NRL 2021: Melbourne Storm players pushed to the limit at notorious ‘I Don’t Quit’ camp

They didn’t sleep for two days and pushed for hours in the bush and on sand, but 13 new Melbourne recruits can now say, ‘we’ve done the notorious IDQ camp’. One player though stood out.

'Storm player Tepai Moeroa being carried by teammates. Picture: Supplied.

It’s the notorious and whispered about training camp that has become the stuff of legend across the NRL playing fraternity.

It’s the infamous I Don’t Quit camp, which Melbourne Storm puts it new players and recruits through every pre-season.

Storm players past and present all agree it is the toughest thing they’ve ever done.

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'Storm player Tepai Moeroa being carried by teammates. Picture: Supplied.

In December 2013, the players famously hiked 44km through the day and night before walking the 1000 steps in the Dandenong Ranges for a second time.

Then new Storm recruit George Rose would later say he came within a whisker of quitting the club on the spot during the brutal two-day camp.

This week, the class of 2021 took part in the latest instalment.

“That was definitely the toughest task I’ve had to endure over the last few days,” Storm recruit Xavier Coates said.

“You’d heard talks about it and past players would mention it, but nothing compares to when you actually have to do it.

“I’m just so happy to have got through it….and we can now say we’ve done the notorious IDQ camp.”

Storm youngster Will Warbrick battling at the end of the IDQ camp. Picture: Supplied

Storm football boss Frank Ponissi said it was about taking players out of their comfort zone.

“They were an outstanding group and there were 13 players that went on it and it’s always hard to work out which has been the best group, but this was certainly one of the better groups.”

The camp started in inner Melbourne before heading down the surf coast.

“They walked from here around the MCG through Birrarung Marr and they went up and down the stairs at one of the buildings at Crown for a number of times and then drove to Anglesea,” Ponissi said.

“They did the majority of the camp there before coming back to AAMI Park yesterday (on Wednesday).”

Storm players working together on the beach at Anglesea. Picture: Supplied.

Melbourne Storm players at the I Don't Quit camp in Anglesea. Supplied

Former Knight Josh King, who won the iron bar award as the man of the camp ahead of Will Warbrick and Coates, said the last night was the toughest.

“We had a silent march where we had our backpacks on and it was pretty much a walking race,” he said.

“I don’t know how long it was, but it went for hours.

“Directly after that we were on guard in the bush and we had to wait there in case anyone came through the bush at any stage for multiple hours until the sun came up.

“No sleep since Monday morning or something like that, so it’ll be good to get a rest in.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Melbourne Storm players pushed to the limit at notorious ‘I Don’t Quit’ camp