GREATER Northern Academy’s 41 squad members sweated and swatted when the new 2015-16 program began in 40 degree heat on the weekend.
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The GNA’s first session for the new season began at Jack Woolaston Ovalon Saturday morning and concluded yesterday afternoon despite the heat.
GNA coaches were ever-mindful of the temperatures and made the sessions short and well-watered.
There were no gut-busting fitness sessions, rather skill drills and video sessions in the North Tamworth Rugby League Football Club clubhouse with a Sunday morning dip in the South and West War Memorial Pool at Scully Park after a good night’s sleep in the Bunkhouse on Goonoo Goonoo Road.
“Nothing too strenuous,” GNA manager Scott Bone said.
“We’ve got them well watered and when we do the tackling session we’ll do it out back under the trees,” he said pointing to a shaded area on the northern end of Bear Park.
All care was being taken, Cubs coach Peter Stevens said.
He’s in charge of the younger age group while Matt Kenny is the head coach of the older Tigers group.
“We’ve been very cautious so far,” Stevens said.
“We’ve stopped more regularly for water breaks.
“But if it stays like this (windy ) it won’t be too bad.
“And we won’t be doing any real physical stuff, just a bit of tackling after lunch under the trees.”