Souths to return for individual training from next week

Damien Cook has revealed South Sydney’s plan on returning to training for individual testing next week

Souths hooker Damien Cook is looking forward to getting back to training

Damien Cook has revealed South Sydney’s plan on returning to training for individual testing next week as the NRL plots its comeback from the coronavirus crisis.

The NRL on Wednesday reaffirmed the game’s May 28 return, with training expected to resume on May 4.

Under regulations handed to clubs in March, players were told not to attend club premises during the shutdown, and that all training must be carried out remotely and not in groups.

Players have been left to train at home, with many across the league using club equipment in their own personal gyms.

But that will end on May 4, with clubs given the opportunity to train together, under strict conditions, for almost a month before the season resumes.

But Cook revealed Souths players will return to the club individually before that.

“On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we have different timeslots. I think we are going to be given to do a bit of weight and fitness testing,” Cook said on Fox League Live.

“And then from there certain boys might need to be going in and doing one-on-one sessions with their coaches until we can train as a group.

“I don’t know what start date we’ve got yet.”

Cook’s comments follow Rabbitohs legend Sam Burgess last week suggesting players could return in small groups on April 27.

The coaches union have so far indicated they won’t return to training until the Warriors are able to do so in Australia.

The team still remains in New Zealand, and at this stage it is hoped they would arrive to resume squad training with the rest of the league by May 4.

Meanwhile, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said he was not aware that clubs would resume any sort of training next week.

“As far as we know, training starts on May 4. But if we’re allowed to get the guys back in, if other clubs do that, I suppose we will,” Cleary said.

“The original arrangement was to not actually get together until the Warriors were able to get here.”

AAP