The two clubs mixed Sherrins and Rhinos, tackle bags and sprints, in a cross-code training session at Sydney’s Lakeside Oval on Wednesday morning as part of the Wolves’ off-season Australian tour.
A similar session was held at the beginning of 2012, with that season culminating in a famous Swans premiership and a Grand Final run from the Wolves, who fell short against Leeds Rhinos in the Super League decider 26 points to 18.
Back then, Swans co-captain Adam Goodes and Wolves skipper Adrian Morley swapped stories, superlatives and guernseys with each other. Today it was Kieren Jack, son of former Australian league representative Garry, and Roy Asotasi, the Wolves newest recruit from South Sydney, who spoke of their admiration for each other and their respective clubs and codes.
And while some things have changed in two years, many remain the same.
Coaches John Longmire and Tony Smith again talked tactics, the Swans dominated the running, the Wolves powered through the tackling, and the English were more than happy to have swapped the balmy Warrington highs of 11 degrees for the shining mid-summer Sydney sun.
In terms of tackling, co-captain Jack, who played rugby league until he was 15, said the insights he and the rest of the Swans playing group got from the Wolves players were invaluable.
“I certainly was taught the right technique as a kid (playing rugby league), and I think the main thing in terms of tackling is getting the right technique and then having the discipline and want to actually do it,” he said.
“A lot of the young boys that we get who are drafted come from Melbourne or South Australia, so they miss out on that initial technique side of tackling, so it’s something we have to try and teach.
“Having (the Wolves) here to sort of help them along and show them what it’s like to actually put on the right hit and to put your head in the right place is good for them to learn.”
A Swan amongst a pack of Wolves: ruckman Mike Pyke at this morning's training with Warrington
While some of the Swans’ bigger-bodied players put up a good fight against their cross-code counterparts, the club’s smaller midfielders had more of a challenge on their hands.
Ben McGlynn, who drew the short straw coming up against Asotasi in the tackling drills, said he didn’t have much chance against the former Bulldog and Rabbitoh, who has a 10-centimeter, 31-kilogram advantage.
“Today they showed us some good techniques and threw us around a bit on the bags,” McGlynn said.
“Big Sammy Naismith went alright, but for us little guys we got rag-dolled a bit.
“It was a good experience and I think they might have taken it easy on us a little bit.”
Second-year Swan Tim Membrey said he also learnt a lesson or two from the Wolves on tackling technique.
“They’ve got a lot bigger bodies, especially in the tackling drills,” he said.
“We had the bag and we had to try and brace as those bigger bodies were coming through.
“Even a couple of smaller guys were little tanks and they got me at one stage and I got winded, but it was a good learning experience.”
After being thrown around during the tackling drills, McGlynn was pleased to get the upper-hand on his league opponents the longer the endurance element of training went on – a skill from AFL that he hoped the Wolves could learn from.
“The session was pretty good for us because we could show them part of our game, and a main part of our game is running,” he said.
“They all held up pretty well and they were pretty quick out of the blocks in the 150m, but over time our fitness came into play.
“It was a good balance of showing them what our strengths are and they gave us a good idea of how to tackle.”
