This edition of the ‘Insider’ series takes into the world of high performance, and what it takes to get the best out of an athlete.
More specifically, it will take you closer to Wests Tigers new Head of High Performance, Peter Moussa.
Moussa returns to the club in a new role, after spending almost a decade as the head physio.
“I’m really excited about being back here. The new role encompasses both physical preparation and the medical side of things, so I guess I’m effectively wearing two hats.”
Not just the job has changed for Moussa. His new ‘office’ is a far cry from the old Concord Oval that he once called home.
“It’s just wonderful and the Zurich Centre is a big part of the appeal for me returning,” he said.
Another ‘drawcard’ was Benji Marshall.
“Robbie (Farah) and Benji were here for a lot of those years and so obviously Benji was a driving force in me coming back.”
Moussa talks about what goes into preparing his players for optimum performance and the recent advances made in sports science.
“From number one to 17, they’re all different shapes and sizes, and physiologically they’re different,” he says.
“Our job is to prepare them as best we can.
Some are Ferraris and need be garaged and let out just at the weekend, other guys are built to go all day.
Peter Moussa
Statistics tell us that most teams at or near the top of the NRL ladder each year, will have used fewer players over the course of a season. Those clubs, through a combination of luck and good management, seem to have fewer players on the injured list.
As Moussa explains, injury avoidance or ‘prehab’ as it’s known, is a key part of his role.
“It (prehab) was a sexy term thrown around about seven or eight years ago, but even that has advanced a lot going into 2023,” he said.
You do the ‘prehab’ to avoid the rehab.
Peter Moussa
“It’s about understanding what’s required from the athlete physically, mentally and emotionally."
