Rugby League

Collision sports (such as rugby league, rugby union, NFL) and combat sports (such as boxing, martial arts) are viewed as requiring a great deal of mental toughness. This is often due to the level of physical toughness that is required to compete in these sometimes brutal sports.

Many athletes and coaches in rugby league make the mistake of thinking that physical toughness is the same as mental toughness. Rugby league coaching philosophies have been based on the view that to toughen a player mentally you need to toughen them up physically. Some coaches view this as the only pathway to mental toughness. There is another way.

Over the 26 rounds of the NRL (National Rugby League) season our plan is to demonstrate the mental skills that rugby league players need to develop if they are to be considered mentally tough. By mentally tough, we mean being able to play as well as they can for as long as they can under all conditions.

Each week we will review the NRL games and select one game that provides the best example of a mental skill in operation during a game of rugby league. We will also provide examples of how rugby league coaches can build mental toughness in their players. Rugby league players and coaches of all levels can also benefit from these examples.

The review will be posted below and linked to our Facebook page and our blog for the duration of the 2012 rugby league season so players and coaches can add their comments and views on the mental skills covered.

Consider this as a 26 week course in mental toughness training for rugby league.

We look forward to having you on board in 2012.