Slicky Ricki

 

 

It would appear Ricki Herbert is a man of his word.  Without the services of last season's assistant coaches Luciano Trani and Jonathan Gould, the Phoenix coach vowed to roll up his sleeves and spend more time "on the grass" at training this season.

 

Herbert's new active lifestyle has obviously paid dividends, as he proudly declared yesterday he had shed eight kilograms from his frame during the pre-season.

 

And yes, Herbert confirmed, he was now getting less of a hard time from his players.