Noted fitness conditioner Alex Corvo has signed on with the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images
Noted fitness conditioner Alex Corvo has signed on with the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images
Warriors fans have long wanted their team to train like the Storm - and now they will, with current Brisbane and former Melbourne strength and conditioning guru Alex Corvo appointed to head the club's high-performance team.
Corvo will leave Brisbane at the end of the Broncos' finals campaign to takeup a three-year deal at the Warriors, beginning before the start of pre-season training in November.
The 50-year-old former Canberra forward could hold the key to the Warriors hopes of improvement, after they missed the playoffs for a sixth straight year, following yet another atrocious season that ended with a club record nine straight losses.
Coach Stephen Kearney has worked closely with Corvo at both Melbourne and Brisbane and believes he will be a tremendous asset as they look to improve on this season's 13th place finish.
Corvo brings a wealth of experience and knowledge having been involved in six grand final appearances, and last year was handpicked by Queensland State of Origin coach Kevin Walters to head the Maroons training staff, after six years with the Kangaroos under former Australian coach Tim Sheens.
His recruitment comes as the Warriors work through their end of season reviews, with new CEO Cameron George moving quickly to bolster the club's football department staff.
"He's coming to oversee the whole programme and it's certainly an area that's been identified as one needing immediate attention," George told the Herald.
"This is step one of change. We know it, we're fixing it, and we've got the best in the business to come and help us do it.
"Everyone is accountable for the performance from now on into the 2018 season.
"I'll be expecting similar results that someone of Alex's calibre has been able to achieve at other clubs."
Alex Corvo has previously worked with the Melbourne Storm. Photo / Getty Images
Warriors players should savour their offseason break. Corvo brings a fearsome reputation as one of the most demanding trainers in the NRL, but his track record shows he gets results.
During 11 years as Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy's chief conditioner, the Storm made four straight grand final appearances (2006-2009) and claimed the 2012 premiership.
He was lured north to fix the Broncos after a disastrous 2013 season and quickly whipped them into shape, with his emphasis on running leaving players physically ill and fainting from exhaustion in the middle of brutal two-hour sessions.
But the hard work paid dividends, with Brisbane scraping into the 2014 finals, before making the grand final the following year against North Queensland.
The Warriors hope Corvo can similarly transform the team into a top eight side and help the players fulfil their physical potential, much as he did in developing a young Greg Inglis from a lean 88kgs into a 105kg beast.
"He's a tremendous fit for the Warriors and he would be for any club," said Walters.
"Experience-wise you wouldn't get a better physical performance specialist.
"He's very good at what he does - getting players fit and ready to perform.
"There's different ways of doing that but Alex has got his formula that he sticks to and that he knows works and that's been proven over time."
Walters believes Corvo's methods have played a significant part in players developing not only a high level of fitness, but also a hardened mindset and professional work ethic that helps them cope with the demands of a long NRL career.
Corvo's time at Melbourne coincided with the emergence of Cameron Smith - who will break the record for NRL matches with his 356th outing in tonight's qualifying final against Parramatta - and the likes of Ryan Hoffman (339), Cooper Cronk (320), Billy Slater (296) and fellow 2018 Warriors recruit Adam Blair (263).
"That's what the physical side of it does, it prepares you mentally as well for the battles on the field, and that philosophy stems back to his days working with Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm," said Walters.
"That's what they wanted to do - simulate game speed and match conditioning at training and even go above that.
"He's got all those avenues covered, that's for sure."
