Gold Coast Titans take on 51km overnight hike in preseason training
Gold Coast coach Garth Brennan is determined to do preseason differently this year. First he made his Titans work normal jobs for a week, now he’s taken them on a 51km overnight hike. SEE THE PICTURES.
Titans coach Garth Brennan is hoping a 51km all-night trek through the Gold Coast hinterland will help turn his team into an NRL force.
Brennan pushed his entire squad, football staff and ex-Titans legends through the gruelling torture test on Wednesday night.
Club legends Preston Campbell, Mat Rogers and Ash Harrison joined the current crop of Titans for the taxing 12-hour exercise.
Instead of a traditional army camp, Brennan put the Titans through the overnight hike from Canungra to Springbrook in a bid to mix up his second pre-season at the club.
“It was probably the toughest thing I’ve been involved with in rugby league in all my time,” he said.
“Speaking to the players, they’ve backed it up and said it was the hardest thing they’ve ever done.
“We got through unscathed and everyone survived which is pleasing. It’s finished a tough pre-season off the way I wanted.
“I’m sure the boys feel like they’ve got a sense of achievement.”
The exercise included a 23km run through the bush as the sun set, followed by 14km down gravel tracks, an ascent up 900 steps and a 12km run to finish at sunrise.
Brennan said he asked former players to join the group as he looks to respect the club’s 12-year history.
“Those guys are the past and who these players look up to,” he said.
“They’ve laid the foundations of the Titans. It’s important these guys work with them.
“It’s important we respect the past. It drove a few of the players along. It gave them a spring in their step.
“We’re building something very special here.”
The Titans finished 14th last season and had a poor defensive record which Brennan is trying to turn around in 2019.
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Originally published as Gold Coast Titans take on 51km overnight hike in preseason training
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