Many may think the benefits of Storm’s pre-season camp in Geelong lay in the hard work the team in putting in on the training track.
However it is the time the players are spending together off it that is proving even more crucial to their 2018 preparations.
Melbourne welcomed 14 new players to their NRL and Development squads in the off-season.
With almost a third of the list made up of new recruits, it has made team bonding all the more important.
On the camp the players eat, sleep and train together constantly, allowing them to build strong connections that will prove vital once the day-to-day grind of the season gets underway.
Now into their second week at Geelong Grammar the benefits are already being felt.
“There are a few things behind this camp, there is a heap of bonding,” Kenny Bromwich said.
“A few of the boys just got back (to training) and don’t really know any of the new boys so it is a good chance for us to just bond, have a few laughs and just get really tight as a team.
“We have been getting some good work in together and getting ourselves in good stead for the year.”
As for Bromwich, he will be looking to continue on from a stellar past two seasons.
The 26-year-old has missed just one game in the last 24 months having cemented his place as an impact player off the bench for Craig Bellamy’s side.
Bromwich is now hoping for more of the same this year.
“Consistency… that is something I will try to continue to do here in preparation for the season. Just being consistent with training, all the off-field stuff and get ready for a big year.”
“I just want to continue on from last year, a lot of us did some good things and if I can build off what we did last year then this year to going to be pretty good as well.”
