Page 55 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

BREATHING FIRE

I’m not going to lie
Stephen Wild, the sole director remaining from
the previous board, called a meeting a couple of
weeks after the resignations to decide how the club by saying that we all
could move forward ahead of the 2020 season.
The rest is history as, despite a great deal of
uncertainty, Swinton Lions managed to survive, felt a bit disheartened. We
with their original name and brand intact.
“It was pretty hard to ignore really because we
were promised so much and we were really excited as were promised new facilities,
a group for 2020,” said Welsh international Rhodri
Lloyd, who is currently one of the Lions’ longest-
serving players. branding and sponsors, but it
“In the end, it didn’t work out, but what I will
say is that the way Stu (Littler) and the rest of the
coaching staff have managed it has been superb. wasn’t meant to be. ”
“We came in and I’m not going to lie by saying that
we all felt a bit disheartened. We were promised
new facilities, branding and sponsors, but it wasn’t “I’m one of the oldest and I’m 26. It’s a young
meant to be. squad so, if we can build on what we did well last
“I think it just shows the togetherness between the year, we’ll go alright in the Championship.”
boys and the coaching staff how we’ve managed to Still the youngest ever player to be capped by
come through it all. Wales shortly after his 17th birthday, Lloyd has
“I won’t mention names, but some of the lads had an interesting couple of years coming up on the
offers from bigger teams. They will do because they international scene, with the European Championship
performed so well last year, but they’ve decided to stay in 2020 and the all-important World Cup in 2021.
with Swinton and I think a lot of that is down to Stu. His form at club level will no doubt be imperative
“He’s played a massive part in making sure we are when it comes to staking his claim for selection.
where we are at the minute.” “I always look forward to working with John (Kear)
spit
e

In spite of all the off-season developments, , a d p ay g o y cou t y. t s a t e
In

de
as
on
s
and playing for my country. It’s a time of the year all
v
elopment
e
all

of

off
s
the

of us who play for Wales get excited about,” Lloyd
winton look in a strong position to kick on in the
Swinton look in a strong position to kick on in the of us who play for Wales get excited ab
upcoming season, with a near identical squad to the explained.
explained.
pcoming season, with a near identical squad to the
ne that performed so well in the second part of 2019.
“But that’s at the back of my mind
one that performed so well in the second part of 2019. “But that’s at the back of my mind at the start
g
of the season as I’ve got a big year ahead with
It is simply a case of picking up where they left of the season as I’ve got a big year
I
t is simpl
y left
e the
e of pickin
as
y a c
up w
her
my club. I take it week by week no matter what
off, according to Lloyd. my club. I take it week by week n
f, according to Lloyd.
“Given what’s happened, it’s been a solid pre-
“Given what’s happened, it’s been a solid pre- time of the year it is.
time of the year it is.
ason really,” he explained.
“I work in a school so that alwa
season really,” he explained. “I work in a school so that always helps to
“It’s been my first full pre-season for about five take my mind off things in the we
take my mind off things in the week. But, when
“It’s been my first full pre-season for about five
ars now as I’ve always been involved with the
it comes to the weekend, it’s
years now as I’ve always been involved with the it comes to the weekend, it’s matchday
internationals. and all my focus is on Sw
and all my focus is on Swinton.
ternationals.
“I honestly believe i
“We’re 20 or 30 per cent above where we were “I honestly believe it’s an exciting
“We’re 20 or 30 per cent above where we were
before the start of last season and I think the big time for us and, wit
efore the start of last season and I think the big
time for us and, with the young
squad we’ve got, I
thing for us now is to build on that run of games at squad we’ve got, I think we’re
ing for us now is to build on that run of games at
really going to surprise a few
e end of 2019.
the end of 2019. really going to sur
“We need to have a big start as it’ll stand us in good people this year.”
people this year.”
“We need to have a big start as it’ll stand us in good
ead if we can finish as strong as we did last year.
In times of ad
stead if we can finish as strong as we did last year. In times of adversity, some
“When you look at last season on a bigger scale,
people can get
“When you look at last season on a bigger scale, people can get through the
it’s disappointing with the way we started as it challenges the
challenges they face and
s disappointing with the way we started as it
others can’t. I
really hindered where we could have ended up others can’t. It is always
ally hindered where we could have ended up
nishing in the table.
a good test of
finishing in the table. a good test of character,
“We can trouble a few teams, particularly with but the forme
“We can trouble a few teams, particularly with
but the former can most
our attack, but we probably just need to tighten certainly be s
ur attack, but we probably just need to tighten
certainly be said for
p a bit on our defence.
up a bit on our defence. Swinton.
Swinton.
Last season yielded
“We are striving now to be a middle of the table
“We are striving now to be a middle of the table Last season
ub at the minimum and we certainly don’t
successes like victory
club at the minimum and we certainly don’t successes like
in Toulouse
want to be fighting to avoid relegation. in Toulouse and the
ant to be fighting to avoid relegation.
“We’ve got a lot of youth in the side, but the
incredible rise of Matty
“We’ve got a lot of youth in the side, but the incredible
spine of the team has probably been here for Ashton, w
pine of the team has probably been here for
Ashton, who has since
ound six years
gone on to earn a deal
around six years gone on
ow. Having
now. Having at Super League
at Sup
club
at spine will
that spine will club Warrington
opefully
hopefully Wo
Wolves.
Perhaps there
elp to bring
help to bring P e
the younger are plenty more
e younger
are p
ayers
players successes to come in
succes
through. 2020 a
rough.
2020 and beyond. RLW
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