Page 40 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

SHEFFIELD EAGLES

RLW PREDICTS: 8th

Mark Aston’s Eagles were one of the Mariano will boost the size of the pack and
big winners of 2019, putting a difficult Connor Bower has plenty of potential at
previous season behind them to become centre.
playoff contenders again and win the Hooker Robbie Ward should thrive under
inaugural 1895 Cup at Wembley. Aston’s tutelage, and with the likes of
An overhaul of his squad and a return seasoned Championship campaigners
to the core values that had served the Aaron Brown, Joel Farrell and James
Eagles so well since their reform were Davey, plus prolific winger Ryan Millar
central to Aston’s success, and with still around, Sheffield’s squad looks well
minimal changes for 2020, they look well balanced.
placed to kick on again. Aston is also keen for the likes of Blake
The vastly experienced Anthony Broadbent and Rory Dixon to take the next
Thackeray was central to Sheffield’s steps in their development, while back
improvements, and although Pat Walker’s rowers Brad Knowles and Olly Davies have
retirement is an obvious blow, the club Super League potential if they continue
looks well placed to cope. their own progression.
Zack McComb is a talented utility back The other exciting element to 2020 for
who should relish his opportunity at a the club is the long-awaited development
higher level after joining from Oldham, and of their Olympic Legacy Park home.
if Aston can unlock the potential that saw That will see them play their first three
scrum-half Izaac Farrell play Super League home games at Doncaster RU’s Castle
for Huddersfield last season then he could Park, but they are due to return to the
have a real gem on his hands. city in early May which will provide a major
Farrell ended a difficult year with relegated boost.
Rochdale, but word from the Eagles camp With the kind of facility they have long
is that he has shed significant weight and coveted hopefully taking shape by then,
looks in great shape for the new campaign. the Eagles look well placed to return to
Returning duo Scott Wheeldon and Rob the kind of status that saw them win
Worrincy provide valuable know-how in back-to-back Grand Finals at this level in
the front row and out wide, while Frankie 2012 and 2013.

2020 SQUAD: STAR PLAYER COACH

1 Josh Guzdek
2 Rob Worrincy
4 James Glover
5 Ryan Millar
6 Corey Makelim
7 Anthony Thackeray
8 Scott Wheeldon
9 James Davey
10 Matt James
11 Brad Knowles
12 Joel Farrell What can be written about Mark Aston
13 Aaron Brown that hasn’t been written already?
14 Greg Burns Anthony Thackeray knows better than Mr Sheffield Eagles’ passion for the
15 Olly Davies most what it takes to succeed at this club burns as brightly as ever, over
level. two decades after being integral in its
16 Robbie Ward
Thackeray turns 34 in February but relaunch following the ill-fated merger
17 Frankie Mariano
showed he had lost none of his killer with Huddersfield.
18 Connor Bower instinct last year in topping the Eagles’ Triumphing at Wembley - where of course
19 Zack McComb try scoring charts with 23 in 32 games. he had been Lance Todd Trophy winner in
20 Blake Broadbent He will again steer Aston’s side around the club’s famous Challenge Cup victory
21 Paddy Burns the field and provide a genuine threat in 1998 - marked another chapter in his
22 Rory Dixon with the ball in hand as they look to remarkable association with the club.
improve on their seventh-placed finish. And he seems as determined as ever to
23 Lewis Taylor
Playmakers like Thackeray are invaluable ensure that Sheffield again become one
24 Izaac Farrell
in the Championship and he will be of the strongest all-round organisations
integral to their prospects for 2020. outside the top flight.

PAGE 40 RugbyLeague ISSUE #466 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @RLWORLD
WORLD