Page 48 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

KEIGHLEY COUGARS

RLW PREDICTS: 7th
Pre-season in 2020 at Keighley Cougars couldn’t
be any different to how it was 12-months earlier.
The club didn’t even know they would still be in
existence to start last season, and even if they
were, they would have a threadbare squad and a
12-point deduction to deal with.
They survived after the consortium led by Mick
O’Neill, who was the man behind the Cougarmania
days of the 90s, took over and did what they
could to make the best out of what had been an
horrendous situation.
The season took a surprise turn in May when,
after five wins and a draw from their opening eight COACH STAR PLAYER
league games, the club parted company with
Craig Lingard, replacing him with former Hull KR Australian former Super League The Cougars pulled off a major
Super League player and Lingard’s assistant Rhys player Rhys Lovegrove made his coup when they signed Jake
Lovegrove. first foray into the world of head Webster from local rivals Bradford
Under him, the Cougars picked up three more wins coaching when he replaced Craig Bulls.
but thinking ahead, the Aussie was using that time Lingard part way through last Not only does a signing of that
to set in motion his own plans for how he wanted season. magnitude clearly state Keighley’s
the squad to play this year. With a clear idea in his mind of how intent for the year, but it also
It seems to have done the trick and Lovegrove is to bring Cougarmania back to the brings both NRL and Super League
confident the Cougars can be a real force to be club, Lovegrove used the back end experience to Cougar Park.
reckoned with this season as they look to put a of last season and the pre-season Tasked with bringing Cougarmania
tumultuous 18-months firmly behind them. as a trial run to instil his style of back to the club, Webster’s
Strong recruitment and retention of players keen to play into the squad. influence from his work off the
be part of Cougarmania Mark II has seen Lovegrove His topflight experience with Hull field and in the community will be
create a side that can offer both flair in attack and KR will no doubt prove valuable for just as important to the club as
continuity in defence. the League’s youngest coach at 32. anything he does on it.

LONDON SKOLARS

RLW PREDICTS: 9th London Skolars at one stage looked like being the
surprise package of 2019.
A run of five straight wins in April and May, two of
which were particularly impressive results against
Workington Town and Doncaster, saw the capital
side sitting second in the league and level on
points with Whitehaven.
Many were beginning to think that the dream was
on and that Jermaine Coleman’s side could mount a
serious push for promotion.
But that dream soon turned into a nightmare
when, in a drastic U-turn of fortunes, injuries and
unavailabilities took their toll and they picked up just
COACH STAR PLAYER one more win in their final eleven games, eventually
finishing six points adrift of the play-off places.
It’s probably fair to say that Jermaine London-Born Mike Bishay’s utility It wasn’t for a lack of trying though with several
Coleman is one of the hardest value could prove a major boost for defeats coming down to the finest of margins -
working coaches in League 1. the Skolars this year. something Coleman will have been considering
Not only does he face a constant With the ability and knowledge to play when recruiting for the new season.
battle of trying to grow the game in either half-back position, hooker, With new investment still being sought for the club,
in London, he must also deal with loose forward and even fullback he is Coleman has again been unable to splash the cash,
the recruitment issue their location likely to be a mainstay of the squad, instead hoping the lure of London life is enough to
raises, whilst also preparing providing he stays fit himself. bring in some more experienced heads.
Jamaica for their debut World Cup With spells in both Super League However the players who experienced both the
competition. and in Australia his understanding highs and lows last season will have taken a lot
The fact that he is also always of the game will also be invaluable from the drastic demise in the second half of
willing to lace up his boots and play as he looks to surpass 100 the year and will be eager to right a few wrongs
again when needed shows how appearances for the club - he starts - especially as their opening two games will be
committed he is to the cause. the campaign on 98. streamed live on the OuRLeague App.

PAGE 48 RugbyLeague ISSUE #466 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @RLWORLD
WORLD