Projects 9
Publications 65
Awards 0

Biography

Wade Sinclair joined Sport and Exercise Science (SES) in 2003 as a Research Officer after completing his honours thesis investigating the thermoregulatory responses of junior surf lifesavers exercising in protective clothing. Wade completed his undergraduate education with James Cook University and has also completed a Graduate Certificate in Education (Tertiary teaching) progressing to an Associate Lecturer (2008-2009), Lecturer (2010-2019) and Senior Lecturer (2020-). Wade has formerly coordinated the SES Honours program (2015-2023) and has previously supervised 18x Honours and 7x PhD Candidates to completion.

Wade has worked in professional sport for over 20 years having held collaborative arrangements with the Townsville JCU FIRE WNBL side, Surf Life Saving Australia, the National Rugby League and North Queensland Cowboys, Aspetar - Qatar's Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital as well as various Australian and International Universities. Away from University, Wade has served as the Assistant Coach for the Australian Life Saving Team (2013-2016) as well as the Performance Analyst for the North Queensland Cowboys (2017-2022; & 2023-present), the Queensland Maroons men's State of Origin team (2021 to present), Papua New Guinea Orchids Women's rugby league team (2021-2023) and the Kiwi Ferns New Zealand Women's rugby league team (2024 to present).

Wade currently manages the JCU Performance Science Hub, a collaborative research and teaching facility co-located with industry on the site of the North Queensland Cowboys High Performance training facility offering opportunities to visiting scholars, post- and undergraduate students. Similarly, Wade coordinates the JCU Elite Athlete Program, a part of the Elite Sport Education Network, a program committed to supporting elite athletes, coaches and officials for the duration of their course of study.  

Research

Research Interests

Performance analysis in elite rugby league;

Physiological performances in aquatic sports;

Short term heat acclimatisation interventions;

Travel strategies for sporting teams.

Projects

Research Collaborators and Partners

Cowboys Rugby League Football Ltd
The University of Queensland

Teaching

Teaching Interests

Student empowerment and engagement across all year levels of exercise science


Research Advisor Accreditation

Advisor Type

Secondary


Taught Modules

Current JCU Research Students

The impact of heat on driving safety
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)
Quantifying the Acute Physical, Cognitive and Physiological Responses of various Training Modalities in Australian Soldiers
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)
The identification and development of regional female rugby league players within an elite talent pathway
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)

Completed JCU Research Students

Quantifying the Physical, Technical and Tactical Qualities Discriminant of Development Level in the Queensland Rugby League Talent Pathway
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)- 2020
Stakeholders’ Engagement with Performance Analysis, Key Metrics & Techniques for Team Success in Elite Rugby Union
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)- 2025
Analysis of Technical & Tactical Performances for Success in the National Rugby League
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)- 2022
Monitoring exercise-induced stress and adaptation prior to and during the playing season in rugby league
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)- 2025

Current Honours and External Research Students

Investigation of a 3-week sprint interval training intervention on elite Rugby League athletes sport specific repeated high intensity effort ability.
HONOURS- 2025

Completed Honours and External Research Students

Comparison of training performance characteristics between elite rugby league athletes along the development pathway
HONOURS
Runt the world (girls): Examining the effect of various feedback approaches on sprint performance in female athletes.
HONOURS
The Effect of Exogenous Estrogen and Progesterone Administration on Exercise Tolerance in Active Women.
PHD

