NRL players are channelling their inner Muhammad Ali this summer, churning out the blood, sweat and tears to become their own version of ‘the greatest’.
The legendary boxer always claimed his fights were won a long time before he stepped under those bright lights and into the ring.
Ali emphasised those bouts were won on the long, lonely days when it was just him and his thoughts hitting the pavement, or the bag.
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NRL players are currently focused on a goal 10 months away, putting in the hard yards that will hopefully yield them a grand final appearance next September.
But not every player has been on the same page. Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett banished big man Val Te Whare to a boot camp after he came back to pre-season underdone.
Tigers rookie coach Benji Marshall was filthy when winger David Nofoaluma returned and the middle forwards were running rings around the veteran.
So foxsports.com.au contacted every club to see which players are setting the standards for their sides in fitness, strength and speed.
Every club came back to us, except for the Bulldogs, and a majority were willing to share the names of their top performers.
Cowboys star Tom Dearden broke his club’s record for the 1.2km time trial, while Maika Sivo is both the fittest and the strongest at the Eels.
Read on below for all the strength and conditions numbers foxsports.com.au received from the participating clubs.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
1.2km time trial
1. Zac Lomax (4:28)
2. Jacob Liddle
3. Ryan Couchman
Bench
1. Ben Murdoch-Masila (170kgs)
2. Mikaele Ravalawa
3. Alec Tuitavake
Squat
1. Josh Coric (225kgs)
2. Mikaele Ravalawa
3. Francis Molo
DOLPHINS
1.2km time trial
1. Max Plath (4:11)
2. Tom Gilbert (4:12)
3. Kurt Donoghoe
Bench
1. Cooper Jenkins (150kgs)
2. Josh Kerr
3. Tesi Niu
4. Tuki Simpkins
Squat
1. Cooper Jenkins (225kgs)
2. Val Te Whare
3. Tesi Niu
NRL’s TOP moments countdown 2023: Part 1 | 08:43
GOLD COAST TITANS (no order)
Fittest:
Chris Randall
Beau Fermor
Keano Kini
Strongest:
Beau Fermor
Ben Liyou
Aaron Schoupp
Best body composition:
Ken Maumalo
Ben Liyou
Jojo Fifita
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (no order)
Fittest:
Damien Cook
Jack Wighton
Strongest:
Thomas Burgess
Damien Cook (pound-for-pound)
Fastest:
Alex Johnston
Tyrone Munro
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
1.2km time trial: Tom Dearden (4:26 – club record)
Bench: Heilum Luki (170 kgs)
Squat: Coen Hess (205 kgs)
Deadlift (trap bar): Luciano Leilua (230 kgs)
NRL’s TOP moments countdown 2023: Part 2 | 08:26
CRONULLA SHARKS
Fastest: Sam Stonestreet
Fittest: Blayke Brailey
Strongest: Jack Williams
Biggest Bench: Royce Hunt
Biggest Squat: Salesi Ataata
MELBOURNE STORM
Fittest: Tyran Wishart
Fastest: Xavier Coates
Strongest: Will Warbrick
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Fastest (20m)
Xavier Savage – 2.583 seconds
Kaeo Weekes – 2.620 seconds
1200m Shuttle Test
Hohepa Puru – 4:33
Regan Carr (Jersey Flegg) – 4:39
PARRAMATTA EELS
Fittest: Maika Sivo
Strongest: Maika Sivo
Clubs whose strength and conditions departments didn’t want to share their top performers: Tigers, Roosters, Knights, Panthers, Broncos, Warriors, Sea Eagles
No response: Bulldogs
