Ironmen Kendrick Louis, Ali Day train with Manly Sea Eagles ahead of NRL 2020
They are as different as chalk and cheese. But the Manly Sea Eagles have found plenty to talk about with top surf ironmen Kendrick Louis and Ali Day.
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Tom Trbojevic said a Manly squad deep in pre-season aren’t looking for additonal motivation but if they were they wouldn’t have to look far.
Trbojevic said having Australian surf life saving stars Kendrick Louis and Ali Day at a Sea Eagles dinner on Wednesday and a training day on Thursday had resonated with players heading into the 2020 NRL.
Day is a multiple Coolangatta Gold champion while Louis became the first ironman from Manly to win the Nutri-Grain series after 11 years of trying in January.
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Louis also finished second in the inaugural Iron X race on the Sunshine Coast last Sunday.
“I think a big thing for them is how self motivated they have to be,’’ said Trbojevic, who with brother Jake attended the same school as Louis, Pittwater High, growing up.
“We are very lucky to play in a team sport. To do it on your own, that's some self motivation.
“It is inspirational. For Kendrick, he wanted to win that ironman series. For us we want to win the Grand Final.
“To see him do it, as a local, it is special.
“You gain motivation off people achieving their goals. It’s a big lift.’’
Manly and the champion surf life savers share a sponsor in Shaw and Partners.
Veteran Daly Cherry-Evans said he was impressed by the training loads of the ironmen.
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“It’s been really cool,’’ Cherry-Evans said.
“From a football perspective I can’t believe how much training they do. I complain about what we do in pre-season.
“They do so much more in length in the swim and the run but I guess that's not needed in our game.
“What we are training to be is be powerful and strong with a broad range of skills. But their physical fitness ability is outrageous.’’
Cherry-Evans said he was “so impressed’’ with Louis’ dedication to his sport.
“I admire both of them for very different reasons,’’ he said.
“The way Ali has been continually successful at the Coolangatta Gold shows how special he is.
“On Kendrick’s side, to persevere for 10 years before he won is a true credit to someone who loves their craft.’’