Teaching Grants

Activities

Associations

Employment

Consultancy

Committees

Output

Callinan, Mikaela J.; Connor, Jonathan D.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Gómez, Miguel-Angel (2025) 'Performance metrics that matter: assessing winning and losing teams in women’s Rugby union'. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, . [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Koh, Soonho; Doma, Kenji; Sinclair, Wade H.; Franklin, Richard C. (2025) 'A scoping review of the impact of temperature and humid environmental conditions on drivers’ safety across geographical locations'. Journal of Public Health, . [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Heilbronn, Brian E.; Doma, Kenji; Sinclair, Wade H.; Drain, Jace; Connor, Jonathan; Leicht, Anthony S. (2025) 'Reliability and Divergent Validity of Novel Tools to Assess Occupationally Relevant Performance in Infantry Soldiers'. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 39 (6):e815-e823. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Turek, Lily; Doma, Kenji; Sinclair, Wade; Connor, Jonathan (2024) 'Positional Differences in Decision-Making Situations during Professional Rugby League Match-Play'. Journal of Human Kinetics, 93 :205-215. [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Simmons, Ryan; Leicht, Anthony; Sinclair, Wade; Bowman, Paul; Dobbin, Michael; Doma, Kenji (2024) 'Acute Response to Training after Returning from the Off-Season in Elite Rugby League Athletes'. Journal of Human Kinetics, 92 :133-146. [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Di Bella, Larissa; Doma, Kenji; Sinclair, Wade Heath; Connor, Jonathan Douglas (2023) 'The Acute Effect of Various Feedback Approaches on Sprint Performance, Motivation, and Affective Mood States in Highly Trained Female Athletes: A Randomized Crossover Trial'. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 18 (3):313-319. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Callinan, Mikaela J.; Connor, Jonathan D.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Leicht, Anthony S. (2023) 'Exploring rugby coaches perception and implementation of performance analytics'. PLoS ONE, 18 (1). [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Heilbronn, Brian; Doma, Kenji; Sinclair, Wade; Connor, Jonathan; Irvine-Brown, Lachlan; Leicht, Anthony (2023) 'Acute Fatigue Responses to Occupational Training in Military Personnel: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis'. Military Medicine, 188 (5-6):969-977. [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Wedding, Corey; Gomez, M.A.; Woods, C.T.; Sinclair, Wade; Leicht, Anthony (2023) 'Effect of match-related contextual factors on positional performance in the national rugby league'. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 18 (3):832-838. [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Wedding, Corey James; Woods, Carl Thomas; Sinclair, Wade Heath; Leicht, Anthony Scott (2022) 'Operational Insights into Analysing Team and Player Performance in Elite Rugby League: A Narrative Review with Case Examples'. Sports Medicine - Open, 8 . [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Wedding, C.; Woods, C. T.; Sinclair, W. H.; Gomez, M. A.; Leicht, A. S. (2021) 'Analysis of styles of play according to season and end of season rank in the National Rugby League'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 24 (2):206-210. [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Simmons, Ryan; Doma, Kenji; Sinclair, Wade; Connor, Jonathan; Leicht, Anthony (2021) 'Acute effects of training loads on muscle damage markers and performance in semi‑elite and elite athletes: a systematic review and meta‑analysis'. Sports Medicine, 51 :2181-2207. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Wedding, C.; Woods, C.T.; Sinclair, W.H.; Gomez Ruano, M.A.; Leicht, A.S. (2021) 'Exploring the effect of various match factors on team playing styles in the National Rugby League'. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16 (4):976-984.
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Pearce, Leesa A.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Gomez-Ruano, Miguel-angel; Sinclair, Wade H.; Woods, Carl T. (2020) 'The type and variation of evasive manoeuvres during an attacking task differ across a rugby league development pathway'. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 20 (6):1134-1142. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Wedding, C.; Woods, C.T.; Sinclair, W.H.; Gomez, M.A.; Leicht, A.S. (2020) 'Examining the evolution and classification of player position using performance indicators in the National Rugby League during the 2015-2019 seasons'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23 (9):891-896. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Heilbronn, Brian E.; Doma, Kenji; Gormann, Dale; Schumann, Moritz; Sinclair, Wade H. (2020) 'Effects of periodized vs. nonperiodized resistance training on army-specific fitness and skills performance'. