Buccs players adjust to new life

New Zealand import Brayden Inger said he was “gutted” at the delay to his second season with the Geraldton Buccaneers in the face of the COVIC-19 pandemic. “I guess we’ve just got to figure out what to do with our time, spend more time with family and friends, and focus on other things,” he said. “The time off gives everyone’s bodies a rest. We have been training since November. “For the first couple of days we were all right, but now it’s a bit too much of a rest.” Inger said he was looking for more opportunities to stay fit. “I’m just trying to do the whole home workout thing and I get to the beach quite a bit, so I’m claiming that as swimming,” he said. “There’s a few things I’ve got on my list to try and learn while I’m in this environment like diving, and try and get back into surfing as well.” Inger has no family in Geraldton but his partner, East Perth SBL player Gemma Dix, has joined him back in her home town until her own stalled season resumes. Fellow Kiwi James Paringatai is philosophical about the delay to his fourth season with the Buccs after playing another season with the Olympians. “I was on a bit of a rest period for my Achilles, but I’d been doing all the pre-season training for the Buccs,” he said. “At the moment there’s not too much going on. We’re on a complete two-week rest period and everyone has to try and get healthy and stay safe and get through what we’re going through.” “With gyms shutting down it’s just a lot of walking and trying to work out where you can.” Paringatai said the Buccs’ season had been postponed until at least May 31.