Doncaster RLFC: '˜This league is getting tougher every season'

Doncaster RLFC retained their top four spot in League One despite being without a game at the weekend.
Gary ThorntonGary Thornton
Gary Thornton

“Several other results went our way with the likes of Keighley and York City Knights losing,” said head coach Gary Thornton.

“York’s defeat at home to North Wales Crusaders, who we comfortably beat recently, was a surprise, especially as they had beaten Championship side Rochdale the previous week in the Challenge Cup.

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“With some of the newer teams also putting up good performances it just shows that this league is getting tougher every season and that’s why we want to get out of it as quickly as we can.”

Just as he feared prior to the start of the season, the new full-time Toronto Wolfpack side is looking formidable.

“They are looking the side to beat,” said Thornton.

“The next three league games, Hunslet this weekend, Toronto and then York away on Good Friday, will give us a good indication of how well we’ll do.

“We are targeting three wins but we know that neither game will be easy, particularly the one against Toronto even though we are at home.

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“They’ve run up a lot of points in their opening three league games and they also won away at Championship side London Broncos in the cup.

“They’ve put together a very strong squad with threats throughout the team so we know we’ll have to be at our best on the day.

“But that’s next weekend and all we’ve concentrated on this week is the Hunslet game.”

Full-back Tom Carr is set to return to the side after suffering a knee injury in the win at North Wales, and Thornton is hopeful of both centre Jason Tali and play-maker Jordan Howden, also injured at Wrexham, being fit.

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Although Thornton has put the club’s Challenge Cup fifth round tie away to Super League giants Leeds Rhinos on the back burner, he will be keeping an eye on their progress over the next fortnight.

“They looked to have turned the corner after a slow start to the season and I hope they keep on winning between now and when we play them because that will help boost the crowd,” he said.