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34 (3):738-753. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Doma, Kenji; Nicholls, Anthony; Daniel, Gahreman; Damas, Felipe; Libardi, Cleiton Augusto; Sinclair, Wade (2019) 'The effect of a resistance training session on physiological and thermoregulatory measures of sub-maximal running performance in the heat in heat-acclimatised men'. Sports Medicine - Open, 5 . [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Pearce, Leesa A.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Woods, Carl T. (2019) 'Passing and tackling qualities discriminate developmental level in a rugby league talent pathway'. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 19 (6):985-998. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Connor, Jonathan Douglas; Sinclair, Wade H.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Doma, Kenji (2019) 'Analysis of cricket ball type and innings on state level cricket batter's performance'. Frontiers in Psychology, 10 . [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Leicht, Anthony S.; Fox, Jordan; Connor, Jonathan; Sargent, Charli; Sinclair, Wade; Stanton, Robert; Scanlan, Aaron (2019) 'External activity demands differ between referees and players during a sub-elite, men's basketball match'. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 90 (4):720-725. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Woods, Carl T.; Robertson, Sam; Sinclair, Wade H.; Collier, Neil French (2018) 'Non-metric multidimensional performance indicator scaling reveals seasonal and team dissimilarity within the National Rugby League'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 21 (4):410-415. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Leicht, Anthony S.; Halliday, Aaron; Sinclair, Wade H.; D'Auria, Shaun; Buchheit, Martin; Kenny, Glen P.; Stanley, Jamie (2018) 'Heart rate variability responses to acute and repeated postexercise sauna in trained cyclists'. Applied Physiology Nutrition And Metabolism, 43 (7):704-710. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Fisher, R.N.; McLellan, C.M.; Sinclair, W.H.; Minahan, C. (2018) 'The perceived benefits and barriers for oral contraceptive use in women grouped for physical-activity level - an exploratory study'. Journal of Women's Health, Issues & Care, 7 (1). [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Connor, Jonathan D.; Crowther, Robert G.; Sinclair, Wade H. (2018) 'Effect of different evasion maneuvers on anticipation and visual behavior in elite rugby league players'. Motor Control, 22 (1):18-27. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Pearce, Leesa A.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Woods, Carl T. (2018) 'Physical, anthropometric and athletic movement qualities discriminate development level in a rugby league talent pathway'. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32 (11):3169-3176. [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Woods, Carl T.; Robertson, Sam; Sinclair, Wade H.; Till, Kevin; Pearce, Leesa; Leicht, Anthony S. (2018) 'A comparison of game-play characteristics between elite youth and senior Australian National Rugby League competitions'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 21 (6):626-630. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Doma, Kenji; Leicht, Anthony; Sinclair, Wade; Schumann, Moritz; Damas, Felipe; Burt, Dean; Woods, Carl (2018) 'The impact of exercise-induced muscle damage on performance test outcomes in elite female basketball players'. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32 (6):1731-1738. [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Gaudion, Sarah L.; Doma, Kenji; Sinclair, Wade; Banyard, Harry B.; Woods, Carl T. (2017) 'Identifying the physical fitness, anthropometric and athletic movement qualities discriminant of developmental level in elite junior Australian football: implications for the development of talent'. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31 (7):1830-1839. [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Pearce, Leesa; Woods, Carl; Sinclair, Wade; Leicht, Anthony (2017) 'Officiating role influences the physical match activity profiles of rugby league touch judges and referees'. Journal of Human Kinetics, 58 (1):225-231. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Sinclair, Wade H.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Eady, Troy W.; Marshall, Nick J.; Woods, Carl T. (2017) 'Identifying the physical and anthropometric qualities explanatory of paddling adolescents'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20 (12):1112-1116. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Woods, Carl T.; Sinclair, Wade; Robertson, Sam (2017) 'Explaining match outcome and ladder position in the National Rugby League using team performance indicators'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20 (12):1107-1111. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Doma, Kenji; Sinclair, Wade H.; Hervert, Sarah R.; Leicht, Anthony S. (2016) 'Postactivation potentiation of dynamic conditioning contractions on rowing sprint performance'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19 (11):951-956. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Fisher, Rhiannon; McLellan, Christopher; Sinclair, Wade; Lovell, Dale (2015) 'The response of salivary immunoglobulin A to elite surf lifesaving competition'. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning, 23 (2):15-20.
