Prep For Reps — 8-Week Trial Preparation Program
A$59
Selectors don't pick the kid who trained the hardest before trials. They can't see that. They pick the kid who's still sharp in the last ten minutes, the one who competes for every ball and doesn't fall apart when he's tired.
That's what this program builds.
Why this is different
Most trial prep content is generic fitness training with a rugby league label stuck on it. This isn't that.
I've coached SG Ball, Harold Matthews, and Junior Development squads. I've worked as a strength and conditioning coach with squads at NSW Cup level. I've sat in the selection room and watched what actually separates the kid who gets picked from the kid who doesn't. It's rarely the most talented kid in the group. It's the one who shows up sharp, competes physically, and is still doing the simple things right under fatigue.
This program is built around that, not around generic fitness goals.
What's inside
8 weeks, 4 phases, built the way real rep-level preparation actually works:
Phase 1 — Restore (Weeks 1-2): You've just finished a full season. This phase fixes movement quality and reintroduces contact properly, instead of hammering a body that's already carrying fatigue.
Phase 2 — Sharpen (Weeks 3-5): Full-range acceleration, repeat effort under fatigue, contact conditioning at real volume, and position-specific work for Props, Halves, Hookers, and Outside Backs.
Phase 3 — Peak (Weeks 6-7): Sessions stop being separate blocks of speed or contact and get stacked together the way an actual trial feels.
Phase 4 — Arrive (Week 8): Volume drops, intensity stays sharp, and you walk in fresh instead of cooked — plus a full Trial Day Protocol covering the night before, morning of, warm-up, and mindset.
Every session has exact sets, reps, loads, and rest periods. No guessing. No filler exercises. Every gym session works with or without a gym membership.
Who it's for
Junior rugby league players trialling for: Harold Matthews Cup • SG Ball Cup • Tarsha Gale Cup • Lisa Fiaola Cup • Andrew Johns Cup • Mal Meninga Cup • Cyril Connell Cup
A note for parents
This program is written for junior athletes specifically, there's no maximal testing, no single-rep max work, and loading is built for a developing body, not an adult's. Every session includes a plain explanation under any movement that isn't standard club training, so it's actually followable without a coach standing over your kid. It supplements coaching, not replaces it, and includes clear guidance on when to get a GP's clearance and when to check in with your club coach. Full safety information is included on page one.
Timing
Trials for most of these pathways run mid-to-late September. Starting this program in early August gives full 8-week runway to arrive properly prepared, not rushed.
What you get
Full 8-week, 48-page training program (instant PDF download)
Field sessions, gym sessions, and position-specific work for every position
Trial Day Protocol — what to actually do the night before and morning of
Safety guidance and GP clearance information
Delivered straight to your inbox after purchase