SECRET TO SUCCESS
TSS’S FITNESS GURU
FITNESS guru Damian Mednis is being credited for The Southport School’s emphatic second-half displays after they soared to a third straight victory to open the GPS rugby season.
TSS were less than convincing in the opening half but delighted their home fans with eight tries after the break to thrash Toowoomba Grammar 67-12 on Saturday.
It follows a similar tale from their Round 1 clash, when a succession of late tries blew out the score against Churchie.
TSS coach Mike Wallace said the trend was largely a result of their extensive fitness work under the watchful eye of Mednis, who has worked with Super Rugby franchise Melbourne Rebels and the Australian cricket team in recent years.
“We have put a huge amount of work into our preseason and it’s something that we really pride ourselves on,” Wallace said. “We have got an outstanding head of strength and conditioning, Damian Mednis. He has had a lot of experience with professional sporting teams.
“We’ve had some awesome strength and conditioning guys in the past; I think Medno has really streamlined that for us and we are seeing the results.”
After stumbling their way to halftime, the ensuing avalanche of points showed just how destructive the side can be in full flight.
“We didn’t really execute on what we wanted to do in the first half and I think that showed,” Wallace said.
“The second half we were really ruthless on the execution of our game plan and these guys are good enough that when they start to back themselves and they start to stick to the things that we train, we can get good results.”
Winger Zach Palmer bagged a hat-trick, while Reno Gerrard and Dion Samuela both scored twice.
TSS next face winless Brisbane Grammar away.
Brisbane Grammar lost 17-5 to Churchie on Saturday.