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
McGuckin, Teneale A.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Sealey, Rebecca M.; Bowman, Paul W. (2015) 'Players' perceptions of home advantage in the Australian rugby league competition'. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 121 (3):666-674. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Fisher, R.N.; McLellan, C.P.; Sinclair, W.H. (2015) 'The validity and reliability for a salivary cortisol point of care test'. Journal of Athletic Enhancement, 4 (4):1-6. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Doma, Kenji; Schumann, Moritz; Sinclair, Wade H.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Deakin, Glen B.; Häkkinen, Keijo (2015) 'The repeated bout effect of typical lower body strength training sessions on sub-maximal running performance and hormonal response'. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 115 (8):1789-1799. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
McGuckin, Teneale Alyce; Sinclair, Wade Heath; Sealey, Rebecca Maree; Bowman, Paul (2014) 'The effects of air travel on performance measures of elite Australian rugby league players'. European Journal of Sport Science, 14 (Supplement 1):S116-S122. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Turner, D.R.; Sinclair, W.H.; Knez, W.L. (2014) 'Nutritional adequacy of vegetarian and omnivore dietary intakes'. Journal of Nutrition and Health Sciences, 1 (2):1-4. [DOI]
Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Sinclair, Wade; Brownsberger, Jarrod (2013) 'Wearing long pants while working outdoors in the tropics does not yield higher body temperatures'. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37 (1):70-75. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Connor, Jonathan; Sinclair, Wade; Doma, Kenji; Bowman, Paul (2013) 'The influence of Rugby League game quality on indirect markers of muscle damage'. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning, 21 (Supplement 2):111-114.
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Edmonds, R.C.; Sinclair, W.H.; Leicht, A.S. (2013) 'Effect of a training week on heart rate variability in elite youth rugby league players'. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 34 (12):1087-1092. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Pringle, Fiona A.; Sealey, Rebecca M.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Bowman, Paul W. (2013) 'Effect of different rugby league warm ups on performance and perceptions of readiness to perform'. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning, 21 (Supplement 1):57-60.
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Hogarth, Luke; Deakin, Glen; Sinclair, Wade (2013) 'Are plyometric push-ups a reliable power assessment tool?'. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning, 21 (Supplement 1):67-69.
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Sinclair, Wade; Marshall, Nick J. (2012) 'Hydration status of lifesaving atheltes during international competition'. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 6 (4):294-302.
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Leicht, A.S.; Sealey, R.M.; Sinclair, W.H. (2011) 'Influence of cycle ergometer type and sex on assessment of 30-second anaerobic capacity and power'. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 32 (9):688-692. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Sealey, Rebecca M.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Spinks, Warwick; Sinclair, Wade (2010) 'Reliability of two metabolic systems during spot-specific upper-body ergometry'. European Journal of Sport Science, 10 (5):305-309. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Trapp, Denise; Knez, Wade; Sinclair, Wade (2010) 'Could a vegetarian diet reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress? A review of the literature'. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28 (12):1261-1268. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Sealey, Rebecca M.; Spinks, Warwick L.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Sinclair, Wade H. (2010) 'Identification and reliability of pacing strategies in outrigger canoeing ergometry'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13 (2):241-246. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Sealey, Rebecca M.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Pollock, Paige; Wright, Anne-Marie (2010) 'A case study identifying disease risk factor prevalence in government office workers in Queensland, Australia'. International Journal of Workplace Health Managment, 3 (1):34-43. