KARL Fitzpatrick’s hopes of ending the Rugby League season with a trophy were shattered in South Wales on Sunday.

Ireland’s 42-12 defeat by Wales in the semi-final of the European Cup meant there would be no silver lining after 10 months of blood, sweat and tears for the 29-year-old Salford City Reds fullback.

There is still one game left – the third place play-off against Lebanon on Sunday – before a long and arduous campaign can be put to rest – but Fitzpatrick won’t be putting his feet up for long.

For as soon as he has cleaned his boots and iced his bruises the chirpy Wiganer will be back in training.

Fitzpatrick’s season was hampered by injury while Salford struggled to make an impact on their return to the top flight but with just one year left on his Salford contract, the father of two young daughters is aiming to make 2010 a season to remember.

"A lot of the lads will be out of contract at the end of the season, myself included, and there will be a big ‘for sale’ sign on us each time we play," he said.

"We underachieved last season so hopefully we can make the play-offs and have a good cup run."

With that in mind, Fitz is already preparing for his off-season programme.

"We only have about eight weeks off but we have a home programme which involves training three days a week. It’s a combination of running and weights but it depends on the individual. If you are a forward there might be a little more fitness involved.

"If they want you to put weight on then it might involve more weight training. It’s all tailored to the individual.

"Do I like doing it? It depends on what day of the week it is. If it’s Monday morning it’s not so good. We were tested at the end of the season. When we go back they will do testing again and if you are miles off what your last score was you will have a few questions to answer."

Fitzpatrick combines his rugby with education and is taking a degree in sports performance at Leeds Metropolitan University.

"I’m really enjoying it. A few lads on our team and a few players from other clubs are also doing it.

"It’s with one eye to the future because I’m looking at being a strength and conditioning coach when I’ve finished playing.

"This will give me the knowledge and the qualifications."

But there’s still work to be done at the Willows and Fitzpatrick is relishing the prospect of working under new assistant coach Mal Alker who will combine playing with being number two to head coach Shaun McRae.

"It’s going to be a bit different but it is a progression I expected to come from Malc sooner or later.

"He had a really big input as a player last season. It should be good. I think he will change a lot of things.

"He will bring more structure and more discipline. He will do really well."

There will be plenty of new faces around with the addition of prop forward Ryan Boyle, from Castleford, scrum half Matty Smith from Celtic Crusaders and centres Ashley Gibson and Stephen Tyrer from Leeds and St Helens.

"I’ve been playing with Ryan Boyle for Ireland and he seems a nice lad. He’s big and pretty explosive. He has a good offload and quite a lot of Super League experience for a young lad.

"The squad will be a lot younger than last year but what we are lacking in experience we’ll make up with determination and there will be some lads out to prove a point."