Australia using cutting edge strobe glasses in a bid to boost their neural systems

FIND out why the Kangaroos are donning glasses while they train as they move one step closer to the Four Nations final.

STROBE glasses are the latest tool used by Kangaroos players in a bid spark their neural systems as forward Sam Thaiday races the clock to be fit to play against long term mentor Wayne Bennett.

Australian players are fitted with the glasses as part of their post-game recovery.

Thaiday and Greg Inglis skipped the recovery session as they try to overcome injuries following the Kangaroos’ win against New Zealand.

Thaiday’s knee is of particular concern with fears he may have suffered cartilage injury.

Inglis has a bad cork but is expected to play against England in the final Four Nations pool game on Monday.

The glasses are designed to improve reactions.

While Inglis and Thaiday were absent as they dealt with their injuries, the rest of the Kangaroos put the glasses on in a catching drill.

“From a recovery point of view, it’s a novel approach to sparking that neural system,” Kangaroos elite performance manager Troy Thomson said.

“It gives the guys a different stimulus. Hopefully we can improve the vision of the players but in a short period of time we’re not going to see great changes.

GAFFE: Hayne caught up in porn drama

SUMMER SCHOOL: What the Eels need to work on

“We try and make sure they don’t make any errors (during the drill). They are really concentrating on a simple task by taking away some of that visual input that they normally have and they take for granted. It makes the task a little bit more difficult.”

The glasses flash at different speeds and depending on your level they will black out vision for a period of time as the players attempt to catch a pass from a teammate.

Players have also been given individual training tools via iPhones or tablets to improve their vision after undergoing a range of eye tests before the tournament started.

Australia will take on England next week.

Back-rower Tyson Frizell said the new training tool had helped.

“Wearing those glasses it helps with your vision and reaction skills,” Frizell said. “It’s the first time I’ve used something like that.

“It’s pretty hard to catch something so simple like a ball. It was cool. It’ll help the more you do it.

“There were couple of stitch ups (among the boys). Chucking it on a high level and some had no idea where the ball was.”