What awaits Wigan Warriors players as they return to training today

Wigan’s new fitness chief has given an insight into what awaits the players who return to pre-season training today.
Ian Bentley in Wigan's gym at their Robin Park HQIan Bentley in Wigan's gym at their Robin Park HQ
Ian Bentley in Wigan's gym at their Robin Park HQ

Fringe players from the first-team squad will report back for duty at Robin Park HQ today. Other members of the senior squad will be phased back over the next few weeks.

Ian Bentley, the new head of strength and conditioning, wants to improve the players’ speed and power ahead of the start of the new campaign in March.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And he hopes providing tailored programmes in training will help them reach their goals.

“All the programmes will be individualised, and there’s a big focus on power and speed,” said Bentley, who has stepped up from his academy role to replace Paul Johnson.

“The programmes will be tailored around individual needs.”

Bentley, who has a PhD in Applied BioMechanics and Performance, has left his full-time job as an associate lecturer in sport and exercise science at the University of Central Lancashire to take on the role at Warriors.

“Pre-season always needs to be tough, we was in the last few games of the season the intensity they’re working at for long periods of time,” he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“So we’ll be looking at worst case scenarios and making sure they can work at that level, and we do that in training.

“It’s a long season and pre-season is the perfect chance to get work into the players. We can’t just maintain throughout the season, we will have to top up throughout the year when we have chances.”

More senior players will report back in phases over the next four weeks, ahead of the start of the new Super League campaign in mid-March.

Read unlimited Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors stories for less than 70p a week by subscribing to our sports package here

Related topics: