This article says he runs the 100 metres in under 11 seconds. At 110 kg that has to be right up there with the fastest forwards in the game. I still remember that time a few years back when he busted through the line about halfway and outran everyone, massively overweight. He deadset looked like George Rose. I think Wicks is going to be awesome for us this year.
"DANNY Wicks' personal trainer predicts he will make a big impact when he returns to the NRL this season. The 29-year-old is hoping for a successful return with Parramatta Eels.
Getting his body prepared after a five-year absence is one of the biggest challenges facing Wicks. Matt Carlin from The Gym Yamba is credited with ensuring the 29-year-old was ready to link with the Eels in the preseason. Yesterday the personal trainer spoke with The Daily Examiner.
"He came to me last year when the possibility of him going back to the NRL came up," Carlin said.
"We went through a training program. The Eels coaches set out the basics and left the rest to me.
"We worked on building up his strength and fitness as much as we could.
"Before he went to the Eels he was doing three or four strength training sessions per week, split between upper and lower body, and conditioning every day."
The pair will reunite today. Carlin has arranged a visit to Eels training for his own self-improvement and networking as a strength conditioning trainer.
"When Danny was training with me we talked about the opportunity to go down and get my head in the game with the elite fitness coaches," Carlin said ahead of the excursion.
"I'll be at their training sessions on Thursday and Friday, observing and chatting to the coaches."
Carlin has been in regular contact with Wicks and said he is thriving in his new surrounds at Parramatta.
"Danny is loving it," Carlin said. "He's doing really well. They did a whole bunch of strength and fitness tests and he topped the club in five of 11 tests.
"He hasn't done a lot of the leg conditioning and running at this level for a long time. But with regards to strength he's right at the top of the club."
Will Wicks make an immediate impact or will it take time?
"No one knows until he runs out," Carlin said.
"But there's not many people at 108, 110 kilos with his strength and power levels, which are hugely important in rugby league, combined with the ability to run 100 metres in under 11 seconds.
"He's quite explosive. He's the sort of guy who hits the line really hard and if he gets through no one's catching him.
"Possibly his sideways movement and agility might take time. But I think in his first game he'll make a big impact."
The Eels take on Manly Sea Eagles at Pirtek Stadium in round one on Saturday, March 6."
http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/life-as-an-eel-takes-shape-nrl/2511359/
Replies
The good ol' Daily Examiner huh?
Love reading articles about Danny Wicks in a positive light particularly that he is now playing for the club I have followed for over 34 years!
Go Danny boy and go you eels!
Beep test of 19 sounds like it was not far off the mark.
19? Christ. I got 8 at footy training Tuesday night... In my defence it was our first session back but 19 would be immense.
Grunta, 40 years for me this year that I first started supporting Parra...do I get a prize like, maybe, one of the cheerleaders or a packet of Winfield Reds (yuk!)?
Yes got that info from a very close relative of Danny's.
That was before he started training with the team too.
I did a blog on it Dan called 'beep tests' I think?
Sweet, I'll suss it out
Turner beat home fellow Eastwood winger John Grant (11.15) with Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne (11.20) third.
So he's faster than the Hayne plane!
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 7 Next