Coach Gary Thornton confident Hunslet will get back into League 1 mix as full-back Jimmy Watson nears playing comeback
Last Sunday’s 40-0 defeat at Keighley Cougars - who scored all their points in the second half - was Hunslet’s third loss in four games and they are second from bottom in the table.
Injuries and a disrupted pre-season have taken their toll, but Thornton stressed: “It’s important we stay calm.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe pledged: “We’ll certainly ride this particular storm - we’ve shown we are more than capable of that by being level with other promotion-chasing sides until the closing stages of games.
“Once we’ve achieved full fitness we’ll be on a level playing field with our rivals, who are taking points off each other anyway.
“The fact this is such a competitive division means we can quickly force our way back into the mix.”
Thornton believes the Parksidersa will “reach full match fitness as we play more games”.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe added: “The loan men we are bringing in have had little rugby of late and are naturally struggling in the closing stages of games, in addition to having to operate in a new environment. Our entire right side at Keighley was made up of loan players.”
Full-back Jimmy Watson is in contention to make his first appearance of the season in Sunday’s home game against Rochdale Hornets, after recovering from a knee injury.
Centre Will Cooke, who was hurt in a pre-season clash with Workington, could return in around two weeks’ time and Thornton revealed: “Will actually broke his leg.
“It’s a hairline fracture, which isn’t good, but is potentially better than ligament damage, which is what was originally diagnosed.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSupport the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.