It’s back to the hard work

OLDHAMER Mark Flanagan is in Australia for a rugby league season with Wests Tigers and will be keeping Chronicle readers up to date with goings-on Down Under.
G’DAY and a happy new year from Oz!

Christmas and the 2010 celebrations have been a little different this year as I am sure you can imagine.

I spent Christmas in Melbourne with my girlfriend’s family — true to form the barbecue was fired up and the seafood was thrown on.

No turkey, I’m afraid, but I can’t say I missed it. There were lots of presents and festivities taking place and I am now the owner of my very own hotplate and griddle, which has taken pride of place on my balcony.

New Year’s Eve was a cracker, spent at the apartment of fellow pomplayer Sam Burgess. His hospitality was second-to-none and his new pad — with spectacular views of Sydney harbour — was a great vantage point to watch the superb firework display.

It was a great way to start what we hope will be a big year for the both of us.

We are back in training now at Wests Tigers after a two-week break and were welcomed by a bleep test and a real flogging. Suffice to say I was sharply awakened to reality after the holiday season.

I am feeling in pretty good shape and my stats are the best they have ever been.

The squad has welcomed back our star players Benji Marshall, the New Zealand captain, and England second row forward Gareth Ellis — last season’s player of the year — after their break following the Gillette Four Nations international tournament.

I am really looking forward to getting some game-time in the pre-season warm-up matches now.

I hope all is well in Oldham.

I hear the weather has been extreme, but you are not the only ones . . . I have got the air conditioning on full blast!

All the best, Mark