But, according to Muswellbrook’s teammates of the Maitland tug-of-war team, it is worth it.

The group recently returned from the NSW State Titles with a few championships under their belt.

“It went really well,” Muswellbrook member Ben Hoffman said.

“The club took out the lightweight men’s, and the middleweight mixed, and came second in the heavyweight men’s, and heavy weight mixed.

“It exceeded our expectations.

“We expected to have a really strong showing in the lightweight men’s because we had six men backing up from the last four titles, but the mixed team had a few new recruits and we were really pleased to get first and second in the two mixed events.”

The team has “pullers” representing from Maitland, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Sydney.

One of their latest recruits is Denman personal trainer Jo Goodwin, who joined in February.

“It would have to be, physically speaking, the hardest and most challenging thing I’ve ever done,” she said.

“You’re using your whole body, but you’ve also got to use your head because your body gives up on you quicker than your head.

“It’s extremely hard and there’s so much more technique involved than I ever would have imagined.

“It’s painful, but you get such a buzz after it.”

Ms Goodwin will join the team in the upcoming National Titles at the Aberdeen Highland Games.

The group is organising the annual event on Saturday, July 1, and it promises to once again be a crowd-pleaser.

“We’ve got a very long and happy association with the highland games,” Mr Hoffman said.

“There will be eight light divisions – six men’s and two mixed – with even numbers of men and women; and weight categories from light weight right through to open weight.”

The 2017 competition will last all day, starting at 9am.

“It’s the National Titles – the teams are competing for the right to represent Australia at the next world titles in Cape Town,” he said.

“It’s a great match for the highland games.

“The highland games is very popular with people from all over the country and the Tug-of-War is a very popular event among the attendees.

“So it’s a really good fit for both organisations.

“But it certainly will have pullers coming from Brisbane, and as far away as Regional Victoria and Perth to compete here.”

Mr Hoffman said people should expect the unexpected at the national titles in Aberdeen.

“You will see a lot of technical ability, a lot of stamina, and a lot of teamwork; teams that are much smaller than other teams beat those [bigger] teams; teams with women competing in the men’s events,” he said.

“It won’t be what people expect.”

Anyone interested in joining the team is asked to contact the Maitland tug-of-war team through Facebook.