COMPARISON OF LOWER BODY STRENGTH,
POWER, ACCELERATION, SPEED, AGILITY,
AND SPRINT MOMENTUM TO DESCRIBE AND
COMPARE PLAYING RANK AMONG
PROFESSIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS
DANIEL G. BAKER AND ROBERT U. NEWTON
Edith Cowan University, School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Joondulup, Australia
Downloaded from https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr by BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD36tKOuhuKL2x3hPtf0zvnHR2hn6n9LBH7z4p9I2tY8Oo= on 07/25/2018
ABSTRACT
Success in rugby league football seems heavily reliant on
players possessing an adequate degree of various physical
fitness qualities, such as strength, power, speed, agility, and
endurance, as well as the individual skills and team tactical
abilities. The purpose of this study was to describe and com-
pare the lower body strength, power, acceleration, maximal
speed, agility, and sprint momentum of elite first-division
national rugby league (NRL) players (n = 20) to second-
division state league (SRL) players (n = 20) players from the
same club. Strength and maximal power were the best discri-
minators of which players were in the NRL or SRL squads.
None of the sprinting tests, such as acceleration (10-m sprint),
maximal speed (40-m sprint), or a unique 40-m agility test, could
distinguish between the NRL or SRL squads. However, sprint
momentum, which was a product of 10-m velocity and
body mass, was better for discriminating between NRL and
SRL players as heavier, faster players would possess better
drive forward and conversely be better able to repel their
opponents’drive forward. Strength and conditioning specialists
should therefore pay particular attention to increasing
lower body strength and power and total body mass through
appropriate resistance training while maintaining or improving
10-m sprint speed to provide their players with the underlying
performance characteristics of play at the elite level in rugby
leagues.
KEY WORDS squat, jump squat, running, performance
Address correspondence to Daniel Baker, dbaker2@optusnet.
com.au.
1533-4287/22(1)/153–158
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Ó 2008, National Strength and Conditioning Association
INTRODUCTION
S
uccess in rugby league football seems heavily reliant
on the players possessing an adequate degree of
various physical fitness qualities, such as strength,
power, speed, agility, and endurance, as well as
individual skills and team tactical abilities (9,16,17). Previous
research has indicated that upper body maximal strength and
power can clearly distinguish among players from different
ranks, ranging from high school to elite professionals (2,4).
The data concerning the contribution of the lower body seems
less informative. In particular, lower body strength, power,
acceleration, speed, agility, and endurance, which are of impor-
tance to rugby league players because of the large amount of
running, changing of direction, and tackling that occur during
a game, have attracted minimal research attention.
Although lower body endurance must be such that an elite
rugby league player can cover 10 km in an 80-minute game
(15), the nature of the more anaerobic aspects of muscular
performance are also of interest. Despite the large aerobic
running volume, there is also a considerable amount of
sprinting and fast striding, almost limitless changes of direc-
tion entailing acceleration and deceleration of the player’s
body mass, and tackles being made by or on the player
(which require a great degree of leg strength and power).
A number of studies over the years have attempted to pro-
vide normative data in a number of tests for rugby league
players. Some have addressed combinations of sprinting tests
of acceleration, maximal speed, and agility (1,11,12) or tests
of strength and power (3,4), whereas other studies have
attempted a more holistic test battery (9,12,16,17).
Some lower body strength data illustrate strength differ-
ences between national rugby league (NRL) and third-
division players and younger high school and college-aged
players but fewer differences between NRL and state rugby
league (SRL) players (3,4). Other strength test data have been
reported for rugby league players, with equivocal results (15–
17), and a paucity of data exists concerning lower body power
levels. Tests of running speed and agility have been
VOLUME 22 | NUMBER 1 | JANUARY 2008 | 153
Comparing Playing Rank among Rugby League Players
performed in a bid to establish normative data or to compare
the abilities of players participating in different leagues (e.g.,
NRL, SRL and intra-city leagues [CRL]) (1,11,12). These
data have so far revealed mixed results concerning accelera-
tion (sprinting farther than 10 m) or maximal speed (sprinting
farther than 40 m) that may exist between rugby players in
different leagues. Much younger and some third-division or
lower-level players do tend to exhibit much slower sprint
scores than those reported for professional players, with
differences of more than 25% for sprint times over 40 m
(1,11,12). Differences in running agility can also sometimes
discriminate between players at national league and third-
division levels (1). However, some studies reveal little differ-
ence between national league and second- or third-division
players from the same football club undergoing similar
training (1,11). Thus, more study is required to determine if
any speed parameters differentiate between national league
first-division and second-division rugby league players.
