Cowboys guru on mission for Suns
THE sports psychologist credited with helping the North Queensland Cowboys win their maiden NRL premiership has been assigned the task of turning around the struggling Gold Coast Suns.
University of Queensland professor Cliff Mallett was brought in by the Cowboys after starting the 2015 season with three straight losses and was acknowledged by the club for his role in the team’s ability to win the premiership that year.
Mallett has been working with the Suns eight- man leadership group in 2018 in a bid to delve into the minds of a team who have failed to celebrate any success since entering the AFL in 2011.
Suns leader and ruckman Jarrod Witts said the weekly meetings with Mallet were helping improve their ability to deal with situations on and off the football field as the team tries to find the answer behind why they have struggled.
“We meet as a leadership group at least once a week, sometimes twice,” Witts said.
“( Mallett) sits in on one of those meetings and essentially we go through any issues that have come up during the week and we each have areas we look after.
“He runs us through the psychology behind what works and how to deal with things.
“After that he brings in pieces of information he wants us to dissect and we go through it together.
“He gets our thoughts on it and relates it back to how we are going at the club and if we could implement it.
“It’s been a good learning experience for all of us. He is world class and has worked with some great athletes.”