On Saturday the usual team training track at Lakeside Oval was replaced with a swim and bike circuit near Manly in Sydney’s north.

Why?

The group was scheduled to complete a biathlon.

The players had to swim approximately 350 metres, starting near The Bower Restaurant and finishing at Shelly Beach. They then had to jump on their bikes for a circuit which went from Shelly Beach up to North Head and back to Shelly, which equated to around a nine kilometre ride.

Jesse White won the biathlon, but he didn’t lead from the beginning.

Lewis Roberts-Thomson was first out of the water with Dan Hannebery and Ed Barlow close behind in equal second.

Barlow’s transition from the swim to the bike cost him; he slid from equal second to third last. Let’s call it a technical issue; he had to borrow a bike which was still in use by teammate Lewis Johnston.

White was out of the water in fourth position but picked up the leaders with a strong bike leg. Second overall was recent school graduate Hannebery and third was Lewis Roberts-Thomson.

The majority of the group is involved in these types of sessions, however for some it is modified. For example, players with shoulder problems would have done two laps of the bike track. Those who who needed an off-legs session did the swim three times.

White admits he is a confident swimmer but isn’t a regular bike rider and even had to hire his bike for the biathlon, so his placing surprised him.

“I came out of the water near the front pack but I quickly teamed up with Hannas (Dan Hannebery) for the bike part and we duelled for the majority of the ride,” White said.

“It was with about a kilometre to go, it was on one of the last hills, that I left him and got ahead.”

Next week, the alternative sessions continue with kayaking.

The group set off and head toward Shelly Beach

Roberts-Thomson gets out of the water in first place