Despite the studies cited above, no conclusive study of a
large number of different lower body tests and how these tests
differentiate among differently ranked teams from the same
club who have undergone similar training has been performed.
The purpose of this study is to present data on the lower
body strength, power, acceleration, maximal speed, agility,
and sprint momentum capabilities of selected rugby league
players participating in the elite, national (Australia) first-
division (NRL) or the state-based second division (SRL).
These data will be compared to determine the relative
importance of these qualities to level of participation in these
leagues. If differences exist, then players currently involved at
SRL level or even lower grade or age levels, but who aspire to
be participants in the elite NRL, would be able to identify the
physical improvements they would need to make to succeed.
This basis for testing has been used extensively in American
football at the national combine camp, where potential parti-
cipants in the National Football League (NFL) draft undergo
a large battery of tests that may help to determine their
position in the draft and thus future earnings as professional
football players (14).
METHODS
Experimental Approach to the Problem
Tests of lower body strength, power, acceleration, maximal
speed, and agility were measured in rugby league players
participating in two different leagues (NRL and SRL com-
petitions). Scores in these tests were analyzed to determine
whether there were differences between the squads. This type
of analysis would provide data pertaining to the relative
importance of each of these physical qualities to attaining
NRL level.
Subjects
Forty rugby league players, comprising 20 full-time profes-
sionals participating in the elite first-division professional
NRL competition and 20 semi-professionals participating in
the TM
154 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
a second-division SRL, served as subjects in this investigation.
All were members of the same football club and performed
similar training for strength, power, speed, and endurance
relative to their different playing positions, individual capaci-
ties, and training experience. However, the full-time pro-
fessional NRL players also performed approximately three to
five additional training sessions (fitness, skills, tactics) per
week. All subjects were informed of the methods and nature
of the testing and voluntarily participated in the testing
sessions, which were a regular part of their testing and con-
ditioning regimen. All of the athletes had performed a pre-
season training cycle immediately before testing, establishing
them in peak condition at the time of testing. The mean
(standard deviation) height, body mass, and age of the
subjects was 185.2 (4.6) cm, 98.2 (9.9) kg, and 25.3 (3.4) years
versus 184.4 (4.6) cm, 91.3 (8.4) kg, and 22.6 (3.6) years,
respectively, for the NRL versus SRL groups.
Testing
Tests were chosen to measure the strength, power, acceler-
ation, maximal speed, agility, and sprint momentum of the
lower body musculature.
Strength Testing. Maximal lower body strength was assessed by
the 1 repetition maximum full squat (1 RM SQ) using free
weights and according to methods previously outlined (3,8).
Briefly, this entailed the athletes warming up using a light
resistance (60 kg), then lifting progressively heavier resis-
tances until 1 RM was achieved. The depth of squat was
determined as top of thigh below parallel to the floor, which
was visually determined by the researcher. Six (three NRL,
three SRL) of the 40 players were returning to play after
surgery, and their surgeon(s) requested that they refrain from
1RM testing for the time being. For these players, a repetitions
to fatigue test (RTF) was performed, which was similar in
nature to the NFL 225 bench press test performed at college
campuses and the NFL combine draft camp (10,14), except
the players performed the squat exercise with a similar
resistance (100 kg) and their 1RM was predicted according
to published regression equations (10). As each of the ex-
trapolated 1RM SQ values was lower than previous actual 1
RM SQ values for these six athletes (performed 1–2 years
previously) and they were evenly distributed at three per
group, it was thought that this would not adversely affect the
general outcome of the study.
Power Testing. The test of lower body maximal power was
performed 2 days later and entailed the use of the Plyometric
Power System (PPS; Fitness Technology, Adelaide, Australia),
which has been described previously (6,7). Briefly, the PPS
is a device whereby the displacement of the barbell is limited
to the vertical plane, as in a Smith weight-training machine.
