The Appliance of Science

In 1909, Lance Todd spoke to a journalist for the Sydney Evening News (4 August) about Wigan’s training regime. Todd was one of several players who signed for an English club after touring with the Professional All-Blacks or All Golds during 1907–08 (where, as the article notes, supporters of the Northern Union treated them like ‘kings’).

I guess this piece was likely published to act as an eyeopener for the fledgling professional game down under, setting these methods apart from what had possibly been the norm in rugby union. It is also a reminder that rugby league coaching, tactics and training methodologies didn’t start with Roy Francis, Jack Gibson or Phil Larder, only they built upon existing techniques and analysis and moved the bar.

These kind of articles help to put a little meat on the bones of historical allusions to strategies in the far flung past. Such as Willie Thomas’s spying mission in 1914 which fed into Salford’s successful plan to defeat the great Huddersfield side – ‘the team of all talents’ – in the Championship final. And Lance Todd’s own pioneering use of Jack Feetham in the 1930s as an attacking threat from loose forward.

It’s worth noting that Todd is paraphrased rather than quoted by the writer.

‘Training was done on a scientific principle, and the Wigan team, with which Todd played, had a trainer who had no fewer than four assistants.’

A trainer as early as 1909.

The players never practised with a ball on a muddy ground… but were treated to plenty of sprinting work on a specially prepared cinder track. After exercise [players] were massaged by the trainers. A back who could not get under 11 seconds for the hundred [yards] was not much use.’

Bear in mind that the world record for the 100-yard dash was just over nine and a half seconds.

‘Two nights a week the team appeared before the committee, when the whole details of the game were gone into, and the defects – if any – of the players in the previous match were pointed out to them and illustrated on a blackboard… Coming games were also discussed at length, and any suggestions from the players themselves fully considered.’

Pre- and post-match analysis, of sorts. And all full-time working men, one would assume.

‘On the morning of the big matches the trainers attended the homes of the players and massaged them before they got up. A walk of a couple of miles followed, and the whole team sat down to dinner together, under the supervision of the trainer. Players are compelled to be at the ground a full hour before the time of starting play, for punctuality is strictly insisted on. Any team late in taking the field is fined for every minuted they are late.’

‘Before finally leaving for the field the team appear before the committee, and get final instructions as to what game to play. Rough play is put down with a firm hand, and any players indulging in these tactics are quickly suspended. While suspension lasts their salary is also stopped.’

The committee having more than just a say in matters of gameplay and player selection goes way into the 20th Century and post-war, depending on the sport and representative level. I guess it was the likes of Herbert Chapman and Lance Todd, 15 years or so later, who were among those to buck the trend and forge the manager role that took charge of team affairs.