Blog with Buzz: Meet the team behind the Sydney Roosters super club

WELCOME to the modern-day professionalism of an NRL super club that has a coaching staff almost bigger than the player roster. Blog with Buzz!

Buzz: The team behind the super club

AN organic food van is parked outside the Sydney Roosters head office next door to Allianz Stadium ready to fuel the club’s NRL stars.

Long gone are the days of fast food and a few beers after a workout.

Welcome to the modern-day professionalism of an NRL super club that has a coaching staff almost bigger than the player roster.

Trent Robinson has 27 employees ranging from a clinical psychologist, lifestyle coach, welfare officers, wrestling expert, four physios and a former Sydney Swans star to teach wingers how to take bombs.

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Your columnist visited the Roosters’ headquarters last week to discover the incredible professionalism of the backroom staff Robinson has assembled since completing his own sports science university degree and doing a study tour of Premier League giants Liverpool.

Sydney Roosters Coaching staff at Allianz Stadium.

“They’re as important as the players,” Robinson says.

“Don’t get me wrong, you’ve got to have the cattle, but you need to keep your good players on the field.”

With a salary cap designed to level out playing talent, richer clubs like the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs and Broncos spend double that of their rivals on player preparation.

It has become such an issue in the AFL that coaching staffs are under a salary cap, too.

Newest recruit

The Roosters now employ recently retired club legend Anthony Minichiello full-time on the coaching staff.

His responsibility is to look after the fullbacks and lifestyle.

We walk into a theatrette, where Minichiello is sitting with a video analyst.

Robinson rates the communication skills of fullbacks of such vital importance that he has them filmed and wired for sound at training.

Minichiello is carefully listening before he calls the fullbacks in to explain what he’s looking for.

He was renowned for his ability to read defence in his days in the Roosters No. 1 jersey and Robinson wants it replicated.

Organic food

James Maloney scores for the Roosters.

Every day, the van arrives at Moore Park to ensure the players are sticking to a healthy diet.

There is a kitchen inside where the players might cook a fresh steak or chicken and salad.

Robinson says it was a shock to five-eighth James Maloney when he first arrived from the New Zealand Warriors.

“Jimmy Maloney’s a bit old school,” Robinson says.

“He never really ate vegetables, but he’s started now. He might have changed five or 10 per cent, but that’s a win.

“It’s education for the players and we ask the guys to eat well, but we don’t force them.

“They all chip in a bit of money and we provide three or four healthy meals a week.”

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Recruitment

Robinson reveals high profile chairman Nick Politis often plays an active role to help recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan get deals over the line.

“We’re always talking with each other about recruitment,” Robinson says.

“Sully does all the negotiations of players with Nick (Politis), who is quite hands on.

“Sully’s got a great eye and he’s confident enough to know his footballers. Some people can hesitate and say ‘oh what do you think’, but he backs his opinion.”

Psychology and Lifestyle

Anthony Minichiello is now on the Roosters coaching staff.

Grant Brecht is a clinical psychologist and full-time consultant.

“You’ve got to get their life right before you get their footy right,” Robinson says.

“Grant makes sure they’re okay with any issues away from footy. Plus he helps with sports psychology.”

Minichiello is also there with the ‘lifestyle’ role on his job description.

“Mini will catch up with six or seven guys each week,” Robinson says.

“If you make them better people they become better footballers.”

Wrestling coach

Most clubs are normally reluctant to talk about wrestling coaches.

Larry Popadoplos is a former wrestling champion who has worked with Storm, GWS Giants and Roosters.

“He’s here twice a week during the off-season,” Robinson explains.

“I don’t see it as controversial.

“The methods that some people use are controversial, but a wrestling coach is like a tackling coach. Our thing is to teach good tackling methods. We don’t want to rip arms off or anything like that. It’s more like body awareness.”

The two wrestling session each week are supervised by assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon.

Skills

Daniel Tupou scores a try.

Ever wonder why Origin winger Daniel Tupou is so good under the high ball, remembering he joined the Roosters as a struggling and unwanted NSW Cup player.

Robinson has employed the former Swans star Tadgh Kennelly, whose sole responsibility is to ensure Tupou and the rest of the wingers can take high balls.

Recently, Braith Anasta also returned to the Roosters as NYC skills coach.

Robinson and his assistants Steve McNamara, Craig Fitzgibbon and Justin Holbrook share the rest of the workload on skills.

“I do video with the nine players I look after,” Robinson says.

“I do the back-rowers, halves and outside backs. If we have a bad day at training, I think, geez, we better fix that tomorrow.”

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Four physios

It wasn’t that long ago players had to go offsite to see physiotherapists. The Roosters have four on full-time.

“They’re here to reduce the risk of injuries, not just treat them,” Robinson explains.

“When a player walks in the morning, the physio puts them through tests before they do anything else. If they’re tight, they start working on them.

“If someone’s got a back that’s slightly out, they’ll work on them to get them ready for training. You don’t turn up five minutes before training anymore.

“Our guys turn up 90 minutes before. They get their physio and that means they are ready as soon as we hit the training field.

“Over a season, no-one is ever 100 per cent fully fit ... I went to Liverpool to have a look and they had five physios and two full-time doctors.”

Trent Robinson at Roosters training.

Strength and conditioning

The Roosters recently signed Scott Campbell (strength and power) from St George Illawarra and Hayden Knowles (speed and agility) from the Eels.

They report to Travis Touma, who is head of performance.

Then there’s young sports science expert Pierre Austury, who specialises on GPS.

“He does a live feed to us at training,” Robinson says.

“We can get an instant report on how much work each player is doing.”

On the day I was there the backs did 4130m and the forwards 3950m.

“It’s important we good information without it taking over from our actual coaching,” Robinson says.

“We don’t use him game day. I still believe your eye is most important on game day.”

“I 100-percent believe if you train well you play well. You can’t turn up on the weekend and get the job done if you’ve had a bad week.

“That’s why it’s so crucial for the support staff to get it right.”

Nathan Tinkler spotted in the crowd.

SPOTTED

Big Nathan Tinkler at the Jets v Glory game in Perth on Friday night.

HIGHLIGHT I

The 3-all draw thriller between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. Brilliant soccer, brilliant goals, brilliant excitement and a brilliant advertisement for the A League.

HIGHLIGHT II

The final session of play at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon as Nathan Lyon spun Australia to the most emotional victory I’ve ever seen in Test cricket.

HIGHLIGHT III

Jason Hughes, brother of Phillip, scoring exactly 63 for Mosman at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday. What a beautiful coincidence.

HIGHLIGHT IIII

The NRL draw will finally be released in the next 24 hours.

LOWLIGHT I

The terrible state of the pitch at the Wanderers World Club challenge game. It was more like water polo than soccer and should have been postponed for 24 hours.

LOWLIGHT II

The thought of Michael Clarke retiring. He has become such an inspiration they should pick him even if he’s on crutches.