Hunslet have bolstered their squad with two new faces ahead of the visit of big spending Oldham.
Ryan Westerman comes in from Hull having had Super League experience, whilst Brett Bailey joins from fellow Championship side Widnes.
“We are really happy with these additions” says Head Coach Dean Muir. “We tried to get Ryan last year, but he ended up playing Super League, then went on loan to Hull’s dual-reg Club Doncaster this year, which is only fair.
“He is a skilful, yard carrying Second row/Centre, and we have him for the season, whilst Brett at 6’3 and 180 kg is a big middle that adds size and punch to our pack. Both these lads are enthusiastic to come and compete for a place in the team.
“No place is guaranteed, but we needed extra depth and that’s what we now have.”
They join a Parksiders team on the back of a good win at Sheffield, but the Coaching staff felt it should have been easier: “It was a stressful game. We let them back into it. At 22-6 if we score again it’s over and we had the potential to pull away, but overplaying and penalties allowed them to get back in it.
“The kicking game from Billy Jowitt, Lachy Hanneghan and Kobe Rugless was excellent. The half-backs ran well and led us. It was a good team performance, but we need to learn to control a game and put it to bed.”
Also coming in for praise was debutant Lloyd McEwan-Peters. “Lloyd coming in made us stronger on the edges. He defended well against a top player in Kris Welham and is a raw, talented young man. Again, he allows depth in our team which we need.”
It’s another tough challenge this week with the visit of Oldham. The Roughyeds have hit the ground running in the Championship, but there are chinks in the armour.
“I went to watch Oldham at the weekend.” says Dean Muir. “They have recruited well and pose a big physical challenge. They are experienced and direct; we need to compete from minute one.
“We know the players from last season, but the French winger Mathieu Pons and Samoan Prop Zane Musgrove add even more. However, it’s as always about us.
“We’ve identified areas in which to get at Oldham, we work hard and are ruthless. That underpins us and is in our DNA.
“We need to keep getting better, be consistent and peak come the run in at the end of the season. It’s not ideal to play week on/week off, but we know we have a run of games later in the season where we need to be at our best.”
