Gareth is a top rugby league journalist who has one very exceptional distinction. He chooses to write about matters pertaining to the Championship and League One.
Although this blog is devoted to Featherstone Rovers it is always good to read opinions about matters relevant to us, but not specifically about us. We hope you enjoy reading Gareth's column each week.
League
of their own
WITH Super League and the
Championship having already got their seasons underway, this weekend is the
turn of Betfred League One.
Eleven clubs will be vying for two
promotion spots and looking at the squads that have been assembled, it seems
certain to be a fascinating race.
Oldham were named as early favourites
by one bookmakers, having beaten Championship clubs Barrow and Rochdale in
pre-season. It’s
fair to say last season fell below expectations for the Roughyeds, but they
have a balanced squad and new addition Richie Hawkyard could be an x-factor.
Newcastle Thunder have caused a stir
with their winter recruitment, which has included Liam Finn, Misi Taulapapa and
Keal Carlile. On paper, they should be challenging strongly for promotion.
So too should Workington Town, given
both how close they came last season but also when you consider that their
squad includes Danny Tickle, Sam Hopkins and Ryan Fieldhouse, with Sean
Penkywicz and Oliver Wilkes also having stayed.
Neighbours Whitehaven have fewer
big-name players in their ranks, but the Phillips brothers Callum and Brett
have been reunited and PNG stars Deon Aiye and Jesse Joe Parker will ask
questions of any defence.
Hunslet are another club to impress
with their signings, with established forwards Richard Moore and Adam Robinson
giving them a strong-looking pack for halfbacks Danny Nicklas, Joe Sanderson
and Cain Southernwood to work off.
Doncaster also have some impressive
forwards in Ryan Boyle, Frankie Mariano and new recruit Brandon Douglas, though
with a smaller squad than many of their rivals, much could depend on how their
dual registration partnership with Hull FC works.
North Wales Crusaders have perhaps
flown under the radar a bit in pre-season, but any squad including seasoned
winners at this level in Steven Roper and Rob Massam, plus the
out-of-retirement again Stephen Wild, should certainly not be underestimated.
Keighley Cougars will start the
campaign on minus 12 points after their tumultuous winter, but there seems to
be a genuine feel-good mood returning to the club under previous owners Mick O’Neill
and Mike Smith, and James Feather and Jamie Thackray offer vast experience.
Coventry Bears have been one of the
success stories of recent seasons and will be looking to add to their first “established”
scalps of Keighley and Hunslet last year, with Kameron Pearce-Paul and Kadeem
Williams two of several exciting performers in their team.
London Skolars’ progress has
perhaps stalled a little in that same timeframe, but their 2019 squad looks
strong, with Neil Thorman, Lamont Bryan and former Super League wingers Omari
Caro and Iliess Macani offering real quality.
Finally, there are high hopes that West
Wales Raiders can improve dramatically under new coach Kim Williams after their
hugely testing 2018, with half a dozen overseas players expected to
significantly stiffen their resolve.
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