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RISING Roosters star Latrell Mitchell received a surprise gift when he returned to NRL pre-season this week, an invitation inside the secret world of Olympic megastar Usain Bolt.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Jamaican strength coach Leeroy Gray, an integral part of Team Bolt for the past eight years, will spend a fortnight working with the Roosters as part of a holiday stay in Australia.
Based out of Bolt’s famed athletics track in the Jamaican capital of Kingston, Gray is part of a tight-knit team which — overseen by head coach Glen Mills — has helped the world’s fastest man attain an unprecedented haul of a nine Olympic sprinting gold medals.
Arriving at the club’s Allianz Stadium HQ next Monday, Gray will be accommodated by the Tricolours in nearby Coogee so he can work closely, and on a daily basis, with players like talented young speedster Mitchell, still only 19, and star halfback Mitchell Pearce.
Latrell Mitchell could get even quicker. Roosters players were told of the unique opportunity when they arrived for the first day of pre-season training on Tuesday morning.
The visit has been organised by Roosters physical performance coach Hayden Knowles, who famously brought Bolt to Australia six years ago for an athletic meet which included the Gatorade Bolt sprint race.
The event pitted the fastest men from Australia’s football codes and involved NRL stars like Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis and Ben Barba.
Knowles has maintained a strong relationship with Team Bolt since and said players like Mitchell, who enjoyed a strong rookie season, would receive a valuable education from Gray, who will also host a high-performance seminar at Allianz Stadium on November 10 with the likes of Brad Fittler, Professor Aaron Coutts and retired Socceroo Mile Sterjovski.
“We’ve gone to the world’s best,’’ Knowles said. “And we know Leeroy’s input will be extremely beneficial for our club and our players.
Bolt had previously helped promote the Gatorade Bolt in 2010. “While Jamaica is filled with talented young athletes, Leeroy knows all the hard work and dedication still required to enable those same athletes achieve greatness.”
Hailed ‘The Next Greg Inglis’ before even playing one game in first grade, Mitchell undoubtedly announced himself as a future star of the NRL in 2016.
Alternating between wing and fullback, the towering teenage rookie was one of only three Roosters to play every game of the season — along with skipper Jake Friend and prop Sam Moa — and also scored 14 tries, the most at the club.
The Taree product also led the Bondi Junction outfit for most points (80), linebreaks (13) and kick-return metres (734). He also made 89 tackle breaks.
Asked to rate his first NRL season, retired Roosters great Anthony Minichiello said: “Latrell has been one of our best ... I’d say a nine out of 10”.
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The Daily Telegraph can reveal Jamaican strength coach Leeroy Gray, an integral part of Team Bolt for the past eight years, will spend a fortnight working with the Roosters as part of a holiday stay in Australia.
Based out of Bolt’s famed athletics track in the Jamaican capital of Kingston, Gray is part of a tight-knit team which — overseen by head coach Glen Mills — has helped the world’s fastest man attain an unprecedented haul of a nine Olympic sprinting gold medals.
Arriving at the club’s Allianz Stadium HQ next Monday, Gray will be accommodated by the Tricolours in nearby Coogee so he can work closely, and on a daily basis, with players like talented young speedster Mitchell, still only 19, and star halfback Mitchell Pearce.
Latrell Mitchell could get even quicker. Roosters players were told of the unique opportunity when they arrived for the first day of pre-season training on Tuesday morning.
The visit has been organised by Roosters physical performance coach Hayden Knowles, who famously brought Bolt to Australia six years ago for an athletic meet which included the Gatorade Bolt sprint race.
The event pitted the fastest men from Australia’s football codes and involved NRL stars like Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis and Ben Barba.
Knowles has maintained a strong relationship with Team Bolt since and said players like Mitchell, who enjoyed a strong rookie season, would receive a valuable education from Gray, who will also host a high-performance seminar at Allianz Stadium on November 10 with the likes of Brad Fittler, Professor Aaron Coutts and retired Socceroo Mile Sterjovski.
“We’ve gone to the world’s best,’’ Knowles said. “And we know Leeroy’s input will be extremely beneficial for our club and our players.
Bolt had previously helped promote the Gatorade Bolt in 2010. “While Jamaica is filled with talented young athletes, Leeroy knows all the hard work and dedication still required to enable those same athletes achieve greatness.”
Hailed ‘The Next Greg Inglis’ before even playing one game in first grade, Mitchell undoubtedly announced himself as a future star of the NRL in 2016.
Alternating between wing and fullback, the towering teenage rookie was one of only three Roosters to play every game of the season — along with skipper Jake Friend and prop Sam Moa — and also scored 14 tries, the most at the club.
The Taree product also led the Bondi Junction outfit for most points (80), linebreaks (13) and kick-return metres (734). He also made 89 tackle breaks.
Asked to rate his first NRL season, retired Roosters great Anthony Minichiello said: “Latrell has been one of our best ... I’d say a nine out of 10”.
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