MATCH INFORMATION
KEIGHLEY COUGARS v SHEFFIELD EAGLES - FRIENDLY
SUNDAY 26TH JANUARY - 2PM KICK OFF
COUGAR PARK - KEIGHLEY - BD21 3RF
REFEREE - MR MICHAEL MANNIFIELD (HUDDERSFIELD)
ADMISSION:
ADULT - £10
CONCESSIONS - £5
JUNIORS (13 & UNDER) - FREE
LOVERS INVITES THE PRESSURE
KEIGHLEY Cougars' head coach Rhys Lovegrove has admitted that he wants his side to come under the cosh at home to Sheffield Eagles this Sunday, saying that there are no benefits to remaining in your comfort zone.
It seemed comfortable for Cougars in their 68-10 win over Coventry Bears last weekend, but Lovegrove insisted that game was important for his side to get used to the "unknown" nature of League One rugby.
The Sheffield clash should round off what has been Lovegrove's ideal pre-season, with his side going up against three different styles in three weeks.
The Australian said: "Dewsbury (Rams) are big and direct and Sheffield are clean and detailed in their play but Coventry was exactly what I wanted too.
"In Super League, every team plays pretty much the same way, and even Sheffield and other teams in their division represent a certain style.
"But Coventry offer the unknown and randomness of League One. I'm structured and detailed in my coaching, but we've only produced that against ourselves in pre-season.
"So to see teams that don't do what others normally do, like with players not always wearing the same numbers, is useful.
"They're a great club with great people at Coventry too."
Despite that different kind of test, Lovegrove is very much looking forward to the encounter with Sheffield.
He said: "It's definitely the toughest game yet. They're a very good team.
"I'm a big believer in that, when you're in your comfort zone, you only see your good side. I want us to be under pressure.
"I want them to bring a strong team because it should allow us to see what we can fix (before the season starts)."
One player who might not need any fixing is exciting winger Taylor Prell. He ran the full length of the field to score in the win over Dewsbury and added another two tries against Coventry.
Prell used to play for Warrington Wolves, having converted from rugby union, where he was a former England Under-20 international.
Asked about whether that could have been easy for Prell, Lovegrove said: "Especially for wingers, it's almost a direct switch from rugby union to rugby league as you're doing the same things.
"I played union for a season and a half at Wharfedale and adapted no problem. It's only in the forwards where there's a big difference."
He added: "Taylor and Jack (Miller) both did well against Coventry and that's indicative of the way they've trained.
"I was maybe harsh on them after Dewsbury but I'm happy they've taken steps towards fixing any issues. Jack and Taylor have been rewarded with just changing a few details."
Rhys Lovegrove's quotes courtesy of the Keighley News
TEAM NEWS
Rhys Lovegrove names a 24 man squad and welcomes Macauley Hallett into the squad for the first time in 2020 after recovering from a foot injury.
Benn Hardcastle (Glute) returns to the side after missing last week's victory over Coventry through injury.
Dan Hawksworth (Ribs) is sidelined after picking up a knock last Sunday where he joins Ritchie Hawkyard (Leg), Jordan Aitchison (Heart) and Ryan Wright (Ankle) on the treatment table.
The Eagles game comes a week too soon for Will Cooke (Foot), but the centre could make a return from injury for his first runout next Friday evening for the Castleford reserves side.
Jack Arnold remains suspended.
COUGARS: Agoro; Bailey; Coventry; Darley; Desmond-Walker; Feather; Gaylor; Hallett; Hardcastle; Hayes; Kesik; Levy; Lynam; Miller; Moran; Muranka; Parker; Prell; Seeley; Sheriff; Stead; Webster; Welham; Wray.
Sheffield Eagles Head Coach Mark Aston names a 21 man squad for the visit to Cougar Park.
Former Cougars hooker James Davey is included and added to the 20 men that defeated Doncaster in last Sunday's Soth Yorkshire Cup clash in the only change to the side.
There will be a small former Cougars contingent in the Eagles ranks, with Josh Guzdek, who enjoyed a successful loan spell with the club in 2015, joining Davey in the Eagles squad.
EAGLES: Bower; Broadbent; Brown; G Burns; P Burns; Davey; Davies; Dixon; I Farrell; J Farrell; Guzdek; Makelim; Mariano; McComb; Millar; Mulvany; Taylor; Thackeray; Ward; Worrincy; Yere.
AITCH DIAGNOSED WITH HEART CONDITION
Earlier this week, the Cougars announced Jordan Aitchison will have to take a temporary step back from playing due to the diagnosis of a heart condition.
Aitch has had this condition since birth, yet it was only detected by Dr Richard Lawrence earlier this month during his routine heart screening.
The club can confirm that Jordan now has a date for his operation in early Feburary as following a two week post-surgery recovery period, will be allowed to return to light training late next month.
