Melbourne Rebel’s Ryan Louwrens and Josh Kemeny believe maintaining routine and discipline, were the key factors behind their 1.2km time trial victories.
The duo was exceptional during Monday’s 'Bronco' time trials, with Kemeny claiming a personal best on his way to recording the fastest time among forwards, beating out Michael Wells and Brad Wilkin.
Ryan Louwrens led the backs beating out Frank Lomani and Tom English, on the way to claiming a club record (4:16).
Louwrens says a productive, contact free, two-month training block helped best prepare the twenty-nine-year-old for this week’s ‘second pre-season’ of 2020.
“Getting some time off, you become quite fresh; obviously you’re not playing rugby and taking those constant hits to your body.“I think just doing the conditioning component and coming back refreshed to go, it really has a big impact on your scores and overall fitness.
“So, I was really happy to get a personal best and as the strength and conditioning staff mentioned, the club record.”
Josh Kemeny says sticking to the basics and keeping up with his daily routines, was “massive” in maintaining his elite fitness base.
“One of the key’s was trying to stay as regimented as possible and following the lifting and the running regimes as we would normally do when we’re in a proper environment.
“I tried to do that the best I could do and obviously it helped when I came back the other day."
While Louwrens trained over in South Australia, Kemeny worked out a bit closer to the Stockade, down at the now famous ‘Get Large Garage.’
“When I was in Melbourne, I trained with Harry Potter, Reece Hodge,and a few of those guys.
“It was huge, the convenience of having a gym – a really high-quality gym – almost in our garage downstairs – it was perfect really.
“It gave us something really enjoyable and beneficial to do while there was not much going on."
Louwrens and Kemeny weren’t the only Melbourne Rebels to return in career best shape.
The club witnessed a record sixteen personal bests during Monday’s gruelling trials – testament to a hungry playing group, desperate for ultimate success in season 2020, according to Louwrens.
“As a team, we really want to pick up where we left off.
“We ended the season very well, beating the Highlanders and then the Lions at home, so we’re all focused on continuing where we left off.
“Trying to win this competition, that’s our motivation.”
