NRL: NQ Cowboys’ Jake Clifford set for toughest mental challenge
Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford says he’ll be more than ready when the NRL season restarts but admits it’s been a challenge for players to stay on top of their game with no real certainty about when it will kick off again.
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North Queensland Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford says he’ll be more than ready when the NRL season restarts but admits it’s been a challenge for players to stay on top of their game with no real certainty about when it will kick off again.
The NRL wants to get games restarted on May 28, but government and health authorities are not so sure.
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Clifford said he and his teammates could only focus on themselves in the meantime.
“Everyone’s doing a bit of training and trying to stay fit, because you don’t know when the game’s going to start back up again,” he said.
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“That’s why the coaching staff and fitness coaches have all given us a program to do while we’re away and I’ve got no doubt if we’re doing that training, we’re going to come back ready to go for the season.
“It’s hard not knowing, but we’re staying ready for whenever the footy starts back up. The goal is to keep us in good nick and not lose all the hard work we (have) done in the pre-season.”
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Clifford is knuckling down with a determination to be in top form when the season restarts.
The 22-year-old Tully product was beaten to the Cowboys’ five-eighth jersey this season, with Scott Drinkwater named to partner skipper Michael Morgan in the halves in the two rounds before the season was suspended indefinitely in response to the global COVID-19 outbreak.
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Clifford, spurred by the omission, said he had been spending a lot of time in his home gym during the competition shutdown, with hope of earning a spot in the starting 17 when the season resumes.
“I’ve got a bit of my own home gym at my place, so I’ve been training quite regularly,” he said.
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“For the past couple of years, every time tax time comes around, after I get a bit back I go and buy a couple of things for the gym.
“It’s a pretty good set-up. Everything we do at the gym at the Cows is everything I’ve got at my house, so I’m able to be everything we’ve been doing.”
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He said he had tried to “keep as busy as possible” during the uncertainty of the NRL shutdown and said it had been a challenge to adjust to the different ways of training.
“I can’t stand sitting inside all day, so I’ve been trying to plan my day so I’ve always got something to do,” he said.
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“I’ve been doing three running sessions a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday – and on the days I’m not running, I’ll also do gym as well and I’ll maybe go for a hit of tennis with my partner.”
The young halfback said he was trying to keep busy away from footy as well.
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“When we first found out that training was cancelled, I was looking at buying tools and starting trying to build things and then I went and bought a fishing rod the next week,” he said.
“I play a bit of golf as well, so it’s lucky that I’ve got a few things to do. Also playing a bit of PlayStation as well.
“I’d much rather be playing footy.”
Originally published as NRL: NQ Cowboys’ Jake Clifford set for toughest mental challenge