Canada Wolverines — Players Booklet

1

Wolverines Staff

Head Coach

Aaron Zimmerle

Mobile: 0413 212 154

Assistant Coach

Robin Legault

Mobile: 416 899 8097

Assistant Coach

Stephen Lenahan

Mobile: 604 753 8897

S & C Coach (Remote)

Brad Lawton

Mobile: 0466 324 566

Team Manager

Paul Buchanan

Mobile: 905 869 6364

CRL President

John Cameron

john@canadarl.com

Sports Trainer

TBA

NOTE: International communications will be via WhatsApp

2

Welcome to the Den

Congratulations on your selection in the Canadian Rugby League National Squad.

Your Commitment

Be Reliable — on time, prepared, and consistent.
Be Honest — there is no blame, only accountability.
Be Unselfish — earn your teammates' trust and respect.

Training Schedule & Punctuality

Report to meetings/training 10 mins before start time.
If strapping required, a minimum of 30 mins before start time.

Medical

Report any injuries or required strapping to the Trainer.
Any injury during training to be reported so protocols can be adhered to.
Rolling, Stretching, Recovery and Ice Baths are mandatory.

Monitoring & Hydration

You are required to weigh in prior to starting each training session. Trainers will direct you to where the scales and the Monitoring sheet will be situated prior to each session.
Players need to start training hydrated.

Hydration Strategy:

a) 2 hours before training — drink 600ml of water

b) Immediately pre-training — drink an extra 600ml

c) During training — aim to drink small amounts in breaks

Snacks & fluids will be available at the end of each training session.

3

What We Do in Defence

Connect · Contact (Win the Collision) · Control

1

Start the Set

Kick Offs — contact within the 20m. Kick Chase: OBs and Non-Kicking Half lead the Race.
Set the tone with the Dual Contact (Lead Legs) — Brick then Hit & Run.
Hunt the Hips from Marker, Inside Pressure, Chop Hard.
Maintain Good Habits — Hands Up, Lead Leg, Lock Your Wrist, Finish with No Knees.

2

Win the Tackle & Win the Ruck

Wingers, Centres & Second Rowers compress our line. Nonthreatened Edge Pushes over.
Reload Hardest. Fullback resets the Ruck from the pocket. Flip sides if instructed.
Markers Connect, Split, Check the 9, then Tie In at 45 degrees.
Communicate if a Marker is down. Save the Ruck.
All players Get off Square, Stay in Front and Stay in the Tackle (3–4 secs).
3rd Man Exit Fast and Reload to Zero. Markers Peel, Connect and Point.
Set the A Defenders, then Adjust (Flip). B & C Lead the Line Speed (Bounce).
Tangle when busted & be prepared to defend the Penalty.

3

Numbers Advantages

Fullback identifies number disadvantage, fills A and sends tie in.
Halves Nominate Opposition Shapes — 2 options.
Get Up and Up in their Outside Shape and apply Inside Pressure on Service Players.
Centres look to land on the Tail (Fullback).
Get Up and Hold then Double Defend the Lead and Tie in Hard at 45 degrees (Staircase).
Within 20m of Try line — Forwards must get up at least 5m, Backs 10m, and stay Square.

4

Finish the Set

Set Pillars (Inside Leg Up) on the Goal line with Fullback at Half A in the D Line.
Marker & A Pressure on Kicker — must Wrap or Pull out of Contact.
Pendulum and Escort for our Back 3.
Mini Pendulum for our Halves for shorter kicks near Try line.
Trap and Scrap (Leg Out) on Grubbers at the Line.

4

What We Do in Offence

Spots · Shapes · Options · Completions

1

Start the Set

Win Tackle 1 & 2 by creating 1 on 1s with your speed, footwork, size, push or skill.

2

Threaten the Ruck & Markers

Provide Quick Play the Balls (Long, Short & Roll in 3 secs) and Tough Shape.
Target Spot Players, Under A or Isolate C for a QPTB.
Gain Momentum against a Retreating Line.

