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Pre-Season Training Steps Up a Gear

Saturday 22nd December 2012

As preparations gear towards the pre-season friendlies in January, the players were faced with a gruelling day that tested their fitness, decision-making skills and team work.

After a brief introduction and walk round the base, they had to complete a series of military command tasks simulating a match-day scenario where decisions had to be made quickly and under pressure.

This shortly followed a personal fitness assessment, testing each of them against the tough standards of the British Army before being given a lesson in the harsh realities of war in a combat conditioning session.

Sergeant Gareth Young of the Royal Army Physical Training Core who was one of the training instructors for the day said, "Hull KR did a similar session with us during last season. It is a great way for the squad to learn about each other and bond as a team.

"After Hull KR did a day with us they went on to have a nine game unbeaten run so it can only serve to have a positive effect on the team. I thought the players reacted well to the day and their response to some of the tasks surpassed my expectations."

Head Coach Ian Millward added, "With eight new players in the squad I thought this would be a great opportunity for the guys to get to know each other a bit better.

"I certainly learnt more about them as players and potential leaders and it was good to give them a bit of variation from our usual training programme."

Castleford Tigers have two confirmed pre-season friendlies in January. The first is at the Kingston Communications Stadium against Hull FC on Sunday 13^th January (kick off, 2pm), before the squad then face Championship neighbour Featherstone Rovers the following week at the Wish Communications Stadium on Sunday 20th January (kick off, 3.30pm).