Hunslet Head Coach Kyle Trout is looking for more intensity from his troops as they go into this weekends Championship game away to Widnes Vikings ( Aug 31st ).
Injuries and suspensions mean it’s a fairly threadbare Parksiders that head to Merseyside, but it means faces coming in have a chance to impress.
Kyle commented: “Widnes are in form at the moment and are trying to get into the playoffs, but if they drop their guard there’s no team in this League that can’t be beaten. We should have beaten them earlier in the year in the 1895 cup, so it’s all to play for. Players coming in should give us energy, invigorate us and give us a different vantage point.”
With the new format for next year being announced Hunslet can prepare for next season without a worry of relegation, so in some sense these last 3 games are preparation for 2026.
But after last week’s disappointing defeat at home to Batley, Trout is looking for some improvement.
“It makes no sense to play loan players if we have players signed for next year. Mackenzie Turner is fit to play, and Coby Nichol needs the experience and exposure. Training has been pretty intense this week and that’s what we need. The lads got a bit of a rocket, because if there’s no intensity or positivity in training, we are not going to be at the right level come match day. Bring good habits to training and it will permeate through on Match days.”
Hunslet started well last week against Batley, but not being able to score early on cost them as Championship old heads ruled the day.
“We dominated from kick off but bombed certain tries. In good attacking positions we panicked and eventually mistakes invited Batley in and their experienced players took control. Some the tries we conceded were embarrassing. We need to learn to keep in a game.”
Lee Gaskell came through unscathed but Sam Ackroyd, Mason Corbett and Sam Campbell are still out injured. Whilst Brad Clavering received a ban. Lloyd McEwan-Peters has now left for university and Liam Welham will miss out after his Charity raising walk from Edinburgh to Hull in aid of raising funds for a local girl who sadly committed suicide.
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One player who’s come in and impressed is young Half-back Finley Balback. Stepping up to this level has been tough, but more experience playing alongside players like Lee Gaskell will do this player no harm at all, as he looks to have natural skill and a good Football brain.
21-man squad
