Firstly we have to get there about two hours before the game, though I can reveal that Kirky gets there more than three hours early because he has to put to WD 40 on his knees so he can play!
But a lot of guys are starting to get there earlier now because we all race to put our name on the board to get strapped. You don’t want to be down the bottom because it can interrupt your preparation.
And there are a few rules about the strapping line, and the massages which we have first. We all have our own preferred massage therapist, and a specific order for massages. So first up for massages is Jude, Goodesy, Kirky, Ryan O’Keefe and me. And we are always number one!
Apparently at some other clubs it goes in order of how many games you’ve played. We don’t pull that sort of rank here, but that order can never change. It’s partly superstition and just how it’s always been done.
Some guys like to talk in the rooms and other don’t. Rhyce Shaw and Tadhg are their normal selves, joking around, and then you get other guys who don’t say too much, and try to focus in, like Nick Malceski who always has his iPod in, or Kizza (Kieren Jack). You don’t really talk to them at all.
Then there are guys like Lewis Jetta who just wander around all the time. He’s pretty funny, but Dan Hannebery is the funniest to watch. He’s always doing weird things with footies, and weird skill drills that we’ve never seen before and I just look at him and laugh.
There are some other strange things. Goodesy has been seen doing his hair before a game, and Mike Pyke has been known to come to our meeting with his toothbrush.
After our massage we do individual stretching, and then Roosy comes and speaks to each player one-on-one and tells them what he wants from them that game. For example he might want me to organise stoppages and use my run and skills, or talk to me about certain players I might line up on that day.
When the opposition team sheet comes in, Roosy calls us all into the coaches room and shows us their line up. Then we start doing kicking downstairs in the rooms, and that’s a pretty set routine too.
For a long time I’ve kicked with Teddy Richards but he hasn’t been playing the last few weeks so I’ve found a new partner, it’s been Lewie (Roberts-Thomson), but when Teddy comes back I’ll kick with him again.
Just before we run out, we have our last meeting with Roosy and he goes through all the final things and when he speaks, it’s always pretty powerful and gets you going.
He has a list of what he wants game-plan wise and what the opposition will do. It is all very clear instructions and then you know the boys are ready to go.
We run out through the banner, and I always like to be near the back, with Tadhg always last.
Then comes my favourite part, when we all get together on the ground and one of the captains speaks to us in the huddle. You look everyone in the eye and you can tell if you’re on or not on, and then one of the captains is speaking, you get chills when they speak. It’s right before the bounce and then we get into it!
