There is nothing like warm-weather training to help make pre-season go with a bang.

And feeling the sun on your back definitely makes all the hard work seem that little bit more tolerable.

Spain, Portugal and Dubai are just three of the destinations St Helens have visited in recent seasons as we look to get ourselves in the best possible shape for the new campaign.

This year we opted for Cardiff.

Despite the rain, high winds and abundance of sheep, we had a really productive week.

I roomed with our wily Aussie veteran Matt Gidley for the duration of the five-day trip and I can assure you he rules with an iron fist.

He even had a strict lights out policy at 9pm every night and would not be compromised.

And despite my best efforts to bring some fun into the room with my game of Twister and massage oils, he insisted laughter was only allowed before midday.

Testimonial years are very special things and are just reward for the players who show exceptional loyalty to one club and the game of rugby league.

This season at Saints, it is the turn of Paul Sculthorpe, our captain, to benefit.

Scully is the perfect role model for any young professional and an ideal example of how to deal with success.

Despite his fame and many achievements, he remains a humble and gracious person.

But there is one flaw in the otherwise perfect make-up of the two-time Man of Steel.

I cannot recall him ever making a brew at training.

It's very disappointing when players don't share the tea-making workload - and let's face it we drink a lot at Saints.

Scully is not the only one to shirk his responsibilities.

In fact, it seems only a few of us - myself, Sean Long, Paul Wellens and Matty Smith - ever bother putting the kettle on.

Our conditioner, Apollo Perelini, certainly seems to have perfected the art of disappearing just when it starts to boil.

Tea-making shenanigans aside, I would like to wish Scully every success during the coming year.

I know he has got plenty of events planned around the country, so maybe I'll see you at one of them.

Scully's testimonial game is this Saturday, with Wakefield providing the opposition at Knowsley Road.

It will be our first hit-out and will give everybody the chance to see if all our pre-season endeavours have been paid off.

It will also it allows James Graham to get that one-on-one male contact he misses in the off-season!

It may sound odd but I'd like to take this opportunity to wish good luck to both Leeds and Hull KR, who get the new Super League season under way on Saturday.

And I hope everyone remains injury-free and enjoys the challenges ahead. Let battle commence!