3

Numbers Advantages

Created by being disciplined to the Points (3,4,5,6,7) and reading the Splits.
From the Points, find Shape to threaten the Ruck, Short Side and Long Edge.
All players Talk Outside then Inside to form a Shape, then Nominate their Role.
All Players are Real Options — there are No Decoys.
There aren't Wrong Options until last tackle. Play an Option and Recycle the Shape.

4

Strike

Play Long to Short with Depth, or Flat and Fast with Push.
Attack in Waves with Tempo — Fast to Slow and Slow to Fast.
All Ball Players must Square Up and Fix a Defender with their Eyes and Hands.
Deception (Feet, Eyes, Ball) can defeat any Defender.

5

Finish the Set

A kick is only as good as our Chase — so Kick to a Contest.
We are not afraid to Run on Last — Rooster.

5

Set Plays Reference

Out of Trouble Sets

Tackle	Kickoff	Transition	Spot
1
2
3
4
5
6

Goodball Sets

Tackle	From the 3 or 7 Points	From the 4 or 6 Points	From the 5 Point
1
2
3
4
5
6

Penalty & Scrums

Tackle	From the 4	From the 5
1
2
3
4
5
6

Notes:

6

D Shapes — Options & Positional Roles

D Shape	Options & Positional Roles
Ruck Plays	Zero Spot Reload — Fullback controls reload with speed. No 9 — Markers are prepared to engage dummy half. Boss & Chop — Boss controls the ball, Chop pins the knees for a takedown. Tangle — defenders stay up inside our 10m, control the ball and Twist East-West. Brown — Marker down, need to hold and regain the Ruck. Flip — A Defender crosses the Ruck to the other side, Fullback controls.
Edge Plays	(NAME) Go, Go, Go — Release Call on the Edge. Need You — Short side call for marker tie in.
Contact & Compression	Bounce — line speed and urgency. Blitz — Shoulder to Shoulder; winger inside Scrum lines Cheat on Goalline. Up and Up — off goal line Outside backs get up 10m into their shape. Up and Hold — outside backs are up and passive. Staircase Shape.
Kicks	Rambo — Kick Pressure on Service players. Escort — Off the ball protection for catchers.

Defence Sets Summary

Kick Chase (A Shape)
+1 (Hunt the Hip)
Brick & Win (4m & 10m)
Bounce (5m & 10+m)
Inside Pressure, Check & Go
Kick Pressure (Marker & A)

Rules

NO 9 or Scooter
LINE SPEED — Reload is more important.
PACK MENTALITY — Shoulder to Shoulder.
PUSH & PULL THE LINE — Edge players must compress our line.
WIN IT BACK — Get Up 5m (Middles) & 10m (Edge), then make it slow.

7

Offensive Shape — Options & Positional Roles

Offensive Shape	Options & Positional Roles
Rip & Stretch Plays	Sniff — 9 jumps and engages markers and tips. Square — step Open pass to Negative Side. Use on Slow PTB and Short Sides. Dragon — Forwards in pairs Tip or play out the back. Combo — Tip Dragon. Shoot — Long pass off 9 with tip and Rail runners. Storm — 7 Jabs, skips to 3 man; Centre Leads for Backrower; Winger Tip.
Twist Plays	9 Hook, 9 Double Hook, 7 Hook, 7 Double Hook Panther — 9/7 takes tip runner over and drops next player under.
Block Plays	Block — lead and Tail from behind or inside service player. Diamond Shape — A Shape with Tail (13 & 7 flip). DL — Double Lead on a defender, Tail out the Back. Dog — 9 Block Tip. Tiger — 91 Block or 71 Block.
Wrap Arounds	Roll — Bum into the Line, Backdoor offload/Pass.
Service Players	Raider — 9 to 7 to 6 to Long Side Edge. 7 — Service player ball. Hot — override call.
Kicks	Rooster — Run Option on Last. Smithy — 9 Grubber in goal. Green — Grubber. 1 — Hit Winger; 2 — Hit Centre; 3 — Hit Backrower on their Half.

