YORK City Knights forward Danny Washbrook says that he is enjoying his enforced training in isolation amid the current lockdown.

Since the rugby league season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, Knights players have been training from home, awaiting a return to the field.

While the Betfred Super League have revealed that they will return behind closed doors from Sunday, August 2, no plans have yet been publicly set out by the Betfred Championship.

It is thought that the division will come to or at least near a decision at an RFL board meeting today.

Regardless, Washbrook remains in training and says that while other players may struggle for motivation with no return date yet known, he’s naturally enjoyed preparation.

“Personally speaking, I’ve enjoyed it,” says the former Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity back rower.

“I’ve always enjoyed training, ever since I was about 15 or 16, I’ve been a fan of going to the gym.

“I know that other people aren’t like that and they’ll play rugby because they’re good at it, not necessarily because they want to want be in the best shape.

“It may be a little bit harder for those lads to motivate themselves, but I appreciate that everybody is different.

“Personally, I’ve found that motivation pretty easy.

“I’ve been doing exercise with my kids as well in the morning, doing a few of the Joe Wicks workouts as well!”

Knights players have been given gym equipment to aid their training during lockdown and been advised to focus on rugby-related fitness drills.

“We’ve been given a little bit of free reign in that we’ve been told to stay in the best shape that we can,” Washbrook continued.

“But we’ve also been given guidelines of particular things to get in as much as you can and drills that are related to rugby, rather than just going out for a 10k run or out on your bike, which is different from rugby-specific fitness.

“So, we’ve been doing a few shuttles and drills and that type of thing.”

Washbrook completed a 380-mile cycling challenge for the Dove House hospice in Hull and the NHS Charities Together over the course of 38 days between April and May, to keep himself occupied during lockdown.

Though, he admits that players - who would usually see their team-mates four times a week - may struggle mentally during this period.

“It’s a strange situation at the moment,” says Washbrook

“Speaking to lads from other teams, everybody is in the same boat and they’re trying to workout on their own or workout with a mate while socially distancing.

“We’ve gone from seeing each other in the team three times a week (in training), to not at all in person.

“That will be especially tough for those lads that are furloughed and aren’t seeing anybody.

“It can take its toll physically, as you may not want to get out there and train, but also mentally as well.

“Sitting in the same place all day every day when you’re used to being out-and-about can take a strain on you mentally.”