Senior coach John Worsfold believes the Bombers will benefit immensely from taking their training program to Coffs Harbour for their pre-season camp.
The Bombers have spent the entire week on NSW’s northern coast, adapting to the hot and humid conditions which have persisted throughout the trip.
Worsfold said one reason for heading to Coffs was to test the players’ resolve and preparation away from the familiar surrounds of The Hangar, which he believes they’ve excelled in doing.
“It’s pretty much a normal weekly program with training sessions and we’ve still got our weights program,” Worsfold said.
“Overall, I think the way they handled the different ground, the conditions which were pretty stifling and the way they pulled each other through was great.
“We’ve obviously got a different environment with the beach on our doorstep. It’s a bit more humid up here, so it takes the players out of their normal routine and gets them to step up to maintaining their professionalism in a new environment.”
The Bombers have worked hard on building fitness and skill on the camp, undertaking gruelling gym programs, main training sessions and a punishing early morning beach circuit.
And while the physical component of the camp has been important, Worsfold said other aspects the players have developed were leadership and mental preparation.
“It’s a really important week for us,” he said.
“(Coming to Coffs Harbour has brought) us all together and gives us more time together to do some of our game-plan stuff, but also some of our leadership program without the players feeling like they’ve been locked away at the footy club for long periods of time.”
With almost a full squad spending an entire week in Coffs Harbour, the camp has given the playing group a chance to mix with each other on and off the track.
It’s something which has pleased Worsfold, who believes the younger players have thrived under the guidance of their more experienced teammates.
“Across the board, the guys that were in their individual rehab programs were working really hard, but (everyone was) supporting each other,” Worsfold said.
“That’s what I’m liking at the moment; the young boys really mixing in well and getting some solid time with the senior players."
