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Testing time for entire Sharks squad

Jenny Dixon
30/ 7/2008

SHARKS’ coaches are working to ensure their players are in peak physical condition for the start of the new season.

No potential flaw is being overlooked and so, for the first time ever, pre-season involves all of the players at the Stockport-based club having their sight tested.

Maloney Opticians, in Sale, has provided Sharks with free eye examinations, free contacts and discounted glasses.

The need for check-ups has increased as the side play more regularly at night, under floodlights, requiring their vision to be as sharp as possible.

Winger Selorm Kuadey was given the all-clear by the optician, although he concedes needing glasses would have been a timely excuse for a pre-season blip.

"I wish I did need glasses," he quipped. "I’ve started dropping balls, but there’s nothing wrong with my eyes I’ve just had a shocking week!"

Recent handling aside, Kuadey has been enjoying pre-season training, led by Sharks’ head of athletic performance Steve Walsh, who joined the club late last season following the departure of Nick Johnston.

Kuadey explained: "It’s going really well, everything is a bit more player-friendly, there’s not as many players going down injured. It’s still as hard but they are shorter sessions and it is a lot more power-based."

It is not just in the gym that Kuadey is seeing improvement, he has also learned new skills in the pool too.

"Everyone has to do swimming and I’m getting better since the first week when I was doing doggy paddle, now I’m doing front crawl."

After several years as an academy member, 21-year-old Kuadey is hoping that this season he can clinch a place in the first team.

"It has come in fits and starts, I played a couple of games two years ago and four last season now I need to start pushing on and staking a claim," he added.

"Obviously it is very tough, there are quality players and others have been brought in but, rather than accepting it, I need to put my hand up for selection. I’ve got a positive outlook for next season."