Wolves' debt to sports psychologist

BEHIND every great man in coaching, there is a great…sports psychologist, according to players at Warrington Wolves.
They have revealed that sports psychologist Damian Hughes (pictured) has strengthened their armour this season in the battle for league victory and a third consecutive RL Challenge Cup win.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Wigan in the cup quarter final, head coach Tony Smith admitted that Damian has a rare gift to prepare his men for battle.
He said: “He has an extraordinary ability to manage diverse personalities at the club, yet everyone has mutual respect for Damian because they know he is on their side.
“Whether they want to talk to him about stress, worries, confidence, focus, concentration or motivation, he offers practical support, unlike any other sports psychologist I have come across.
“He will nurture younger players, talk tough with others, relax a few and then encourage some along the way – he has a real gift for customising his support to suit individuals.
“Players need someone like him to talk to about personal anxieties at home or work; the last person they want to tell is their coach. Damian is a small price to pay to ensure emotional wellbeing and improve mental fitness among the players. He’s worth his weight in gold.”
Warrington Wolves stalwart Jon Clarke, who is enjoying his testimonial year after a decade at the club, said: “Damian’s skills are quite unique; he is a fantastic commodity to have at the club.
“He has introduced techniques such as visualisation, goal-setting, controlled breathing and relaxation to achieve optimum mental strength on the field. As a result we have found a winning formula and improved performance.”
Jon described the team’s recent success: “In this sport, everybody is fit, everyone is developing their skill on the pitch, and everyone is training hard, so it crucial to discover new tactics. In our case, it’s Damian. Some of the lads at the club have even been reading his book, Liquid Thinking, and it’s really helped them overcome life’s challenge on and off the field.”
Off the field, dad-of-one Damian has been supporting Matt King in his new role as first time father to four-week-old daughter Charlie.
Matt said: “Becoming a dad is life-changing – there are new responsibilities, sleepless nights, and yet you still need to focus on the rugby field.
“Your personal life does have an influence on performance. But Damian’s given me some great tips on how to concentrate my efforts on the task in hand, control what I can, and keep sharp in training. If I’m having am ‘off day’ because I’ve been up all night with the baby, I don’t worry too much about it now. It’s all part of the learning curve. I’m honest with the coach and my team-mates and they understand completely.”