He’s leaving the SUNS pre-season camp voted individually as the ‘best on’ and Wil Powell says the squad are collectively a more connected unit.

The playing group returned to the Austworld Centre on Wednesday from a three-day camp in the Northern Rivers which included an array of gritty physical challenges in an Amazing Race-style event, focused on driving connection.

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Now heading into his eighth pre-season, Powell has seen his fair share of off-season challenges but says the latest edition was a different beast.

“It was unbelievable. I reckon by the end of the camp, we were a much more connected group. We haven’t had a camp like this where the whole focus was on chemistry and team connection,” Powell said.

“Previous camps were more physically… just physically demanding. This was physically and mentally demanding at the same time, but I think more mentally because you’re gassed 99% of the time.

“Going on camp, you know you’re going to do something that’s probably harder than football and you get through it as a team. Whatever we get through on camp, we can get through on a football field together as well and it just helps build that team cohesion.”

Split into smaller teams on Day 1, the groups was required to be connected by a cargo rope, held aloft by each member throughout a 9km obstacle course through the Raw Challenge Gold Coast facility in Numinbah Valley.

Further challenges included a 44km undulating bike circuit throughout the Byron Bay hinterland, coupled with a series of challenges at pit stops along the way, before a further 20km on bike and a 3km trek to the top of Minyon Falls whilst shipping significant weight on stretchers.

“The rope probably made it 10 times harder and that's that grit piece that we wanted to achieve within the camp. It wasn't allowed to hit the ground, every person had to hold their hand on the rope and if one went down, we all went down together,” Powell continued.

“So it was a very important piece to hold the rope up and signify connection.

“The gruelling uphill bike ride was another grit piece as well, just to show that we are mentally strong enough to go with the toughest teams.

“We all put our heads together and knew if one bloke’s hurting, the next bloke’s going to be hurting just as much. It did make it a bit easier to get forward knowing that everyone is in the exact same boat… no bloke is hurting more than the next.”

The SUNS now return to the Austworld Centre to continue preparations ahead of the Opening Round clash against Essendon at People First Stadium on Saturday, March 8.

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