Dons have nothing to lose
TONY Miller will tell his Dons players they have nothing to lose against title chasing Widnes Vikings on Saturday.
Doncaster travel to Cheshire on the back of a crushing 78-8 derby defeat to Sheffield Eagles - a week after they went down 70-6 to lowly Batley.
But head coach Miller wants his players to forget all about the cash-strapped club's problems on and off the field - and says he is desperate to put a smile back on the face of rugby league in Doncaster.
Looking ahead to this weekend's clash at the Stobart Stadium he said: "We've got nothing to lose now.
"With all that's gone on at the club I want people to get back to thinking about why it is they play rugby.
"Everyone's been a bit down and a few of the lads have been walking round with the weight of the world on their shoulders recently.
"But I just want the lads to concentrate on playing, give it their all and play with a smile on their face."
The Dons, who are firmly rooted to the bottom of the Co-operative Championship, have been licking their wounds this week after the Eagles landed fourteen tries at Featherstone on Sunday.
Miller said: "It was just like the Batley game in that we started quite well but physically they had too much for us.
"We had five debutants on show which wasn't ideal because it takes a bit of time for players to gel but that's not an excuse for some poor defending.
"To be fair we were outclassed by Sheffield - and I expect them to be up there come the end of the season - but I thought we could've done a bit better defensively.
"We just haven't got enough leaders and stronger characters for when it's going against us," he added.
"We lack that bit of experience and at this level it is a tough learning curve."
Miller has been dealt a further blow by the news that Tongan recruit Lisiate Tafa, who has temporarily switched codes to turn out for the Dons, will be out for a month after breaking his thumb against Sheffield.
Shaun Leaf is rated 50-50 after being carried off with concussion during the Dons' ninth consecutive Championship defeat.
The head coach is, however, optimistic about adding more loan players to his squad ahead of Saturday's daunting trip to face the Vikings (6pm).
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Weather for Doncaster
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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