The linear bearings that are attached to each end of the
barbell allow the barbell to slide up and down two hardened
steel shafts with a minimum of friction. A rotary encoder
attached to the machine produces pulses indicating the

displacement of the barbell. The number of pulses, denoting
barbell displacement, and the time of the barbell movement
were measured by a counter timer board installed in the
computer. The PPS software calculated the average mechani-
cal power output of the jump squat based on the displace-
ment, time, and mass data. The athletes performed three
repetitions with resistances of 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg using
methods previously described (3,5,6). The highest single
power output, which could occur with any of the resistances,
was deemed to be the maximal power (JS Pmax). Five of the
athletes (two NRL, three SRL) refrained from this test for
medical reasons. Test-retest reliability of r = 0.92 has
previously been established with a group of 12 subjects.
Sprinting and Agility. Sprint testing was performed in the month
before the maximal strength and power testing, when the
athletes were in a relatively rested state (4 days of rest). This
was 1 week before the athletes were to commence practice
games. We thought it best to test speed qualities at this time as
game demands and minor injuries may have precluded a full
speed testing battery for all the athletes if it was scheduled 1
month later, when strength and power were to be tested.
Sprint ability was assessed over two distances, 10 and 40 m, to
reflect the somewhat separate entities of acceleration (0-10 m)
and maximal speed (approximately 40 m) (6,18). Previous
studies have shown sprint capabilities longer than 10 m do not
always correlate highly to 40-m tests (1, 6). These capabilities
can be defined as separate entities to a degree, and it has been
recommended that athletes be assessed over these two
differing distances (18). Agility can be defined as the ability to
cover distances of sport-specific running patterns in the least
amount of time. Typically, sport-specific agility tests entail
changes of direction or the inclusion of some sport skill (18).
It has been shown that the more changes of direction
involved in an agility test, the less correlation is exhibited
between agility and maximal speed (1,18). Therefore,
although acceleration, maximal speed, and agility are related,
they also entail unique features requiring separate testing.
Straight-line Sprint Testing. Straight-line running speed was
assessed by the 10-m (designating acceleration ability) and
40-m sprint (designating maximal speed ability) times using
electronic light gates and methods previously described (6).
Briefly, all the running tests were performed on a turf track,
with athletes wearing special running shoes designed for
sprinting on turf. After an intensive warm-up, the athletes
performed a minimum of two trials sprinting longer than
40 m, with light gates set at the 10-m and 40-m marks. The
best result for each distance was recorded as the test score.
The intratrial reliability of the above procedures has been
previously established at r = 0.86 and r = 0.98 for the 10-m
and 40-m sprints, respectively (6).
Agility Testing. The agility test was a novel test that requires
explanation. After completing the trials of the sprint testing,
the players were assessed for agility. Standing on the goal line,
the TM
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research | www.nsca-jscr.org
they sprinted 10 m at a 45° angle, turned around a marker
pole, and sprinted at 45° (thus a 90° turn) for a further 10 m
back to the goal line. Here they made a sharp 135° turn
around another marker pole and sprinted 20 m in a straight
line perpendicular to the goal line. Therefore, this was a 40-m
sprint (or slightly more depending on the athlete’s ability to
corner the marker poles) with one 90° turn and one 135° turn.
It was thought that this pattern entailing pronounced sharp
turns would best mimic and test the agility requirements of
rugby league players as it tended to mimic some aspects of
movement when the team is defending.
Sprint Momentum. The athletes’sprinting momentum was de-
termined by multiplying their body mass by the average
velocity from the 10-m test. The 10-m sprint was chosen
because this is the distance typically run in rugby league
before coming into contact with an opposing player (16).
Statistical Analyses
Factorial analyses of variance was used to determine whether
differences existed between the groups overall in 1RM SQ,
JS Pmax, 10 m, 40 m, agility testing, sprint momentum, and
anthropometric data. In the event of a significant F-ratio,
Fisher PLSD post hoc comparisons were used to determine
where those differences existed. The criterion for significance
of any differences in the measured variables between the two
squads was set at an a level of P # 0.05.
RESULTS
The NRL players were significantly heavier (8.9%) and older
than their SRL counterparts. Further the NRL players were
stronger (17.0%) and more powerful (11.5%) and produced
greater momentum (7.0%). Acceleration, maximal speed, and
agility were not significantly different between the two groups
(Table 1).
DISCUSSION
In this study, we compared elite rugby league players in the top
national grade with those in the grade below; that is, state level.