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Sinclair, Wade H.; Rudzki, Stephan J.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Fogarty, Alison L.; Winter, Susan K.; Patterson, Mark J. (2009) 'Efficacy of field treatments to reduce body core temperature in hyperthermic subjects'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 41 (11):1982-1988. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Sinclair, Wade H.; Kerr, Rebecca M.; Spinks, Warwick L.; Leicht, Anthony S. (2009) 'Blood lactate, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion responses of elite surf-lifesavers to high-performance competition'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 12 (1):101-106. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Leicht, A.S.; Sealey, R.M.; Sinclair, W.H (2009) 'The reliability of VO(2peak)determination in healthy females during an incremental arm ergometry test'. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 30 (7):509-515. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Leicht, Anthony S.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Patterson, Mark J.; Rudzki, Stephan; Tulppo, Mikko P.; Fogarty, Alison L.; Winter, Sue (2009) 'Influence of postexercise cooling techniques on heart rate variability in men'. Experimental Physiology, 94 (6):695-703. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Leicht, Anthony S.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Spinks, Warwick L. (2008) 'Effect of exercise mode on heart rate variability during steady state exercise'. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 102 (2):195-204. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Kerr, Rebecca; Spinks, Warwick; Leicht, Anthony; Sinclair, Wade; Woodside, Louise (2008) 'Physiological responses to 1000-m ergometer time-trial performance in outrigger canoeing'. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26 (11):1219-1223. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Kerr, Rebecca M.; Spinks, Warwick; Leicht, Anthony S.; Sinclair, Wade ; Woodside, Louise (2008) 'Comparison of physiological responses to graded exercise test performance in outrigger canoeing'. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26 (7):743-749. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Sinclair, Wade H.; Crowe, Melissa J.; Spinks, Warwick L.; Leicht, Anthony S. (2008) 'Thermoregulatory responses of junior lifesavers wearing protective clothing'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 11 (6):542-548. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Kerr, R.M; Spinks, W.; Leicht, A.S.; Sinclair, W. (2008) 'Predictors of 1000-m outrigger canoeing performance'. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 29 (8):675-678. [DOI]
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Sinclair, Wade H.; Crowe, Melissa J.; Spinks, Warwick L.; Leicht, Anthony S. (2007) 'Pre-pubertal children and exercise in hot and humid environments: a brief review'. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 6 (4):385-392.
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
McGuckin, T.; Sinclair, W.; Sealey, R. (2011) WCSF 2011 VIIth World Congress on Science & Football Influence of travel on leg power in elite rugby league players Nagoya, Japan, .
Conference Contribution Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Sinclair, W.; Artis, J. (2011) VIIth World Congress on Science and Football Passing ability of adolescent soccer players during 4-day tournament play Nagoya, Japan, .
Conference Contribution Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
Fogarty, Alison L.; Sinclair, Wade H.; Rudzki, Stephan; Patterson, Mark J. (2009) ICEE 2009: 13th International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics Influence of undershirt type on physiological responses while exercising in the heat Boston, MA, USA, .
Conference Contribution ResearchOnline@JCU
Rudzki, Stephan; Sinclair, Wade H.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Patterson, Mark J.; Fogarty, Alison L.; Winter, Susan (2008) ACSM 2008 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine Comparison of the safety and efficacy of three cooling methods in hyperthermic subjects Indianapolis, IN, USA, . [DOI]
Conference Contribution ResearchOnline@JCU
Sinclair, Wade H.; Patterson, Mark J.; Leicht, Anthony S.; Rudzki, Stephan; Fogarty, Alison L.; Winter, Sue (2008) 3rd Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science Conference and the 5th Sports Dietitians Australia Update Evaluation of post-cooling techniques to treat hyperthermia Melbourne, VIC, Australia, .
Conference Contribution ResearchOnline@JCU
Winter, Susan; Rudzki, Steven; Patterson, Mark; Sinclair, Wade (2008) Australian Military Medical Association Annual Scientific Conference Evaluation of methods for rapid cooling of heat induced injury, is intravenous normal saline an option? Melbourne, VIC, Australia, .
Conference Contribution Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU