NATHAN BROWN has already warned the Giants to expect a tough start to pre-season training.
Huddersfield’s preparations for Super League XVII get under way on November 7, with the new campaign kicking-off in mid-February, 2011.
That means Brown’s senior squad have been handed a six-week break between the end of last season and the return to training.
With a number of players undergoing a variety of patch-up operations in the wake of a punishing Super League XVI schedule, the Galpharm chief knows he won’t have a full quota of players at his disposal on day one.
But for those who aren’t in rehabilitation, Brown is looking forward to putting them through their paces.
“The plan is to come in on November 7, train for seven weeks, have Christmas off and then get back into it at the start of the New Year,” said Brown.
“It’s obviously going to be a pretty tough time for everyone, but the hope is that the hard work the players put in now will pay off when the season gets under way.
“Pre-season training is vital, particularly for the younger blokes and their development, and what they do during that time can have a really big say in how they shape up when we get into the thick of the season.”
The Giants suffered their fair share of injuries last season and the club’s backroom staff have held a full review to see if training methods were to blame.
But Brown is fully satisfied that’s not been the case and a similar training regime can begin.
“All the injuries we suffered were trauma injuries,” added Brown.
“Most of them have been impact injuries to shoulders, knees and wrists, and those are the sort that couldn’t have been prevented.
“But other injuries have been long-term problems, which need to be sorted out sooner rather than later.
“The problems we’ve suffered are certainly nothing to do with the way we’ve been training.”
