Doncaster RLFC: Carr back on track after almost quitting game

Full-back Tom Carr has been one of the Dons' standout players this season.
Tom CarrTom Carr
Tom Carr

But he could have been lost to the game but for the efforts of head coach Gary Thornton.

Carr admits that he was ready to hang up his boots at the end of last season following knee reconstruction surgery in pre-season which ruled him out of most of his first campaign at Doncaster.

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“I was out for nine months and I’d not trained much during that time but Gary asked me if I’d play towards the back end of the season because the team was short on numbers,” recalled Carr.

Not surprisingly, given the circumstances, the former Whitehaven man didn’t do himself justice in a struggling Championship team heading for League One.

“I thought about packing in at the end of the season but Gary said that I’d get my confidence back and talked me into signing for another year,” said Carr.

“I’m glad he did because I feel I’m having a half-decent season and there is more to come.

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“It’s been a bit of a stop-start season because we made early exits in two cup competitions and it’s difficult to get any momentum, but I think I’m getting there slowly.

“The injury was still in the back of my mind when I started pre-season but the more you play it goes away.”

Despite the operation being to his kicking leg, Carr has taken on the kicking duties and has done a pretty good job.

“It’s something I’ve always done since being young,” he said.

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Carr is pleased with the start the Dons have made and entertains hopes of promotion back to the Championship, but warned against complacency.

“League One is tougher than many people thought it would be and we've lost games we expected to win,” he said.

“Although we were probably still gelling I think our early defeats were more to do with injuries – particularly at half-back.

“Having played there a couple of times when I was at York, I covered at stand-off at times.

“It’s obviously not my best position and it’s a difficult role when you’ve not been used to playing there because you have to try and organise the team as well as play your own game.”