By Peter Jessup
The Auckland Warriors are full-on into pre-season training, with coach Mark Graham and his offsider Mike McClennan running the squad through a tough range of tests over the past couple of days.
They have had repeat 400m sprints, beep tests, electronic measure of fitness while on gym machines, fat-fold
tests of bodyfat content, phosphate tests to indicate aerobic fitness, blood tests for iron and other mineral content and oxygen uptake ability.
And after that was over, fullback Matthew Ridge went across the road to the Ericsson Stadium field to offer kicking tips to Kiwis Henry Paul and Stacey Jones, the pair trying their luck with a couple of different tees.
Once the club trainers have assessed the test results, each player will be put on individual programmes - weights for upper-body strength, cycling, rowing, swimming to repair specific deficiencies.
They will also be given strict nutritional programmes - fast food is out the door.
After attaining the required fitness levels after their month off, the players will begin work to repair deficiencies in defence or other areas of their game.
They have one week off over the Christmas-New Year period and will play in trials in mid-January, with the annual Country Cup carnival put on hold this season because of the early start caused by the Sydney Olympics.
The NRL has told clubs they can play only one game against another full-strength NRL side ahead of the season openers on the last weekend in January.
Off-contract Warriors Tony Tatupu and Brady Malam have rejected reduced offers from the club, with Tatupu off to English club Wakefield Trinity and Malam to the new Wests Tigers franchise.
