- Kritian Woolf has put his own touch on pre-season training this summer
- Josh Kerr has opened up about the Dolphins’ recent brutal training plans
- The 27-year-old also spoke about how the new boss has “scared” him.
Dolphins prop Josh Kerr has spoken about adjusting to life under new coach Kristian Woolf, stating that pre-season training has been a grueling challenge this year compared to what it was under former boss Wayne Bennett.
The 27-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of 2025, added that the Dolphins’ new head coach had “put the fear of God in me.”
Woolf replaced Bennett this summer after the outgoing coach, who took over at South Sydney Rabbitohs, led them to 10th place in the NRL standings last season.
The new Dolphins coach, in a similar style to Broncos boss Michael Maguire, has been putting his team through its paces in the preseason, with the Dolphins conducting the whistle test among other brutal fitness sessions.
“It’s definitely true,” Kerr said when asked about rumors that the new boss had been attacking his team in training.
You know what Woolfy is like. He is stubborn. I thought it was going to be somewhat militaristic and in some ways it is,” Kerr said.
Josh Kerr (right) has talked about how the Dolphins are being tested during preseason training.
He revealed that coach Kristian Woolf (right) has implemented a grueling training regime after replacing Wayne Bennett.
Kerr said Woolf has been implementing a more demanding schedule compared to former Dolphins boss Wayne Bennett.
“The guys say he has high standards and that’s the best way I can describe it because he comes in and makes it very clear to you.”
You can’t beat around the bush with him. He will tell you exactly what he wants. I’m not saying other coaches don’t do that, but he’s very direct.
“We are all on the same page and it is a comprehensive effort, everyone jumps from one exercise to another and of higher intensity.” Our whole fitness is a step forward.’
Speaking about the new fitness regimes, he added: ‘As soon as we started the fitness exercises, I was struggling. They have made them longer and harder than last year.’
Kerr hopes the preseason can help him and the rest of the team get into the new season with an explosive start.
Kerr featured in 19 of the Dolphins’ games last season, scoring two tries for the team and is eager to play well enough to earn a new contract at the club, noting that Woolf had also scared him off.
“Because I was afraid of Woolfy, I trained very hard this offseason and came back in much better shape, with more muscle mass,” he said. The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Woolfy put the fear of God in me. At the end of the season we obviously had a few more weeks without football, and he said to me: “You better make sure you stay fit.”
Kerr (left) said Woolf had ‘put the fear of God in me’ at the end of the 2024 season
The forward will be out of contract in 2025 and looks to establish his long-term place on the team.
‘I knew what was coming. I’m also out of contract; My dream is to stay here long term.
‘That depends on me, I had to come back in the best shape. “I feel like I’ve done it and I hope to get a contract and not just have it given to me.”
Woolf has a distinguished and exceptional reputation in rugby league circles having won the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Super League Grand Finals with St Helens.
His experience has also extended to work as an assistant coach for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, with Woolf also coaching the Tonga national team.