Sheffield Eagles: Back to basics call as Aston looks to halt slide

Some disappointing performances and results in recent weeks have left the full-time Eagles looking over their shoulder, rather than focusing on securing a top four finish which they were expected to achieve at the start of this season.

After their latest setback against London Broncos, Aston has gone right back to the drawing board by asking his side to master the basics to give them a platform to exit from their recent slump.

“We have to go back-to-basics now,” Aston told The Star.

“We have to show better discipline. Sometimes you have to take the ball and carry it and get to the end of the set, then put a kick in.

“We can then see what happens off the back of that, but then we need to defend with an higher intensity and attitude.

“We are not doing those basics at the moment, we’ll talk about that and we will have to go back, back and back further to basics and before basics were even born.”

The Eagles continue a run of four straight home fixtures in their adopted surroundings at Bawtry Road this Friday, facing a Dewsbury side that comfortably beat them as recently as Easter Monday.

On that occasion Aston was left apologising to supporters for the display, and he knows a significant improvement is required if his side are to avenge their defeat at the Tetley’s Stadium.

“This is not about videos, this is not about skill or ability, it is about want and will,” he continued.

“If you make a mistake and give a penalty away, nothing says in the rule book that your opponents have to score.

“We will have a look at things and we will be hard on ourselves.

“What we have to do is go back-to-the basics and try and build from there.

“Have we got the attitude to stop teams scoring? That is what I have to question. When we get into the arm wrestle we fight for a bit and then we lose.”

Ever since the defeat to Glenn Morrison’s Rams, the Eagles chief has been vocal about bolstering his failing side with new faces. He revealed he came close to adding two loan signings last week from Super League sides – something he is looking to revisit before Friday’s clash.