- Kritian Woolf has been putting his own spin on pre-season training this summer
- Josh Kerr has opened up on the Dolphins’ brutal recent training plans
- The 27-year-old has also spoken out on how the new boss has ‘scared’ him
Dolphins prop Josh Kerr has spoken out on adapting to life under new coach Kristian Woolf, claiming pre-season training has been a gruelling challenge this year compared to how it was under former boss Wayne Bennett.
The 27-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of 2025, added that the new Dolphins head coach had ‘put the fear of god into me’.
Woolf took over from Bennett this summer after the departing coach, who took over at South Sydney Rabbitohs, led them to 10th in the NRL ladder last season.
The Dolphins’ new coach, in a similar style to Broncos boss Michael Maguire, has been putting his team through their paces in pre-season, with the Dolphins undertaking the beep test among other brutal fitness sessions.
‘It’s definitely true,’ Kerr said when pressed on rumours that the new boss had been beasting his side in training.
‘You know what Woolfy is like. He is hard-nosed. I thought it was going to be a militaristic thing and it kind of is,” Kerr said.
Josh Kerr (right) has spoken out on how the Dolphins are being put through their paces during pre-season training
He revealed coach Kristian Woolf (right) has implemented a gruelling training regime after taking over from Wayne Bennett
Kerr said Woolf has been implementing a more demanding schedule compared to former Dolphins boss Wayne Bennett
‘The boys are saying he has got high standards and that is the best way I can describe it as well because he comes in and makes it very clear with you.
‘There is no beating around the bush with him. He will tell you exactly what he wants. I am not saying other coaches don’t do that, but he is very direct.
‘Everyone is on the same page and it is an all-around effort, everyone jumping from drill to drill and higher intensity. All our fitness is a step up.’
Speaking on the new fitness regimes he added: ‘As soon as we hit the fitness drills, I was struggling. They have made them longer and harder than what they were last year.’
Kerr is hoping that the pre-season can help him and the rest of the team launch themselves into the new season with an explosive start.
Kerr featured in 19 of the Dolphins games last season, scoring two tries for the side and is eager to play well enough in order to win a new contract at the club, noting he had also been frightened by Woolf.
‘Because I was scared of Woolfy I trained extra hard this off-season and came back in way better shape, with more muscle mass,’ he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Woolfy put the fear of God into me. At the end of season review, we obviously had a few extra weeks without football, and he said to me: “You better make sure you are in shape.”
Kerr (left) said that Woolf had ‘put the fear of god in me’ at the end of the 2024 season
The prop forward will be out of contract in 2025 and is looking to establish his long-term place in the team
‘I knew what was coming. I am off contract as well – my dream is to stay here long-term.
‘That’s up to me, I had to come back in the best shape. I feel like I have done that, and I hopefully earn a contract and not just be given one.’
Woolf holds a distinguished and exceptional reputation in rugby league circles having won the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Super League Grand Finals with St Helens.
His experience has also extended to working as an assistant coach for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, with Woolf also coaching the Tongan national side.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .