It was a stinking hot Saturday morning in late January, and the Maitland Pickers Blues Tag women were labouring up the steep climb at King Edward Park in Newcastle.
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They weren't alone. The Pickers men's squad were there too, going through the same thing: from the beach to the top - "keep moving, it's good for you".
By his own admission Pickers coach Matt Lantry "flogged" the players in pre season to get them fit.
What's not well known is that right through that, the women were there too, enduring through the same physical torture.
"I can honestly say we'd never experienced a pre-season quite like it," Blues Tag co-captain Bree Lacy said in the lead up to this weekend's grand final.
"Not even close. But by the time the season started we were really fit."
Add in an early season win against the highly fancied Central, and suddenly there was a self belief that hasn't wavered.
'We had an influx of new players, and then all the pre-season fitness work ... and then there were doubts about whether the season would go ahead at all," Bree recalled.
"So when we finally started playing, with COVID we didn't know how long the season would last . It meant every game could be our last so that's how we approached it, and we just tried to enjoy each week."
In black and white terms, then Pickers lost just two games all season - the last one against Sunday's grand final opponents, Souths.
After a poor first season where they were often flogged by 50-plus scorelines, the Pickers missed the semis last season by the barest of margins last season. But this season they were finally able to break the stranglehold of the usual competition heavyweights, Souths, West, Central, Lakes and this year, Wyong.
"It's our defence," Bree said without hesitation. "At times we've struggled in attack a bit, but our defence has always been there for us. And also we've shown that we can score long distance tries, which makes us dangerous."
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Both no doubt would again have something to do with that gruelling pre-season training.
For those not familiar with Blues Tag, the game is fast ... fitness really counts.
"And there's been a good feeling within the team ... no egos, just so much passion and commitment. We're in it together."
They'll need to be at their best as Souths are always strong, and they're big - you can be sure there'll be some body contact. Certainly the home side are planning for it.
So, who do the Pickers need to have big games?
Halfback and co captain Amy Dufour will run the show for Maitland in attack. She moved from fullback this year and her passing range on both sides - she's an Australian touch representative - is a potent weapon.
Her replacement at fullback Brooke Carroll is the team's leading try scorer. She scored six in one game this season, so she's a threat for any opposition.
Centre Isabella Mattsson is new to the team this year and is also a real handful for defences.
Throw in some blue collar workers up the middle and a great team spirit, and Maitland are ready to go.
The women's match starts at Maitland Sportsground at 9.30am on Sunday.