STALLIONS START NEW YEAR WITH A BANG

The Marconi Stallions have wasted little time settling into the New Year,

with this season’s squad back in training for the 2008 season.

Following on from four weeks of pre-season before the Christmas break, coach Dave Barrett has had his players preparing for the Johnny Warren Cup, which kicks off in under a fortnight.

“All the players have been very receptive, and we’ve been doing a lot of pre-season work with the ball, it just hasn’t been about running and fitness,” Barrett said.

“I think the days of just running for the sake of running are over and you do need a bit of variety when it comes to training – I know the players certainly appreciate it.”
 

Barrett will be looking to try out different combinations during the pre-season, including the Johnny Warren Cup and is hoping a number of his young chargers will push for first grade selection.
 

But no doubt they will be made to work for it though, with the squad being bolstered in the off-season by experienced heads Nahuel Arrarte and Tolgay Ozbey.
 

“I think we showed last year, that the young players coming through have what it takes and I’d expect them again to be pushing for a first team spot,” Barrett said.

“I’m very confident with the squad that we’ve got, we’ve got plenty of depth across the park and we’ll be looking to play an attacking brand of football.
 

“There has been a good intensity at training, and apart from a few niggling injuries, I’m very happy with where we’re at, at this stage.”