This weekend’s fixture at home to Bradford Bulls is exactly what Hunslet wanted when we gained promotion to the Championship last season. The Parksiders are hoping for a bumper crowd at the South Leeds Stadium in what is set to be a thrilling West Yorkshire derby.

It comes early in the season against the league favourites, and it gives Dean Muir’s squad an early chance to test themselves against the best.

“We are really excited. It’s what we wanted after promotion. We are happy to play and will relish the opportunity to go up against a quality side. We just get on with our game.” said Head Coach Dean Muir.

“We must dust ourselves down after last weekend at Barrow. We didn’t perform and were a bit like a rabbit in the headlights. But it’s a tough competition week in week out and that will happen.

“There will be times when it’s a really hard week, but also some good weeks. We will build into the season and eventually the squad will gel together and get used to one another. It will come.”

Muir hasn’t been helped by an unfortunate injury to last seasons Coaches Player of the Year Cam Berry, who broke his arm at work and is expected to be missing for a while.

Injuries to Brad Clavering, Keelan Foster, Matty Fletcher and Liam Carr also leave Hunslet short of firepower. But it means players can step up and make a name for themselves.

Sam Campbell has impressed off the bench in the last two outings. At only 20 years old, he looks a good player and has the opportunity to shine whilst others are missing.

Another positive on Sunday was a debut try for Kobe Rugless, who looked lively around the ruck coming off the bench.

But the stats against Bradford show they are one of the two clubs Hunslet haven’t beaten since re-formation in 1973. A 12-12 draw in 1984/85 was the closest the Parksiders got with Rudd and King bagging tries for Hunslet and a young talent called Ellery Hanley getting two for Bradford.

Could this record be put to bed this weekend?

The club can also confirm that Dean Roberts and Joe Gibbons have left the club.

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