Lions players are well aware that sessions with specialist tackling coach Brett ‘Bumper’ O’Farrell are not for the faint-hearted.

As they move through a gruelling two-hour skills and conditioning session, O’Farrell steps in to increase the level of intensity.

With a wealth of experience - he's played for the Melbourne Storm, West Tigers and Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League - O’Farrell’s approach to training is unparalleled and unforgiving.

“About mid-way through the season last year I started doing a lot of work with Mitch Robinson,” O’Farrell told LionsTV.

“Robbo towards the back end of the year really excelled defensively.”

Robinson amassed an incredible 14 tackles in round 14 against Fremantle in Perth, 15 tackles against Carlton in Round 20 and 13 against Hawthorn in Round 21.

“I think he almost got the club record for the amount of tackles in a game,” O’Farrell said.

“Nothing to do with his fiery nature at all, I just think defensively he’s really excelled and I’m expecting big things out of him this year.”

O’Farrell was scouted as a country footballer and spent four years with the Melbourne Storm.

“I bounced around at a few different Clubs, went over to France and played in the rugby league and finished up with the Burleigh Bears in the Queensland Cup.

“Being part time at the Burleigh Bears meant I was able to dip my toes in the water with wrestling in my days off and my nights off,” O’Farrell said.

“That’s how I sort of got into the wrestling side of things.”

Operating as tackling coach at many of Australia's best clubs, O’Farrell has also tested the waters overseas with great success.

“I’ve worked with the ARU with the Wallabies with the Lions tour and also their under 20s program, the Kubota Spears over in Japan and I’m working with Wynnum Manly in the Rugby League, the Parramatta Eels, Gold Coast Titans and just recently picked up a contract with the Brazil Rugby League for their Rugby 7s.

“I’m heading over there in April for my first assignment.”

O’Farrell said he is confident that the new techniques implemented will benefit the playing group.

“We’re getting some good results.

“The best thing about your game is you can tackle from a 360 degree angle. I’ve just transitioned the tackle zone across (from rugby) and I’m getting some really good results there from a few of the boys.

“I want to make them individually better in the defensive zone, with more confidence and an actual understanding of the process and the systems that will benefit the team as a whole.”