Wednesday 7 January 2015 13:14, UK
St Helens are determined to be in top condition when the new season gets underway in February, reports Sky Sports News’ Alan Irwin.
Having employed the services of British Military Fitness instructors the Super League Champions were put through their paces on a cold, dark, wet January morning in Sefton Park, Liverpool. It was a grueling session delivered at maximum intensity.
Instructor Mark Pearson said: "It's literally non-stop for 90 minutes and it's the most arduous training we can give them, every player will feel it, but will also benefit from it."
Forward Kyle Amor feared the worst on his arrival at 7.30am.
"When we arrived in the car park we knew we were in trouble,” he said. “The heavens opened and we saw a couple of big blokes who turned out to be fitness trainers from the military!"
The new campaign gets underway on February 6th for Saints with a home fixture against Catalan Dragons and Amor knows it'll be a difficult campaign.
“We are Champions,” he added. “So people will come to our place and try and knock us off, we've got to rise to that challenge as a group but it's a challenge we look forward to."
“I'm looking forward to 2015 and when I see Ben Flower, as I will at some stage, I'm sure we'll shake hands and get on with it."
St Helens are led by a new management team this season of Keiron Cunnigham and Sean Long, but still have plenty of experience out on the field with Paul Wellens, Jon Wilkin, and James Roby, in addition to Lance Hohaia, who cannot wait for the big kick off after his Grand Final ended prematurely after being punched by Wigan's Ben Flower.
"It's done and dusted that incident, I don't have anything more to say on it,” he said when asked. “I'm looking forward to 2015 and when I see Ben Flower, as I will at some stage, I'm sure we'll shake hands and get on with it."
Hohaia is also looking forward to welcoming a few new faces on board including Travis Burns who joined from Hull KR and,like Amor, knows Saints are there to be shot at.
“We'll be a target for other teams because of what we achieved last year,” he added. “But we've got a determination to do well again this year and bringing in the likes of Travis Burns will help"
One thing seems certain ahead of the new campaign...Saints are set to begin in top condition.
