Freestyle MMA Gym’s Alexander Volkanovski, Colby Thicknesse and Tara Long, the South Coast Health Hub’s Michael Baines and the NRLW St George Illawarra Dragons. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
The NRLW Dragons are set to be heavy hitters this season, thanks to personal coaching from one of the Illawarra’s most elite athletes.
UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski, alongside training partner and UFC contender Colby Thicknesse, have run the first of many planned wrestling sessions with the side.
The sessions are targeted at improving the women’s skills in the tackle – offensively and defensively – by using grappling strategies to make their hits harder and escapes faster.
Head coach Nathan Cross said the sessions did more than build skills.
“This team was the worst defensive team in the competition last year,” he said.
“We want to change that and it’s something [Volkanovski] wants to help us with. It all starts on the ground and who better to share tricks of the trade?
“For the girls to have a connection with someone like Volk has far-reaching benefits.”
The first session, held at Freestyle MMA Gym in Windang, was buzzing.
The women were quick to implement the techniques they were shown in drills and were keen to fine-tune their approach through understanding and practice.
NRLW Dragons’ centre, Bobbi Law, said she was grateful for the opportunity.
“We’re very lucky to do this footy-specific wrestling with Volk and Colby,” she said.
“To have opportunities like this with a high-level athlete like Volk and work on this for an hour, I’ve taken so much away from it already on how to get out and generate quick play-the-balls and how to position our bodies as a defender.
“What Volk does is bloody tough. I hope this sends a message to other NRLW teams that they can be great and work with different amazing athletes.”
The partnership came about thanks to the South Coast Health Hub.
Managing director Michael Baines has worked in elite women’s rugby league for the past decade and is the performance director for the NRLW.
He also happens to be Volkanovski’s physiotherapist.
“It’s the merging of my two worlds; I wanted to give the girls the insight into elite mindset, performance and wrestling skills,” he said.
“The more we can invest in them the better they will be. Alex offered support and his help and that’s turned into some wrestling practice with the girls which will elevate what they can do.”
Alexander Volkanovski and Colby Thicknesse share tips of the trade with the NRLW St George Illawarra Dragons. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
As for Volkanovski, as long as he can talk wrestling, he’s happy.
Supporting the growth of women’s sport is an added bonus.
“Wrestling for rugby is different to wrestling for MMA, but the body mechanics and awareness, there is so much you can take from wrestling and apply to football,” he said.
“I could talk about this all day; I could dissect every position for an hour; I love breaking down techniques so I can translate them.
“I’ve got three girls and another one on the way – it’s only right to invest in the game.”
