Page 41 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PREVIEW

SWINTON LIONS

RLW PREDICTS: 12th

The 2019 season could hardly have been last three decades - the Lions rallied again.
more emotional for Swinton Lions and their With club historian Steve Wild remaining as
supporters. the sole director, they looked to restore a
On the field they recorded their best pride in Swinton, assembling a new board of
campaign in recent memory. Impressive directors that will now take the club forward.
coach Stuart Littler guided them to ninth in Their spend is likely to be less than under the
the Championship, above a host of clubs with previous regime. As a result, Ashton has left
bigger budgets. for Warrington, but Littler remains in place
The Lions also uncovered the competition’s and as such, their hopes of staying in the
best young player in fleet-footed outside back Championship are high.
Matty Ashton, who topped the competition’s Littler has retained the core of his 2019
try scoring charts in his first season in the squad and added a sprinkling of largely young
professional game and won the Young Player and promising new recruits looking for an
of the Year award to boot. opportunity like the one that Ashton grasped.
Given the near financial implosion of 2017, Fellow Rochdale lad Brandon Wood is seen
these were major strides - but everything was as a direct replacement and impressed in
far from rosy. a struggling team with the Hornets last
The club’s board of directors, led by chairman year, while there are high hopes for Wigan
Andy Mazey, believed that the Lions would youngster Sam Grant.
not be able to progress any further under its The dual registration agreement with the
current guise, playing outside of Swinton for a Warriors remains in place and Littler will be
28th straight season, now at Sale RFC. hoping to be able to call on the likes of Harry
They proposed a name change to Manchester Smith and Chris Hankinson again at various
Lions, which was met with firm opposition stages.
from a significant portion of the club’s Gavin Bennion, Rhodri Lloyd, Mike Butt and
support, and weeks later, Mazey and his Rob Fairclough remain as pillars of the squad,
fellow directors stepped down to place fresh and if they stay healthy, they should have
uncertainty on the future. enough quality in their ranks to avoid getting
But - as they have consistently done over the sucked into the battle at the bottom.

STAR PLAYER COACH
2020 SQUAD:

1 Mike Butt
2 Richard Lepori
3 Ben Morris
4 Mitch Cox
5 Brandon Wood
6 Jack Hansen
7 Rob Fairclough
8 Gavin Bennion
9 Luke Waterworth
10 Lewis Hatton
Amid the off-field turbulence of last year, 11 Rhodri Lloyd
Stuart Littler kept his head and enhanced 12 Frankie Halton
his growing reputation as a young coach.
Rob Fairclough has developed into an Having since steered Ireland to World Cup 13 Will Hope
assured playmaker at this level, and they qualification in impressive style, that is only 14 Billy Brickhill
can often be in scant supply outside the likely to continue. 16 Paddy Jones
leading clubs. It was no secret that Littler was close to 17 Jose Kenga
The former St Helens junior played 27 previous chairman Andy Mazey, but he 18 Louis Brogan
matches last season and was a key reason seems to have dealt with the change in 19 Sam Grant
for their ninth-placed finish. ownership smoothly, ensuring minimal 20 Oscar Thomas
His combinations with fullback Jack Hansen impact on the playing squad.
and dual reg half-back partner Harry Smith Littler might not quite have the budget at 21 Tayler Brown
were central to coach Littler’s attacking his disposal that he thought he was going to 22 Joe Digby
style, and the Lions will be hoping for more get at one stage, but he has retained most 23 Ben Heyes
of the same in 2020. of his key foot soldiers and is again set to 24 Deane Meadows
Fairclough’s shrewd in-field kicking game is implement a style of play that is easy on the 25 Ryan Gray
also a key component of Swinton’s play. eye and sees outside backs profit regularly.

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