Rugby league: Dons in buoyant mood ahead of weekend clash against newcomers
Doncaster RLFC will be looking to prevent Goole Vikings from plundering the spoils in Sunday’s Betfred Championship clash at the Eco-Power Stadium (3pm).
Although rugby league’s newest club – they made their debut in League One last season – will be making their first visit to the stadium, a number of their squad will be familiar to Dons’ fans.
No fewer than five former Doncaster players – veteran second-rower Brett Ferres, speedy winger Tom Halliday, scrum-half Jack Miller, the son of former player and head coach Tony Miller, full-back Josh Guzek and prop Alex Holdstock – have turned out for them this season. Former Super League star Liam Watts, who recently joined the Vikings, also played three games on loan from Hull FC during the 2014 season.
Watts, who also lists Hull KR among his former clubs, boasts two Challenge Cup winner’s medals from his first spell at Hull FC and also played in Castleford’s beaten 2021 side.
Whereas Goole were well beaten by Widnes last weekend, the Dons will go into the game in a buoyant mood following their 78-8 win over Salford says Australian hooker Connor Jones, who joined the club on a two-year deal following Featherstone’s demise.
“It was nice to put some points on the board and I thought we looked pretty good in terms of our shape and things like that,” he told the Free Press.
“We’ve got strength all over the pitch from 1 to 13 and I think on Sunday we kind of showcased our skill set. We still have plenty to work on but I felt it was a step in the right direction.
“It was nice to see a bit of sun at the weekend and better conditions under foot. We are looking forward to the drier grounds because we’ve got a lot of pace and creativity in the backs but we can also it play it down the middle if we need to.
“I’m really enjoying it at Doncaster; obviously the Featherstone situation is really sad and I hope they can get back into the league next season.
“There is a really good nucleus of boys at the club and I think the new boys, me included, have all settled in well.
“There is a lot of competition for places, not least at hooker, where I feel that Greg (Burns) who is a very good player, and myself have struck up a good partnership though we are both different types of players. Isaac (Misky) currently on loan at Hunslet is also a very good player.
Neither Greg or myself is playing a full game but as long as I get out there sometime I’m happy to do whatever is best for the team in terms of minutes played. “