Page 47 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PREVIEW

DONCASTER

Doncaster certainly mean business in 2020,
RLW PREDICTS: 6th judging by the amount of recruitment they have
done and the amount of experience they have
added to a side that lost out at the semi-final stage
last year.
A growing injury list heading into the final eliminator
against Newcastle Thunder meant it was another
year of frustration for the South Yorkshire club, who
again fell just short at the play-off stage - as they
have done every year since their relegation from
the Championship in 2015.
With Rangi Chase showing signs of getting back to
his best towards the end of last season and players
such as Graeme Horne, Sam Seaton, Aaron Ollett,
COACH STAR PLAYER new signings, the larger than usual squad certainly
Ross Peltier and Harry Carter amongst the host of
Richard Horne clearly means Reuniting with his brother doesn’t lack experience of the higher levels.
business in 2020 after leaving his Richard, Graeme Horne’s arrival And they’ll need it as they will not be able to call
full-time role with boyhood club at Doncaster will add an air of on several Super League players after ending their
Hull FC to concentrate on all things calmness to the new look squad. long-standing dual registration deal with Hull FC.
Doncaster. With many of those new arrivals The recruitment could see a new resolve added to
The former half back ended his 20- bringing quality and experience the side, which is likely to be the difference when
odd year association with the Black themselves, the fact that Graeme it comes to seeing the big games out and putting
and Whites to focus on steering has already won promotion from themselves in a strong promotion position.
the Dons to the Championship. League 1 means he knows all With the World Cup coming to Doncaster in 2021
He has also taken the joint decision too well what it takes to get that it is important for the club that people are talking
to end the club’s dual-registration particular job done. about them in the right way, and with the chief
partnership with his former And as shown in 2019, his executive Carl Hall still currently serving as vice
employers and instead recruit a presence on the pitch tends to lift president of the RFL, he is certainly in a strong
bigger squad of his own, full of those around him to the next level. position to show them off.
invaluable experience.

HUNSLET

RLW PREDICTS: 4th
If Gary Thornton’s men are to improve on their fifth-
place 2019 finish, they desperately need to find a
way to win at home.
Winning just four of their ten League games at
the South Leeds Stadium was always going to
leave them lagging behind the pacesetters of the
competition. The fact that many of the defeats
came from winning positions as well will no doubt
have been frustrating for all involved - not least for
Thornton who has taken steps to ensure there is
no repeat of this form this time round.
Smart recruiting in the halves has seen Dom
Brambani and Simon Brown brought back together COACH STAR PLAYER
after a successful spell at Sheffield. The duo will
form the basis of a strong spine of the squad, while No one will have been more When Hunslet were losing games
former BARLA international Danny Rose will add disappointed with the way Hunslet from winning positions last year
something different as cover in the halves. finished last season than coach much of that was down to a lack of
But Thornton also had to recruit heavily in the Gary Thornton. experience in game management,
forwards too following the retirement of Micky But he has used that but with Dom Brambani on board
Haley, Adam Robinson and Mike Emmitt - a trio disappointment to strengthen his for 2020 that should be less of an
whose departure in one go would hit any club hard. squad in the hope that the poor issue to worry about.
Zach Johnson, Jordan Andrade, Harry Kidd, Harvey form, especially at home, is not As a well-respected Championship
Hallas and Jack Ray have come in while Zac Braham repeated. player with Halifax, Dewsbury and
was retained. So, with the size and experience Previous spells at Doncaster and Batley, Brambani will help form a
these players add, Hunslet now look a solid unit in York City Knights mean Thornton solid spine for the Leeds-based
the middle of the field as well. is one of the most experienced club, alongside their other halves
Hunslet look good on paper but the proof of the coaches at this level and he’ll be and several other key players.
pudding will be in their performances and ability to looking to make that count when it His signing should prove significant
control games when they are in charge. comes to a promotion push. for Hunslet.

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