Changes will be made for Hunslet’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie at home to Coventry Bears on Sunday, coach James Coyle has promised.

Hunslet’s first game of the season – and Coyle’s competitive debut as the Parksiders’ coach – ended in a 34-10 home defeat by Newcastle Thunder in the League One Cup. And a bitterly disappointed Coyle insisted if the players on duty two days ago can’t do the job, he will bring in others who can.

“I have got a lot of players available to play and there will be changes this weekend,” Coyle pledged.

Sunday’s third-round tie is a bigger game for Hunslet and Coyle added: “I was more disappointed with the performance than the result.

“The League One Cup is not massive in terms of revenue for the club. It can take away from what you want to do in the league and Challenge Cup, which are more important, but having said that, the performance was poor. It’s not a good place to be starting from two weeks before the League One season begins.”

Coyle said there were some positives. He added: “We showed a bit of character when we went down to 12 [after Gavin Duffy was sent-off]. We kept working hard for each other and throwing bodies into people. We did that to the last, but we have got to be a lot better than we were.”

Article courtesy of the Yorkshire Evening Post