RAWTHORPE Boxing Club has never been so busy at seven o’clock in the morning.
That was the time the entire Huddersfield Giants Super League squad and backroom staff descended on the club’s Gasworks Street headquarters to be put through a punishing 90-minute schedule.
Their torturer-in-chief was Rawthorpe boxing coach Mark Reynolds as the Giants got a taste of things to come.
As part of new Giants head coach Paul Anderson’s regime, the Huddersfield players can expect to shed similar blood, sweat and tears at the venue on a regular basis – and at the same early hour.
And Reynolds is confident it can prove a winning strategy.
In the eyes of the proud Huddersfield-born coach, a link-up between boxing and rugby league is a match made in heaven, and nothing would give him greater pleasure than knowing he has played a small part in helping the Giants reach their full potential.
It’s a process he hopes will pay off ASAP.
“I’m proud of Huddersfield and I’m proud of what the Giants have been achieving in Super League,” said Reynolds.
“Obviously, the past few months haven’t been great for them for a variety of reasons, and I’d love to think I could play some small part in helping change their fortunes.
“What we’re doing is clearly different to their usual training routine, and hopefully this can help freshen up the players for their last two League games and the play-offs.
“We did some sessions with the players a couple of years ago, and Paul was the leader of those, but for some reason they then stopped.
“Now he’s taken over he thinks resurrecting the sessions are a way forward, and it’s a pleasure working with them again.
“Boxing and rugby are very similar sports, involving physical impact and high levels of fitness, and I genuinely believe that the more rugby league taps into boxing training methods the greater the benefit will be.
“It’s certainly a view held by Paul and, all being well, this session will be the first of many over the next few years.”
At the end of the first session, Reynolds was left in no doubt that it had been a total success, and he can’t wait to welcome then again.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the session, and the players enjoyed it, too,” added Reynolds, who has seen a big increase in interest at his Rawthorpe club after the success of the Team GB boxers at the Olympics.
“The feedback from the lads and coaching staff was second-to-none and I know they’re already looking forward to coming back.
“And I’ll welcome them back with open arms.
“Because they’re professional athletes they’re very easy to work with. They don’t need any motivating at all, they just want to do what they can to help them keep improving.
“It doesn’t matter how tough the session is. They never moan, they just get on with it.
“That’s something I can safely say about every single member of the squad. Each and everyone of them always gives 100% and, as a coach, you obviously can’t ask for anything more than that.
“I’m sure no other squad in Super League can work any harder than the Giants have done this week.
“For that reason alone, they definitely deserve as strong a finish to the season as possible.”
