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Men's Rugby League Wigan turn to meditation in build-up to Hull clash

Wigan are hoping a session of meditation at a Buddhist temple today will help them get the edge over Hull in Saturday’s historic Super League match in New South Wales.

Both English clubs have arrived in Wollongong to prepare to play the first Super League match to be staged outside Europe and the Warriors have gone to unusual extremes to get their minds and bodies in shape.

“It’s been a good trip so far, we went to a Buddhist temple today and did some meditation,” Wigan forward Tony Clubb said. “It was really nice there.

“The woman who took us was fairly strict and, if your posture wasn’t right, she had a big wooden stick. It was an experience but a good one.”

The visit, which was combined with the Warriors’ first full training session, was part of a series of experiences which Clubb believes will particularly help the club’s youngsters to develop their life skills.

“Some of these young kids that have come over have never left Wigan, let alone travelled halfway across the world, so it’s a massive learning curve for them,” said the former London Broncos and England player.

“It’s going to put them in good stead, coming out of their comfort zone of turning up at Orrell every week and playing at the DW.

“It’s a good life experience coming out to a beautiful part of the world.”

Wigan, who began the season with a 40-12 win over Salford last Friday, left England in sub-zero temperatures to find themselves with just a week to adjust to an Australian summer and Clubb says a lot of the players are also still struggling with jet lag.

“It’s nine o’clock at night and it’s 28 degrees, so it’s a bit different,” Clubb said.

“But the jet lag is killing me. I go to bed at 10 and still get up at four o’clock in the morning and I’m not the only one. It’s getting better, though, and I think another day or two and hopefully we’ll be over it.”

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