NRL legend and Queensland coach Billy Slater has lifted the lid on how his Melbourne Storm side used to prepare for wet weather football, claiming they took their preparation “to extreme levels”.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Billy’s Breakdown after a round in which several games were played in atrocious conditions, Slater outlined the importance of looking ahead to the forecast and adjusting training sessions accordingly.
He said the Storm used to “wet the ball at training” if they expected to be playing in the rain.
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“We went to extreme levels when I was playing, we’d sometimes wet the ball at training just to get used to those conditions,” Slater said.
“Your footwear is another thing you need to focus on and I usually wore long studs anyway. But you need to make sure you’re in the appropriate footwear.”
Those tips were no doubt passed on to the Bulldogs and the Sharks before their soggy slugfest on Saturday afternoon, while the Rabbitohs played some stunning football in their upset win over the Eels despite the torrential downpour.
With wet weather forecast to hang around the east coast for at least another week, the weather could yet play a role in determining this year’s Origin series.
If it is raining in Brisbane next Wednesday, Slater hinted at the message he’d be sending the Maroons out onto the field with.
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“You need a couple of things when you play in the wet weather. I feel the most committed and physical team generally comes out on top; and the other thing you need is a really good kicking game, so your halfback’s got to stand up and your senior players,” Slater said.
But in the kind of conditions that dragged several of round 16’s contests into wet weather arm wrestles, Slater revealed he’s much prefer to be in the coach’s box than back out on the field.
“It was fun when you were a kid, not so much at NRL level though, because it brings everyone back to the field, they can really line you up when you’re a small guy on the field, it’s not great,” he said.
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