Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah has revealed new coach Jason Taylor has taken drastic steps to ensure there will be no repeat of the injury woes that ravaged the club over the last two years.
The Tigers looked on course for a first finals appearance since 2011 last season after a strong start to the campaign.
However, a plethora of injuries put paid to those hopes with 14 first grade players unavailable for selection at one stage last year as the joint-venture slumped to a 13th-place finish.
The arrival of Taylor from the Sydney Roosters to replace Mick Potter has led to a change in off-field personnel, with highly-respected physical performance coach Keegan Smith brought on board.
Smith worked with Taylor at the Roosters and has brought with him two assistants that Farah believes will prove to be the Tigers’ secret weapon in 2015.
“It’s something JT and the coaching staff have really focused on,” Farah told AAP.
“It can’t all be down to bad luck. It’s got to be down to something we were doing wrong in those areas. It can’t all be a coincidence.
“There has been a lot more focus than before on rehab, prehab with the new training staff that have come in.
“We worked differently in the gym and strengthened in different areas.
“Keegan works with two guys called Marcus Kain and Corey Bocking who haven’t worked in rugby league before. But have a philosophy that they believe in and so far it has been good.”
Taylor’s appointment marks a long-awaited return to the NRL coaching circle for a man that is regarded as one the sharpest minds in the game.
However, he has not had a head coaching position since being shown the door by South Sydney in 2009 after a Mad Monday altercation with back-rower David Fa’alogo.
He has spent the last two years coaching the Roosters’ Holden Cup team after being overlooked by Parramatta last year after being told he had the job.
But Farah said the 44-year-old has been a breath of fresh air around the club since taking over in November.
“He’s very astute, a real student of the game and has a lot of knowledge,” he said.
“Structurally he’s brought a lot to us this year and I have still found myself learning from him, even at this stage of my career.
“We’ll start the season in confident mood and if we can steer clear of so many injuries then we’ll have a good season.”
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