8

Position Requirements

Position	Requirements
Fullback	Coach D Line, Catch & Return, Support Everything
Wing	Compression, Catch & Return, Kick Chase
Centre	Carry OoT, Compression, Beat Your Man
Halves	Kick for Results, Control Play, Push on Everything, Get in Front in D
Lock	Organise Middles, Lead Hunt & Line Speed, Link to Halves, Chop Everything
2nd Row	Protect Your Half, Target their Half, Lay the Point, Rip Short Side
Prop	Brick with Line Speed, Carry Tough in Shape, Push for your Mate
Hooker	Great Service, Hunt from Marker & Chop Everything, Sniff and Square to create Momentum

9

Shapes & Plays Glossary

Core Shapes

Arrow (A) Shape

Jab / Tip / Run at Ad Line

9 → 13 → 8/1 Rail, 10 Tip
Positions: A · B · C

Diamond (D) Shape

Jab / Tip / Run / Tail at Ad Line

9 → 13 → 8/1 Jab, 10 Tip, 7 Split 45
Positions: A · B · C · 4

OPTION: Flip 7 and 13 in Goodball for Attacking Kick

Hook & Twist Plays

9 Hook

9 Scoots to A and B Space, Pump Out then Drop 1 Runner Late UA.

INJECTOR: Pushes from Opposite side of the PTB.
Positions: A · B · C | 1 Injector · 8 · 12 Tip

9 Double Hook

9 Scoots to B and C Space, Show 1, Pump Out then Drop 2 Runner Late.

INJECTOR: Pushes on Opposite side of the PTB.

OPTION: Show & Hit Tip

Positions: A · B · C | 8 · 13 · 10

7 Hook

7 Skips Over, Shows Under, Straightens and Passes to Tip.
or
7 Pumps Long, Skips then Drops 1st Runner Under with Pop Pass.

Positions: A · B · C | 1 Injector · 7 · 12 Tip

Panther

Ball carrier (7) & Tip (12) Bounce Over, Next Runner Cuts Under.

Positions: 4 · 3 · 2 · 1 | 9 | 7 · 12 Bounce · 4 Cut · 5 · 1 Injector

OPTION: Show Under, Tip Over / Kick in Shape

Block & Wrap Plays

Sniff

9 Engages & Sinks on Marker. Runner gets UA with Feet or Speed.

Positions: A · B | 9 | 8 · 12 Push

Square

9 Jumps L/R, Engages Marker, then passes Square to UA Runner.

Positions: A · B | 10 · 9 · 8 UA · 13 Push · 1

HINT: Restart Set after Tackle Loss / Target Short Sides

Dog

9 Block Tip with Middle or Service Player.

Positions: A · B · C | 9 | 8 Lead · 1 · 13 Tail · 10 Tip

Dragon

10 carries between AB Defenders; 13 holds C Outside Defender then runs to hip; Tail Splits at 45 to play Lead or Tail on Edge.

Positions: A · B · C | 9 | 10 Dragon · 13 Tip · 7 · 12 Lead · 4 · 2 · 1 Tail

OPTION: Shoot Dragon — Setup on the BC and Target 4 Man

Combo 1

Tip Dragon — 13 Tip Lead or Tail, 7 play Lead or Tail.

SETUP: Lay the Point with the Backrower.
Positions: A · B · C · 4 | 9 · 10 · 13 · 8 · 7 · 12 · 4 · 1 · 5

Storm

7 gets to 3 Man; Centre Leads for BR Split; Tip to Wide Winger.

SETUP: Near Post
Positions: A · 4 · 3 · 2 · 1 | 9 | 8 Rail · 7 · 11 Split · 4 Split · 5

OPTION: Throw Bridge Pass or Kick in Shape

Diamond Hook

Diamond (D) Hook

Jab/Tip/Run/Tail at Ad Line — Hook SR, Lead C for Block on 2 Man.

Positions: A · B · C · 4 · 3 · 2 · 1 | 9 · 13 · 8 Jab · 10 Tip · 7 · 11 · 4 · 6 · 5

OPTION: Flip 7 and 13 in Goodball for Attacking Kick

10

My Pledge

Position

Name

My Role in Offence

My Role in Defence

My Pledge to the Team