Gold Coast Suns bring in renowned sports psychologist to help try turn things around

THE sports psychologist credited with helping the North Queensland Cowboys win their maiden NRL premiership has been assigned the task of turning around the struggling Gold Coast Suns.

Suns ruckman Jarrod Witts (right) says he has felt the positive effects of working with sports psychologist Cliff Mallett. Picture: Daniel Pockett, Getty Images.

THE sports psychologist credited with helping the North Queensland Cowboys win their maiden NRL premiership has been assigned the task of turning around the struggling Gold Coast Suns.

University of Queensland professor Cliff Mallett was brought in by the Cowboys after starting the 2015 season with three straight losses and was acknowledged by the club for his role in the team’s ability to win the premiership that year.

Mallett has been working with the Suns eight-man leadership group in 2018 in a bid to delve into the minds of a team who have failed to celebrate any success since entering the AFL in 2011.

Suns ruckman Jarrod Witts (right) says he has felt the positive effects of working with sports psychologist Cliff Mallett. Picture: Daniel Pockett, Getty Images.

Suns leader and ruckman Jarrod Witts said the weekly meetings with Mallet were helping improve their ability to deal with situations on and off the football field as the team tries to find the answer behind why they have struggled.

“We meet as a leadership group at least once a week, sometimes twice,” Witts said.

“(Mallett) sits in on one of those meetings and essentially we go through any issues that have come up during the week and we each have areas we look after.

“He runs us through the psychology behind what works and how to deal with things.

“After that he brings in pieces of information he wants us to dissect and we go through it together.

“He gets our thoughts on it and relates it back to how we are going at the club and if we could implement it.

“It’s been a good learning experience for all of us. He is world class and has worked with some great athletes.”

Sports psychologist Dr Cliff Mallett.

Mallett has links to Suns assistant Ash Prescott who is currently studying a psychology degree.

Witts became a leader at AFL level for the first time this season after being selected by the playing group alongside co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May, David Swallow, Touk Miller, Matt Rosa, Michael Barlow and Pearce Hanley.

The 25-year-old said he always wanted to become a leader and believed his work with Mallett had improved his football.

“(Leadership) is something I wanted to develop,” Witts said.

“I have always wanted to be a leader. In my position I think it’s crucial you have some leadership qualities because I spend the most time in the midfield out of all the boys.

“It’s one of the things I’ve prioritised. I can be a platform to help the guys if they need it and it keeps me in the moment a bit more in games.

“If I go through a flat patch it keeps me in games because I have to be a bit more aware of what is going on around me.”

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