Day 9 - Tues 21st Oct 08
Posted by Ross Barbour - Carlow Crusaders on 28th Oct 2008
Today was the first time we got to to see and train in Paramatta Stadium where the Paramatta Eels play in the NRL and where our Winger Pat Richards used to play. This is where we will play all our pool games, the first contest being against Tonga on the 27th. The countdown has begun and this is the first part of game day prep.
Today started at 6.30 am with a gym session for a few of the lads in Fitness First, a local facility in Paramatta that has facilitated us for the duration of our stay in Paramatta. The gym session was followed by breakfast, and after this we travelled to Marist College in Paramatta for an opposed defence session. Some of the guys are pumped up for the games and this was the strongest contest we had had so far, it showed as we picked up some knocks among the squad, a twisted knee, a lot of bruises but nothing that will keep anyone out of training. We finished a little earlier than planned because of the knocks but had most of the work done pretty well by that stage anyway.
After lunch was when we headed to Paramatta Stadium where we were greeted by some local school kids who were taken there by their local New South Wales Rugby League Development Officer and his team. Some of the kids had signs that they made in class showing their support for the Irish team and there were prizes of tickets for the games for those kids who had made the best posters as decided by their teachers.
Before training we had to sit in small groups to sign autographs for the kids, this was the first organised autograph session we had to do and for me the first I had done so it was quite a bit of fun. It does hit you at times like this how big Rugby League is over here and how well organised the development structure is for rugby league in kids schools in Australia.
After the autograph session we hit the pitch running and it was a pleasure to train on such a pitch and with such facilities. The dressing rooms were enormous compared to what some of us were used to. A big medical room, separate physio room and rubbing room to help prepare us for the games. This is where we will be for the Tonga game and hoepfully it will be a winning start to the competition.
After training it was back to the hotel for food and early bed. It gets dark here very early compared to at home.
Ni Neart go cur le cheile
Today started at 6.30 am with a gym session for a few of the lads in Fitness First, a local facility in Paramatta that has facilitated us for the duration of our stay in Paramatta. The gym session was followed by breakfast, and after this we travelled to Marist College in Paramatta for an opposed defence session. Some of the guys are pumped up for the games and this was the strongest contest we had had so far, it showed as we picked up some knocks among the squad, a twisted knee, a lot of bruises but nothing that will keep anyone out of training. We finished a little earlier than planned because of the knocks but had most of the work done pretty well by that stage anyway.
After lunch was when we headed to Paramatta Stadium where we were greeted by some local school kids who were taken there by their local New South Wales Rugby League Development Officer and his team. Some of the kids had signs that they made in class showing their support for the Irish team and there were prizes of tickets for the games for those kids who had made the best posters as decided by their teachers.
Before training we had to sit in small groups to sign autographs for the kids, this was the first organised autograph session we had to do and for me the first I had done so it was quite a bit of fun. It does hit you at times like this how big Rugby League is over here and how well organised the development structure is for rugby league in kids schools in Australia.
After the autograph session we hit the pitch running and it was a pleasure to train on such a pitch and with such facilities. The dressing rooms were enormous compared to what some of us were used to. A big medical room, separate physio room and rubbing room to help prepare us for the games. This is where we will be for the Tonga game and hoepfully it will be a winning start to the competition.
After training it was back to the hotel for food and early bed. It gets dark here very early compared to at home.
Ni Neart go cur le cheile
Your Comments
Pool 3 - Oct 27th
Tonga
22-20
Ireland
Pool 3 - Oct 31st
Samoa
20-12
Tonga
Pool 3 - Nov 5th
Ireland
34-16
Samoa
Quarter Final - Nov 10th
Ireland
14 - 30
Fiji
| Team | P |
W |
D |
L |
Pts |
| Ireland | 2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Somoa | 2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Tonga | 2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
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