First Look - Rads Blog

[josie andrews]

In another exclusive for 2016 Wigan Warriors Season Ticket Holders and Members we bring you a blog from Rugby Director Kris Radlinski with his thoughts on the pre-season military camp that the First Team attended just before Christmas.

It's usually at this time of year that I am writing my pre-season camp blogs at the side of a pool in Florida. This time I am sat on my couch at home recovering from a two-day military camp in North Yorkshire. They are two very different camps with two very different intended outcomes.

Florida has been great for us. The long dry days and warm climate means the coaches can get so much skill work into the players. They are probably on the field for 5-6 hours every day in addition to pool and gym work. From a content point of view, it is hard to be beaten and we will revisit at some point in the future.

Having spent many hours with the senior management group and with input from Mr Lenagan, it was felt that this year something different was needed. We were very close last year, but not close enough.

We were two seconds and two points away from celebrating a double. Instead our rivals Leeds walked away with all three trophies. No disrespect at all to Leeds but I never felt that they were 3 trophies better than us. I could have accepted a 2-1 defeat but 3-0 was hard to take.


Having said that, I was glad that their iconic players Jamie Peacock and Kevin Sinfield bowed out in such an emphatic way. In the Grand Final, the leadership and composure that these two players in particular showed was probably the difference in the game. We struggled in this area. The best example I can give you is that with a few minutes to go, we had an opportunity to take a shot down a blindside where we had numbers. Executed correctly, this was a wonderful scoring opportunity. Instead, our dummy half found Tony Clubb who punted the ball.

In these key moments, the great teams find a way to win. The best Rugby team on the planet is currently the All Blacks. They plan for this eventuality- losing by a few points with just a couple of minutes to play, they know exactly what they have to do, which player gets the ball, what part of the field that they are working to and most importantly of all, they have the composure and trust to execute.

The military camp that we have just been on was designed around improving these areas. In Florida we had ball in the players hands for hours and hours each day. On this camp they touched a ball for about 45 minutes. Leadership, communication, strategy, focus and of course physical endurance were all put under extreme pressure.

Over the course of this blog I will talk you through the work that was done and the stand out performers.

Night before. The players receive a text from their group leader with instructions and a kit list. No love in the message, just clear concise instructions. The guys probably knew from the tone of the text that this wasn't a camp with volleyball competitions and trips to shopping malls.

5:00am - The players board a coach at Orrell. The mood was quiet and tired with a hint of fear in the air. It was a two-hour coach trip.

6:40am - The players receive a message from the coaches who are already at the camp telling them to send their last text message to their families as phones will be taken off them upon arrival.

7:00am - Players leave the coach and step into the unknown. They were given no insight into what the next few days had in store.

7:10am - Small brief. The first exercise removed one of the main reasons for going- communication. They were not allowed to speak to each other and no staff were allowed to speak to them. This was to highlight the importance and effectiveness of great communication. They were to start the drill not knowing how long they were doing it for.

7:15am - The Grand National. A circuit containing 24 exercises which they had to do continuously, not knowing how long they were going to be doing it for. They were actually doing it for an hour! Sweat was pumping out of them. To make it worse and again to test their mental strength, one song " we speak no Americano " was blasted out continuously on loop. This was torture! They were told that at moments throughout the Grand National, two players would be removed for a two minute rest outside. This wasn't true. Instead they were escorted into a small room for a two minute full on wrestle with only Shaun there to watch. Players were supposed to come back in feeling slightly refreshed, instead they were crawling back into to the gym.

8:30am - Check into to dormitory room. No wi-fi here.

9:00am - Breakfast

9:40am - Leadership presentation taken by Shaun Wane and Archie Taylor from the Army. It was explained to the players what the camp was about. They were split into three teams which had been selected by the staff and given a colour for the team, red, blue and yellow. To identify the groups easily, I opted for snood's in the team colours (basically a neck warmer but thanks to our Italian manufacturer, this was a fashionable bit of kit) - I was a bit nervous with this selection as I know how fussy these guys are but it went down remarkably well.

It was then explained to the players that over the next few days, they were to undergo a series of tasks and missions in their groups competing against the other groups. Each group had an assessor, Paul Johnson, Mick Farrell and myself. We were to listen to everything that the guys spoke about and grade them on a series of points. Throughout the tasks, each player would get an opportunity to be the leader. As part of their job, they would explain the task, lead the task and then de-brief the task. This would all be assessed.

10:00am - Orienteering. This would be my first opportunity to see who was dominant in my group. Joel Tomkins took complete control. Map reading, strategy and encouragement. His team responded. It was an impressive start.

11:30am - Assault course. Every team was timed to get their complete team around the course. They first had a trial run, mastering the obstacles and then they were into it. They are competitive animals. Everything they do, they have to compete. I love that quality.

12:00pm - Lunch

12:45pm - Leadership tasks. Every team had to undergo a mental challenge which was timed. The one I led included the players figuring their way through a minefield with only selected pieces of equipment. Again I could see up-close who were the best leaders and communicators. Every team came through my task so I got a great opportunity to see everyone in action. Josh Charnley and Ben Flower stood out to me.

3:15pm - Log race. In their groups they had to race round a 600m course carrying a telegraph pole. The speed at which they set off carrying this huge item was frightening. Again the competitive nature of a race meant that this was win at all costs. Every team performed well.

3:45pm - Just to highlight again just how competitive these boys are, they wanted a rerun.

4:15pm- Evening meal.

5:00pm - Team Evaluation. Each assessor went into the players’ dorm to discuss openly how they had done on the days’ tasks. We asked honest questions about who they felt were the strongest and weakest members of their team. It was a tough forum but necessary for development. Throughout the season they are going to be sat in team meetings getting criticised. They need to be strong enough to understand that this is all part of us getting better. We all want the same thing here and none of this is personal. It was refreshing to hear everybody speak, even the younger players.

5:00pm - Rest. The guys were told to get some rest. They would hear from us again, we didn't say when. We just needed them to be ready whenever we called. It's tough knowing you need sleep but not sure how long you can have.

9:00pm - Deployment- the leaders were woken up and briefed. They were then to go back into the room, wake their teammates and give them instructions. They are told to pack up as they are going on a mission.

9:15pm - Players assembled at the gym looking rather groggy (especially George Williams who looks like he has woken up from the worlds deepest sleep ). They were then escorted to another cold building around the corner and instructed to bed down in their sleeping bags. They had a walkie-talkie, throughout the night they would be forwarded information.

10:30pm - Mission 1. Leaders get a message to meet at the gym straight away to be briefed. They turn up and are told to get the players to put on their head torches and given a map to get to their mission. There would be three missions. Each team would visit every mission. Mission 1 which I manned would be a river crossing. They were given three barrels and two planks and a length of rope and told to recover some equipment from the other side of the river.

1:30am - Mission 2 was body recovery in which they had to recover 4 100kg bodies and load them into a van whilst under fire.

3:00am - Mission 3 was to carry equipment around the same assault course as they did early but in the dark- and with heavy equipment (it was raining and freezing). Once they had completed the mission.

3:30am - Missions complete- Return to dorms. Get some rest and meet at the gym at 6:30am. I was ready for bed, I can't imagine what they were feeling like!

6:30am - Players arrived. Mood = subdued. Eyes = dark

6:45am - The river run. This time, me and the assessors were into it. Maybe not what a Director should be doing but I am a big believer in showing people that you would not ask a player to do something that you wouldn't do yourself.

We are ask our players to do some heavy stuff and I wanted them to know that I would do everything that they are asked and I know that Shaun, John (Winder) and Mark (Bitcon) would do that also. It's just that my body is still in a position to do it (just).

This took place in a beautiful deer park. The deer watched as our players raced, spewed up, cheered and bonded. It was a wonderful morning. Two races. The bracket run and the chain link run. After the races, we sang a song and then entered the icy cold river for a 3-mile hike. It was pretty exhilarating stuff and I loved being involved in it. Spirit was extremely high. When you go though these experiences with your mates and it hurts and you come through the other side, it is hugely rewarding.

9:30am - Breakfast. Mood = high. Eyes = alive

10:30am - Skills session. Rugby balls, tennis balls, cricket balls and basketballs were all used in a series of hand eye co-ordination drills. Fast and intense but you could tell that the boys were tiring slightly. Time to wake them up.

11:30am - Stretcher race. 600m race around the barracks carrying an army medical stretcher. The atmosphere was charged as the testosterone went through the roof. Yellow team win.

12:00pm - Tyre race. Flip a tractor tyre the length of a field in your group and then role it 600m around the camp. Yellow team win.

1:00pm - Warrior Finale. This included a 6km mud run and lake crossing as a group. The guys knew it was the last event so they gave it everything. This finished with a team photo all sat on a disused tank.

2:00pm- Debrief. Shaun held a wonderful meeting talking about his findings from the last two days. It underlined a few things that he already knew about the stronger members of our squad but he learned much about potential future leaders and he will now work to develop them more. He praised them for their efforts. I could tell that he was in a good place with how they performed. He doesn't hide his happiness well.

3:00pm- Depart for Wigan. Christmas time!

My thoughts.

At this time of year, if you speak to any Club, they will all say the same. They are training well, they have high hopes for the following season etc etc. My assessment on our position is this. We have a very young squad in at the moment.

Most of the internationals are only due back in on January 2nd, the majority of the senior players. This has affected us in the past and so these guys have had an extended break. The senior players who have remained have all stood up and this is great for me to see.

Joel Tomkins and Tony Clubb did every event and led superbly well. Lee Mossop and Ben Flower were impressive as were Josh Charnley and Dom Manfredi. It is probably wrong for me to single people out as nobody under performed but these guys looked hungry and incredibly fit.

If you add to this training group - O'Loughlin, Smith, Farrell, Bateman and then we welcome back Sam Tomkins at Easter, we look like a very balanced squad. After Christmas, we will get into some more teamwork and then a couple of days in Wales sharpening up our game.

I'm pretty optimistic for 2016.

First Super League game in 38 days time.

http://us11.campaign-archive1.com/?u=cb ... 243befe65d

[WiganWoman1968]

Wow. Great blog.

Thanks for posting that.

[Wigan_forever1985]

Instead they were escorted into a small room for a two minute full on wrestle with only Shaun there to watch.

:eh: whatever floats ya boat ha

[Wiganer Ted]

Sounds very tough.
Internationals back Jan 2 but George Wlliams was there.
I wonder why?
He was at an Army base, did he volunteer?

[AdamMac]

Good man management from wane...

http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-7658814

[AdamMac]

No doubt he's thought Williams has had a great first full season at 6, won young player, called into England set up etc and just wanted to make sure he doesn't rest on his laurels.

Hoping for a big year from Williams.

Something you can't account for is the progression the youngsters make from season to season.

[cpwigan]

The Williams pre season decision is a tad contrary IMO.

[The booze hound]

The Williams pre season decision is a tad contrary IMO.

In what respect?
The army camp was about finding natural leaders amongst the group and developing those skills. Williams, hopefully, learned a lot about himself in that environment.

[cpwigan]

The Williams pre season decision is a tad contrary IMO.

In what respect?
The army camp was about finding natural leaders amongst the group and developing those skills. Williams, hopefully, learned a lot about himself in that environment.

It was stated by the club that our poor season starts is down to international call ups and people not getting sufficient rest, so asking one player to join the army camp contradicts that view.

[Owd Codger]

The Williams pre season decision is a tad contrary IMO.

In what respect?
The army camp was about finding natural leaders amongst the group and developing those skills. Williams, hopefully, learned a lot about himself in that environment.

It was stated by the club that our poor season starts is down to international call ups and people not getting sufficient rest, so asking one player to join the army camp contradicts that view.

Asked or insisted on being there?

If the latter, well done George.