zealand will always have a strong rugby league aura and presence about it.
They have been getting their structures right, which feeds through to the top team. The senior squad is in top form and playing quality rugby.
The British squad is up against it to qualify for the final after two defeats and there is an enormous amount of pressure on Great Britain to reach the final. I have been impressed with Saints boys who are playing in the Tri Series.
Although they are facing some adversity now, they were good players going into the series and will come out of it hungrier and even more experienced.
The International players will break after the Tri-Series and hopefully come back refreshed and looking forward to playing in 2006.
They are back training with us on December 30 and hopefully - for Great Britain's sake - they don't get an extra week's break more than we expected.
Our new player Leon Pryce is a player that seems to have really blossomed since his signing was announced.
He played brilliantly for Bradford in the play-offs and very well for GB also.
I am really looking forward to him coming and believe he will add a huge amount to our team next season.
Campaign
Some people have asked if Sean Long and Paul Sculthorpe would have made a difference to Great Britain's campaign. Longy was available to play and Scully were a huge loss to us at the end of the season and I think Great Britain are feeling the loss of both players now.
But every cloud has a silver lining and Scully told me that the last time he had an off-season was 1995, which is a long time without a proper break.
He is absolutely champing at the bit right now and is very refreshed mentally.
It is a huge bonus for me to have him and Longy training with us during the winter.
The young players are going to get the significant benefit of spending the winter with some very experienced, successful players like Jason Cayless, Francis Meli, Paul Anderson, Willie Talau, Jason Hooper, Longy and Scully when they resume training today.
Our new staff have now been confirmed and will be in their positions on December 28.
Instead of an assistant coach, the club has employed Alan Wilson as technical adviser who will work with the Super League team, Academy teams and our junior coaches as well. Alan will have a huge influence on developing the key components of the club, which are the players and the coaches.
Finally I would like to set the record straight concerning what I thought was a provocative article on the back page of the St Helens Reporter three weeks ago that claimed I had 'wielded the axe' on three members of staff.
For the record: Academy coach Keiron Purtill asked to be released from his contract to further develop his coaching career as assistant coach at Huddersfield and the club acceded to his request.
Physio Claire Mannion resigned because she had been involved with the club for a number years and did not want to be pigeon holed as a 'rugby' physio but diversify into general practice.
Dave Rotheram's contract had run out and he recognised it was his time to get out of the comfort zone of assistant coach and take on more responsibility.
He has been appointed Head Coach of Whitehaven and Saints are very proud of his appointment.
They are all quality people who did not need a shadow cast over them as the term 'sacked' suggests.
They were all valued for their contribution to Saints in 2005 and I wish them the best for the future.
Saints legend, Kel Coslett will remain with the club in 2006 as game day team manager. I look forward to working with Kel again next season.
Daniel Anderson
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