Footy star reveals new coach has ‘put the fear of God into me’ after taking the reigns from an NRL legend
- Kritian Woolf has put his own spin on pre-season training this summer
- Josh Kerr has opened up about the Dolphins’ brutal recent training plans
- The 27-year-old has also spoken out about how the new boss has left him ‘scared’
Dolphins sponsor Josh Kerr has spoken out about the adjustment to life under new coach Kristian Woolf, claiming preparation for this year’s season has been a grueling challenge compared to what it was under former boss Wayne Bennett.
The 27-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of 2025, added that the Dolphins’ new head coach had “put the fear of God in me.”
Woolf took over from Bennett this summer after the outgoing coach, who took over at South Sydney Rabbitohs, led them to 10th on the NRL ladder last season.
The Dolphins’ new coach, in the same vein as Broncos boss Michael Maguire, has put his team to the test in pre-season, with the Dolphins taking the beep test among other brutal fitness sessions.
“It’s absolutely true,” Kerr said when spurred by rumors the new boss had played against his side in training.
‘You know what Woolfy is like. He has a hard nose. I thought it was going to be a militaristic affair, and it is,” Kerr said.
Josh Kerr (right) has spoken out about how the Dolphins are being tested in pre-season
He revealed coach Kristian Woolf (right) has implemented a grueling training regime after taking over from Wayne Bennett
Kerr said Woolf has implemented a more demanding schedule compared to former Dolphins boss Wayne Bennett
“The boys say he has high standards and that’s the best way I can describe it because he comes in and makes it very clear to you.
‘There’s no beating around the bush with him. He will tell you exactly what he wants. I’m not saying other coaches don’t do that, but he is very direct.
‘Everyone is on the same page and it’s a multi-faceted effort, everyone jumping from exercise to exercise and higher intensity. All our fitness is a step up.”
Speaking about the new fitness regimes, he added: “As soon as we started the fitness exercises, I was struggling. They made them longer and harder than last year.”
Kerr hopes that the preparation can help him and the rest of the team get off to an explosive start in the new season.
Kerr played in 19 of the Dolphins games last season, scoring two tries for the side and is keen to play well enough to secure a new contract with the club, noting that he had also grown scared of Woolf.
“Because I was afraid of Woolfy, I trained extra hard this season and came back in much better shape, with more muscle mass,” he said The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Woolfy put the fear of God in me. Obviously at the end of the season we had a few extra weeks without football and he said to me, “You better make sure you’re in shape.”
Kerr (left) said Woolf had ‘put the fear of God in me’ at the end of the 2024 season
The attacker is out of contract in 2025 and wants to secure his place in the team for the long term
‘I knew what was coming. I also no longer have a contract; my dream is to stay here for the long term.
‘That’s up to me, I had to come back in the best shape. I feel like I’ve done that, and hopefully I earn a contract and don’t just get one.”
Woolf has a distinguished and exceptional reputation in rugby league circles, having won the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Super League Grand Finals with St Helens.
His experience has also extended to working as an assistant coach for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, with Woolf also coaching the Tongan national team.