Both Jordan and the Cougars would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support over the past few day since the announcement.
It also testament to the work and dedication of Lizzie Jones MBE and the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund since the tragic loss of Jonesy in our 2015 away fixture at the London Skolars.
We will keep supporters updated with Aitch's operation and recovery throughout the next few months and for more information on the work done by the DJ Defib Fund, visit their website at: https://www.dannyjonesdefibfund.co.uk/
VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION CAMP
Josh Guzdek says the Eagles squad will head into their final pre-season fixture against Keighley Cougars with confidence following a 38-16 win over Doncaster last weekend.
The Red and Golds’ first game of 2020 ended with the South Yorkshire Cup being raised by Mark Aston’s men as four tries in the final ten minutes saw the game turn on its head.
With six off-season signings, and trialist James Mulvany, involved against the Dons, Guzdek is also happy with the progress made towards the Eagles’ new style of play.
“It was a good performance, it’s always nice to get a win,” he commented.
“There’s a few things to work on but we still have a couple of weeks left before the season starts to put that right.
“We have a new way of playing, new combinations with the likes of Izaac (Farrell) coming into the team, Corey (Makelim) at half-back and Robbie (Ward) at hooker.
"The new lads are getting used to how we play, it’s positive and we’re heading in the right direction.
“The backend of the game, we got into our stride a bit and we realised what Tubbs and the coaching staff have been asking of us in terms of building tempo.
“It was good to get to grips with it, things started to come off and our execution was better.
“It wasn’t happening for most of the game as we did have chances to score more, so we were a bit disappointed with that.”
An injury to Connor Bower meant changes had to be made, which included Guzdek moving to centre from full-back, Makelim to full-back from stand-off and Farrell Jnr going to 6.
Commenting on his own versatility, as well as his teammates, Guzdek added: “It is good to have - knowing if someone gets injured then we can cover a few spots,”
“Corey (Makelim) started out at half (against Doncaster) but Connor (Bower) went off with an elbow knock so we had a bit of time to try out those combinations again.
“I went to centre again, Corey moved to full-back and that allowed Izaac to come on and play in the halves.
“We’re in a good position as we have a few players who can play in different positions, so we do have the cover which is always good as the nature of rugby league is that injuries do happen.”
This Sunday will be a little reunion for Guzdek as he returns to Keighley, where he enjoyed a loan spell in 2015.
Six tries in seven games for the Cougars impressed Dewsbury enough to sign Guzdek from Hull KR ahead of the 2016 season.
The full-back has good memories of his short stint at Cougar Park.
"They gave me an opportunity at an important time of my career as I was heading towards the end of my contract with Hull KR,” Guzdek reflected.
“They gave me a chance to get some good game time and I enjoyed it under Paul March during my time at the club.
“They have a good set of fans and the atmosphere was good on a game day.
“It will be good to see familiar faces again down at Keighley again.”
View From The Opposition Camp courtesy of Dan Fowler at Sheffield Eagles
COUGARS ANNOUNCE DUAL REG WITH CAS
Keighley Cougars this week announced a dual-registration partnership with Betred Super League club, the Castleford Tigers.
The partnership will see Castleford players not selected in the club’s squads each week be made available for selection for Keighley, whilst players can also move in the opposite direction to feature for the Tigers’ reserves, with Cougars duo Dan Parker and Dan Hawksworth both earning valuable game time with the Fords in a recent pre-season friendly against Widnes.
Castleford Tigers Director of Rugby Jon Wells said: “Our dual registration agreement with Keighley provides our coaching staff with another vital option to secure game time for players within our structures.
“We’ve got an excellent relationship with Keighley and both Rhys Lovegrove (head coach) and former Tiger Jake Webster have spent time in our first team environment during the off season as we establish the links to make this partnership a real success.
“Along with the academy and reserves competitions, we are now partnered with clubs in both the Championship and League One, giving us a range of pathways to continue the development of the players within our group, whilst we can also offer valuable game time to some of Keighley’s reserves players as well with the Cougars no longer able to play in the reserves competition this year.”
Keighley Cougars Head Coach Rhys Lovegrove said: “I massively wanted a reserves team of our own. Everyone knows what that would mean to us.
“But we have had six or seven players missing during pre-season who have all played over 150 first grade games. If they don’t make the Cougars team for Round One, then they need somewhere to play otherwise they’re not going to be able to make the team.
“I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time with Daryl Powell and just said if he had a few spots going in his reserves, then I had a few first-graders that could play.
“I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly, but Daryl messaged me a few weeks later asking if I had any big, strong, direct middles that could do a job in that division for their friendly at Widnes.
“The first thing that came into my mind was that it was an amazing opportunity to play Super League, friendly or not. The second thing was it will allow me to give people proper minutes.
“That’s really good. Looking at the future, it should be good for both us and Castleford moving forward.”