Why Sea Eagle Marty Taupau was chilling in minus 164 degrees

SEA Eagle Marty Taupau prepared for the game with the Roosters by getting into a cryotherapy chamber where the temperature was minus 164 degrees celsius.

Manly forward Martin Taupau in a Cryotherapy chamber at Synergy Recovery Centre in Brookvale . Picture: Gregg Porteous.

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NO, Sea Eagles enforcer Marty Taupau is not starring in a sequel of the movie Frozen.

He was preparing for Friday’s big game with the Roosters at Allianz Stadium by getting into a cryotherapy chamber where the temperature hit a chilling minus 164 degrees celsius.

Taupau entered the chamber at the Synergy Recovery Centre in Brookvale wearing woollen gloves and socks before being enveloped by liquid nitrogen for two and a half minutes.

“It was cold, freezing, I couldn’t feel anything in my elbows or my toes,” Taupau said after the treatment.

“I would take that over an ice bath. I don’t like taking an ice bath with ten other blokes, especially after a sweaty game.

Manly's Martin Taupau tackled by Bulldog Josh Jackson at Lottoland last Satuirday. Picture : Gregg Porteous

“It will definitely make a difference in terms of my individual game.

Taupau plans to try to use the chamber once or twice a week through the season.

“Probably 48 hours before a game and then a day after a game, depending how it goes and what is recommended,” he said.

“Our sport is high-demanding, especially in the physical aspect so it was really good to get my body back in tact and be ready week-in, week-out.”

Director of the Synergy Recovery Centre Dr George Dragasevich said cryotherapy chambers are used by all the major sporting teams in the US and Europe.

“The body will react to it because it believes it is freezing so as a result it increases the metabolism, it increases the blood flow,” he said

Marty Taupau at Manly training on Tuesday. Picture: Martrn Lange.

“And what it says in theory is that it just helps flush out all the bad toxins and lactic acid that athletes will get especially during training or basically during post recovery for sports.”

Taupau is now warmed up to test himself against the Roosters pack this evening, especially fellow New Zealand hardpan Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

“Everyone likes a challenge to see where they are in at terms of the forward pack,” he said.

“You’ve definitely got some big boppas in their team.

“I like that aggression, I like challenging myself especially against Jared being a Kiwi player as well.

“It’s good fun playing against Jared. There is always an exchange of words

“A few words here and there on the field and then you carry on and try to get over each other.”