Sheffield Eagles: We need to find a solution - and fast, says Matt James

With just one win in their last eight games in all competitions, the Eagles have had to switch their focus on retaining their Kingstone Press Championship status, after targeting a top four place at the start of the campaign.

After losing heavily again against Halifax at the weekend, Mark Aston’s side are steadily falling down the Championship standings with James stating that the Eagles need to rediscover their winning touch quick to try and save their season.

“We have to stick together now,” he told The Star.

“We have a great set of lads here and everyone is buying in, but we are just struggling at the moment to find that extra bit that we need. It is hard to put your finger on it really. There are still a lot of games remaining but we have to find something now, and it has to start Friday night.”

James was a try scorer in the crushing defeat at The Shay, as Halifax ran riot against an underperforming Eagles unit. The former Featherstone ace believes a collective loss of form has been at the heart of the Eagles’ demise.

But whilst Mark Aston’s side might be short on confidence at the moment, James still believes that there is enough talent in the camp to see an upturn in fortunes.

“We have some really good lads here, but we all seem to have had a loss of form at the same time,” he added.

“We are all in it together, we have had some good wins this year but certainly the lows have outweighed the highs.

“We had a good week of training after the defeat against London. We have all tried to keep our heads up coming into the Halifax game, but it just hasn’t worked out. Halifax blew us away. We have come off second best again.

“Our attitude wasn’t right and that is one thing that has been reoccurring all season. It isn’t down to the talent in the team, it has been our attitude. We are the ones that have put ourselves in this situation and now we need to try and find a way out of it.”

The Eagles are in action again this Friday night with Batley Bulldogs in town for a 7.45pm kick off at Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park.