Page 35 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PREVIEW

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

RLW PREDICTS: 3rd

In the Super League era, Featherstone his tutelage and they played an attractive
will feel they’ve never been as close to brand of rugby.
reaching the top flight. It’s a big void for new coach James
In previous years there have been things Webster to fill, but the former Wakefield
preventing their progress to the promised and Hull KR coach has earned his stripes
land. and a chance to prove his skills. His
At the start of the last decade the much- ethos compliments Carr’s, an undoubted
reviled franchising system prevented any positive, but there’s big expectation.
hope of progress to Super League. In recent But he boasts a stronger squad than Carr
years, the Super 8s provided hope but the did. The loss of hookers Connor Jones
bigger budgets of rival clubs and their own and Cameron King is a blow and one they’ll
shortcomings have blocked their path. struggle with and they won’t be able to
In 2019 they came so close to changing call on Ashton Golding after his move to
that as they got within about 30 minutes Huddersfield, but they’ve signed quality
of Super League, but Toronto’s superstars across the squad.
eventually guided them home. Dale Ferguson, Craig Hall, Brett Ferres
The Wolfpack always looked set to earn and Thomas Minns ooze Super League
promotion last year but now, they’re out of experience while Ben Blackmore, Alec
the way. For Featherstone, who were the Susino and Dean Parata are among
best of the rest, there aren’t any hurdles too the Championship’s most consistent
high or barricades too strong to prevent their performers.
passage to Super League this time around. Looking across the competition, you’ll
Perhaps the biggest challenge will be to struggle to pick out a stronger squad.
replace their former coach. The challenge, beyond anything, is
Ryan Carr’s spell in West Yorkshire was the expectation and handling it. Fev’s
memorable yet all too brief. Against all turbulent off-season last year saw them
the odds the Australian managed to put go under the radar throughout. They do not
together a squad on the move, get in have that luxury this year. 2020 SQUAD:
the playoffs and reach the final. Players But they’re certainly a team to watch out 1 Craig Hall
showed remarkable improvement under for.
2 Ben Blackmore
STAR PLAYER COACH 3 Josh Hardcastle
4 Thomas Minns
5 Conor Carey
6 Louis Jouffret
7 Dane Chisholm
8 Dale Ferguson
9 Dean Parata
10 James Harrison
11 Brett Ferres
12 Brad Day
13 James Lockwood
14 John Davies
15 Luke Cooper
16 Jack Bussey
17 Alec Susino
The signing of Craig Hall was one It’s an incredibly important year for James
that particularly stood out when Fev Webster, who, in certain ways, could have 18 Jimmy Beckett
announced his capture, and it’s not hard picked an easier job to take. 19 Jack Render
to see why. Webster heads into the year with a very 20 Jake Sweeting
Hall has been a regular in Super League for good squad but also the memories of 21 Dakota Whylie
the last 18 months of his career, now he what were achieved before him last 22 Brandan French
joins a side that has built a reputation for season. 23 Bradley Wright
open, offensive rugby. He arrives with big expectations. With
That suits Hall down to the ground. Few that comes pressure. 24 Sam Ottewell
will question his credentials with the ball At the same time, he has a squad more 25 Nathan Wright
in hand and if Featherstone continue to than capable of living up to that. If he can 26 Jack Richardson
play at the tempo they do and create the fulfil the club’s Super League ambition, it 27 Greg Worthington
space they did last year, Hall will wreak would be quite the endorsement on his CV 28 Gareth Gale
havoc. at such an early stage of his career.

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