For one day each week, the North Queensland Cowboys Rugby League team faces calculated military toughness. Obstacle course activities, endurance tests, leadership challenges and team building initative were scheduled and coordinated to maximise the team’s potential success. Paul Dezolt and Shane Muspratt tackle the monkey bars. Photo by Cpl Jason Weeding 1JPAU(P)

Ride em Cowboys

By Cpl Belinda Mepham
THE North Queensland Cowboys Rugby League team has come knocking on the door of the fitness experts, 3 Bde’s PTIs, to help hone their skills.

Billy Johnston, Cowboys’ strength and conditioning coach, said the team needed activities and challenges that not only tested physical strength and resolve, but also tasks that mentally tested players as individuals and as part of a team.

“We want them to develop that special teamwork, confidence in each other and trust that the Army are renowned for,” he said.

The PTIs have enthusiastically taken up the task of providing seven weeks of pre-season activities based on the Cowboys’ various training disciplines.

For one day each week, the Cowboys will face calculated military toughness. Obstacle course activities, endurance tests, leadership challenges and team building initative which Army personnel face daily, were scheduled and coordinated to maximise the team’s potential success.

PTI, Cpl Brian Jones has the responsibility of running and planning each week’s activities.

Cpl Jones said the Cowboys were exposed to arduous physical environments.

“The first lesson with the team was running a familiarisation at the obstacle course, from that experience they now understand how we operate and how to respond to words of command.

“The next session was about progressive load increase, to challenge their teamwork at section and platoon level.”

The next brick in their teamwork block will be a leadership/communication activity involving a competition at the WTTS.

Cpl Jones said they would progressively work through the next few activities focusing on strength games and team challenges.

The Cowboys also visited 3Bde boozers with the Cowgirls, their cheerleading squad, to mingle with the soldiers and help bring together the team spirit.

Cpl Jones said that from a PTI point of view the team was in fantastic physical shape across the board from the forwards to the backs.

“They have been very willing and enthusiastic participants. I have observed their teamwork develop with this program. They were already working well together and they are now fine tuning some elements of the team.”

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