The purpose was to determine aspects of lower limb
performance that separate the quality of these athletes with
a view to understanding the factors that have the greatest
impact on success. Of all the variables measured in this
investigation, maximal strength and power seemed to be the
best descriptors of which athletes were in the NRL or SRL
squads. Maximal leg strength and power differentiated the two
squads by approximately 17% and 12%, respectively. It could
be postulated that increased leg strength and power would act
favorably for players in all facets of the rugby league. Increased
leg strength and power, facilitating increased leg drive, would
aid in tackling opposing players when in defense and in
helping to break tackles when in attack. These are the most
fundamental tasks for all rugby league players, irrespective of
playing position. Such is the theoretical importance of leg
drive to all facets of the rugby league, and it is almost
VOLUME 22 | NUMBER 1 | JANUARY 2008 | 155
Comparing Playing Rank among Rugby League Players
TABLE 1. Comparison of lower body strength, power, sprint momentum,
acceleration, speed, and agility between national league (NRL) and state league
(SRL) rugby players.
1 RM JS Pmax Mom
SQ (kg) (w) (kg
s21) 10 m(s)
NRL 175.0 (27.3)* 1,897 (306)* 610 (51)* 1.61 (006) 5.15 (024) 8.89 (037)
SRL 149.6 (14.3) 1,701 (187) 570 (46) 1.60 (005) 5.13 (017) 8.94 (024)
D, % 17.0 11.5 7.0 0.6
*Significant difference between groups (P # 0.05).
Data presented as mean (SD).
1 RM SQ = 1 repetition maximum for squat; JS Pmax = jump squat maximal power; Mom =
momentum; AG = agility testing.
inconceivable that maximal strength and power would not
differentiate between players of different ranking. Although
there are few data concerning 1RM SQ and JS Pmax testing of
rugby league players, the current finding is in concert with
some previous research on lower body power distinguishing
among rugby league players of different ranking (3,4).
The significantly heavier body mass of the NRL squad
would certainly favor them in the expression of maximal
strength and power. Previous comparisons of players of similar
ranking have not always displayed differences in body mass
(3). However, the 9% difference in body mass in this study
between NRL and SRL players does not fully account for the
differences in strength (1RM/kg of body mass was 1.78 and
1.64 for the NRL and SRL squads, respectively; P # 0.05).
Therefore, despite the increased body mass, the NRL squad
was still significantly stronger per kilogram of body mass. As
athletes become heavier, they do not become inherently
stronger per kilogram of body mass. Consequently, various
neural, tissue/morphological, or maturation (the NRL group
were older) adaptations must explain this result. It has been
shown that increased neural activity occurs in muscles,
perhaps because of increased rate coding and signal intensity,
in the first 8–12 weeks of strength training (13), although the
extensive training history of all the athletes in this study would
preclude this phenomenon from accounting for the differ-
ences in absolute and relative strength and power. It has been
postulated that other neural adaptations occur with long-term
periodized strength and power training. These include more
efficient neural patterning of the skill of the strength exercises,
diminished levels of unwarranted antagonist co-contraction,
synchronous firing of motor units (especially during the initial
concentric phases of ballistic power exercises), and reduced
inhibitory feedback from force receptors/regulators such as
the Golgi tendon organs and the Renshaw cells (13). To
what extent these adaptations occur and the time frame for
their occurrence has yet to be fully determined. Qualitative
muscle tissue adaptations, such as changes to the fiber type
and myosin heavy chain expression, could also presumably
the TM
156 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
occur with increased training
experience. Further discussion
of the type, extent, and nature
of these adaptations is beyond
the scope of this article but has
been reviewed extensively else-
40 m(s) AG (s) where (13).
In this investigation, the 10-m
sprint was assessed as part of the
0.4 20.6 40-m sprint, as has been done
previously (1,6). It is conceiv-
able that athletes adopt slightly
different sprinting mechanics
when sprinting 10 m as an
end point versus 10 m as part
of a longer 40-m sprint. This
may make comparisons with
the results of other studies in which rugby league players
sprinted only 10 m difficult to interpret, but it would not
change the basic result of this study, as both groups
performed the sprint tests at the same time. It could be
expected that they adopted similar sprinting tactics.
The results of this investigation also illustrate that not all the
measured variables effectively discriminate between NRL and
SRL rugby league players. There was no difference between
the NRL and SRL squads in acceleration, maximal speed, or
agility. A number of researchers have measured acceleration
and maximal speed in rugby league players (11,16,17). The
most recent of these studies (11) also attempted to differen-
tiate between NRL and SRL players and reported no dif-
ference in sprint ability using these two distances, confirming
earlier research (1). Thus, it must be stated that once rugby
league players attain SRL level, speed qualities seem to be
markedly similar to NRL players. In this study, they
performed essentially the same sprint and agility training
alongside each other.
This does not preclude the fact that lower-level rugby league
players (third-division and lower) may not be as fast as the
NRL and SRL players in this investigation and that speed may
indeed differentiate among players from different rankings or
age groups (e.g., 6, 11 vs. 12). It is just that acceleration and
maximal speed did not differentiate between the NRL and
SRL squads in this investigation. Indeed, the 10-m and 40-m
sprint times for the squads in this investigation are slightly
faster than those previously reported for NRL players (11,16)
and much faster than reported for other professional (17) or
third- or fourth-division, amateur, or high school players (12).
Thus, although speed did not differentiate between NRL and
SRL squads overall in this study, it must be noted that the
SRL players in this investigation exhibited faster sprint times
than those previously reported for NRL (11) and other
professional players (12). This may reflect the genetic abilities,
recruitment, and training of these players.
Although almost all running in the rugby league entails
some changing of direction and studies have shown that

speed tests with many changes of direction do not correlate
highly to straight-line sprint tests (6,17), very few data exist
concerning agility in rugby league players. One study
reported that NRL players were significantly more agile
than third-division rugby league players (6). It was theorized
that the NRL players in that study were superior to the third-
division players in agility because of their greater strength,
power, abdominal control, and agility training experience.
Therefore, although agility testing did not differentiate
between the NRL and SRL players in this study, it is
plausible that both of these groups may again be superior to
lower-level rugby league players.
Whereas it would seem that maximal strength, power, and
body mass, rather than speed, best discriminate between NRL
and SRL players, there was one speed-related variable that did
display significant differences between the groups. This study
is the first to calculate sprint momentum based on average
10-m sprint velocity and body mass. Sprint momentum, which
can be defined as body mass multiplied by the sprint velocity, is
of considerable interest in collision-oriented sports such as
rugby. Coaches often state the importance of building
‘‘momentum’’ and the ‘‘go forward,’’ especially of the heavier
forward players, in driving the game down field and setting up
play for the more highly skilled ball distributors or the faster
running back-line players. Thus, heavier players who possess
good running speed would crash into opposing defenders with
greater momentum to drive the defenders backward and thus
theoretically push their own team further down field.
Therefore, this ability to generate greater sprint momentum
over short sprints (typically 10 m) is of considerable
importance. The NRL players exhibited the same velocity
as the SRL players, but their greater body mass allowed them
to generate greater sprint momentum. Players in rugby leagues
typically sprint approximately 10 m before encountering
opposing players. Thus, although speed, acceleration, and
agility per se do not discriminate between NRL and SRL
players, the combination of a large body mass with any speed
quality leads to a physical advantage in sprint momentum.
This increased sprint momentum would give NRL players an
advantage over SRL and other lower ranked players given the
intense physical collision nature of rugby league football. This
is an important and original finding from this study that has
considerable relevance to athletes and coaches in such sports.
One point that requires some explanation is the month’s
difference between speed and strength/power testing.
Because practice games were set to commence, the speed
testing was performed 1 month before strength and power
testing so the leg fatigue and minor injuries associated with
rugby league games would not adversely affect the speed
results. Thus, the athletes were in peak condition, having
completed their pre-season speed training cycle and having
4 days’rest immediately before speed testing. The strength/
power testing occurred 1 month later at the completion of the
pre-season strength/power training cycle, which established
the players in peak condition.
