With just over a fortnight until the opening round of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball Season, one off-season recruit has the Queensland Firebirds primed to deliver from the first centre pass.
But it isn’t a player.
The Firebirds welcomed back strength and conditioning guru Brynley Abad in the role of Head of Performance at the beginning of the pre-season, with his addition taking their training intensity to a whole new level in the months since.
Certainly no stranger to success at the Club, Abad was instrumental in the Queensland Firebirds run to four consecutive grand finals and back-to-back premierships in 2015 and 2016, overseeing the strength and conditioning program when the team had the lowest injury rate of any club in the ANZ Championship.
With almost 20 years in the industry, he also helped coach the Queensland Reds to their 2011 Super Rugby victory and spent time as the strength and power coach of the Brisbane Lions AFL team.
While returning to the Queensland Firebirds felt like a homecoming for Abad, he says it’s been anything but relaxed.
“This year is all about high intensity for the Firebirds,” Abad said.
“While our program varies loading structures, we regularly train well above a typical game intensity, so players always have gas left in the tank.”
“It might sound counter-intuitive but it’s also crucial to prevent injuries, because if a body is accustomed to the intensity of competition, it’s less likely to fall apart during the rigours of a real game.”
Far from being based on instinct or anecdotal evidence though, Abad says sports science plays a major role in the program.
“I work with our sports scientist Marni Simpson to get concrete data to inform our training, with the players wearing sensors in their uniforms to track their body in real time, including movement, workload and energy expenditure.”
“This means we can monitor the physical demand on players, making sure the intensity of training matches real-game intensity and that we tailor individual conditioning programs to match each player’s needs.”
Abad has certainly been impressed by this year’s squad since his return, describing the team as being “hooked” on constant improvement.
“We’re really driving them to be faster, fitter and stronger than ever – and they’ll do anything to make that happen.”
“They push their bodies as well as their minds, with an attention-to-detail and desire to understand what creates peak performance that really stands out to me.”
Reuniting with Head Coach Roselee Jencke has also been a big advantage, for both Abad and the team
“Rose and I have a fantastic relationship and we took the team to four grand finals together.”
“We trust and understand each other, as she tells me exactly what she needs from the game and the players – and I work to make that happen.”
The 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season gets underway on Saturday August 1st and your Queensland Firebirds are certainly on the rise. For more information about how you can join the Purple Family and support the team this season, visit our membership page.
