It's more than halfway through the 2017 season and Knights players are tracking well in the physical performance department, according to Physical Performance Manager Tony Ayoub.
“The players are certainly working hard on the field and in the gym, right across the board but unfortunately it’s not translating into results,” explained Ayoub.
“This week with our bye week, we’re just doing some testing with a good snapshot of where they’re at, compared to where they were at the end of the pre-season."
In the gym, players are recording some sound results.
“If someone has done a PB (personal best) we ring the bell and I heard the bell being rung in the last couple of days a couple of times,” smiled Ayoub.
“There is no doubt there is a couple of strong boys there.
“You look at Luke Yates for his size and what he actually squats and what he bench presses is amazing, but that is what we want from all of them.
“You look at Pete Mata’utia with his squat and his dead lift, he’s one of the stronger ones in that field and you wouldn’t expect it while the Saifiti boys lift big weights."
The Knights Physical Performance Manager says there’s always more the players can give.
“We are trying to get more out of them and to squeeze that lemon dry,” Ayoub commented.
“You look at this group and what (Nathan) Browny and the staff have done, where they have come from to where they are now and they have done a wonderful job."
Ayoub knows that with a club full of young talent, building a strong base is of the upmost importance.
“We have got a bunch of young kids which didn’t have much of a base and we’re trying to build on that,” Ayoub explained.
“There are stepping stones that we need to go through.
“Not playing this weekend just gives us an opportunity to get more out of them particularly on the field and with our testing in the gym.
“We are trying to find ways to give them a better base to hopefully compete with some of the bigger sides.”
Ayoub said the fitter and stronger the players are, the better they’ll be able to cope out on the field.
“When they’re under pressure, fitness and strength comes through and they’ll be able to cope better and not make mistakes,” he explained.
“There is no doubt if we get them fitter and stronger they’ll be able to cope with the load that a game throws at them or an opposition team throws at them.”
