Keighley and Rochdale look for response

Keighley Cougars coach Jason Demetriou has a fully fit squad to select from as he tries to bounce back from last week’s 18-14 home defeat against Whitehaven.

Carl Sice’s last minute try snatched the points for the Cumbrians, and Demetriou accepts his side have big lessons to learn.

He said: “We went very negative in the last 10 minutes and just tried to run the clock down.

“Unfortunately we came up with some errors and they capitalised, but it all came down to the way we failed to attack our last two sets with any purpose.”

The former Wakefield star has warned his men not to expect an easy ride against a Rochdale Hornets team who fell to a shock defeat against London Skolars last week.

Demetriou said: “John Stankevitch won’t be happy, and I’m sure he’s let them know that this week.

“They’ll be coming here at their best, as they have been each time we’ve played them this year.”

Rochdale coach John Stankevitch admitted his side had been “outmuscled” during last week’s shock 44-22 defeat against London Skolars.

But the former St Helens ace is demanding his team also become smarter for the trip to Cougar Park.

He said: “”We tried to run the ball in from close range and they stopped us every time. I expected much more from our half-backs, especially with their decision-making.

“No one stood out. If I was rating all the players from one to 10, none would have got more than a five.”