the TM
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research | www.nsca-jscr.org
The basic result of the squad comparison was that increased
leg strength and power, facilitating increased leg drive, and
sprint momentum seem to be of crucial importance to rugby
league players. However, it is also critical to remember that all
these tests were performed in a fresh, rested state, but that
rugby league players cover distances of 10 km or more in
each 80-minute game (16). Therefore, apart from the initial
moments of a game, the players are never in a rested state but
are battling cumulative fatigue for 80 minutes. How the
fatigue associated with such a high running volume would
affect any of the above strength, power, and sprint factors is
not known and would be difficult to quantify. It may be that
players’speed, strength, power, agility, and acceleration after
at least 30 minutes of play, when a distance of 3–4 km has
been completed, is more important. Although endurance
was not tested in this study, some distinct interaction or
interference between endurance capabilities and the above
anaerobic factors of strength, power, acceleration, maximal
speed, and agility must be considered.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Of all the lower body tests assessed in this study, maximal
strength, irrespective of whether it is analyzed in absolute
terms or relative to body mass, seems the most highly related
to success in rugby league. Maximal power and sprint
momentum were also strongly descriptive of whether a player
had NRL or SRL status. Based on these data, rugby league
players should strive to increase lower body maximal strength
and power to increase leg drive. Increased body mass also
plays a role in enhancing sprint momentum, which is of
utmost importance from a rugby coach’s standpoint. Thus,
rugby league players should participate in a periodized
resistance training program aimed at developing high levels of
strength, power, and body mass. Acceleration, maximal
speed, and agility did not differentiate between NRL and SRL
players, but this finding does not preclude their importance in
the physical preparation of rugby league players. Previous
research (1,3,4) has indicated that both NRL and SRL
players are similar in speed qualities and superior to lesser
ranked players in these qualities.
The undeniable important of endurance was not investi-
gated in this study, but its interaction with the other perfor-
mance factors warrants further study. Specifically, whether
the ability to tolerate fatigue and lessen its deleterious effect
on strength, power, acceleration, maximal speed, and agility
would also distinguish NRL players from lower ranked
players is of considerable interest.
REFERENCES
1. Baker, D. A comparison of running speed and quickness between
elite professional and young rugby league players. Strength Cond
Coach 7(3): 3–7, 1999.
2. Baker, D. A series of studies on the training of high intensity muscle
power in rugby league football players. J Strength Cond Res 15:
198–209, 2001.
VOLUME 22 | NUMBER 1 | JANUARY 2008 | 157
Comparing Playing Rank among Rugby League Players
3. Baker, D. Comparison of lower body strength and power between
national, state and city level rugby league football players. Strength
Cond Coach 8(4): 3–7, 2000.
4. Baker, D. Differences in strength and power between junior-high,
senior-high, college-aged and elite professional rugby league players.
J Strength Cond Res 16: 581–585, 2002.
5. Baker, D. The effects of an in-season of concurrent training on the
maintenance of maximal strength and power in professional and
college-aged rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 15: 172–177,
2001.
6. Baker, D and Nance, S. The relationship between running speed and
measures of strength and power in professional rugby league players.
J Strength Cond Res 13: 230–235, 1999.
7. Baker D, Nance, S, and Moore, M. The load that maximizes the
average mechanical power output during jump squats in power-
trained athletes. J Strength Cond Res 15: 92–97, 2001.
8. Baker, D, Wilson, G, and Carlyon, R. Generality versus specificity:
A comparison of dynamic and isometric measures of strength
and speed-strength. Eur J Appl Physiol 68: 350–355, 1994.
9. Brewer, J, Davis, J, and Kear, J. A comparison of the physiological
characteristics of rugby league forwards and backs. J Sport Sci 12:
158, 1994.
10. Chapman, PP. Whitehead, JR, and Binkert, RH. The 225-lb reps-to-
fatigue test as a submaximal estimate of 1-RM bench press
the TM
158 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
performance in college football players. J Strength Cond Res 12:
258–261, 1998.
11. Clark, L. A comparison of the speed characteristics of elite rugby
league players by grade and position. Strength Cond Coach 10(4):
2–12, 2002.
12. Gabbett, TJ. Physiological characteristics of junior and senior rugby
league players. Br J Sport Med 36: 334–339, 2002.
13. Häkkinen, K. Neuromuscular and hormonal adaptations during
strength and power training: A review. J Sports Med 29: 9–26, 1989.
14. McGee, KJ and Burkett, LN. The National Football League
combine: a reliable predictor of draft status? J Strength Cond Res
17(1): 6–11, 2003.
15. Meir, R, Colla, P, and Milligan, C. Impact of the 10-meter rule
change on professional rugby league: Implications for training.
Strength Cond J. 23(6): 42–46, 2001.
16. Meir, R, Newton, R, Curtis, E, Fardell, M, and Butler, B. Physical
fitness qualities of professional rugby league football players:
Determination of positional differences. J Strength Cond Res 15:
450–458, 2001.
17. O’Connor, D. Physiological characteristics of professional rugby
league players. Strength Cond Coach 4: 21–26, 1996.
18. Young, W, Hawken, M, and McDonald, L. Relationship between
speed, agility and strength qualities in Australian Rules football.
Strength Cond Coach 4: 3–6, 1996.