Eaton eager to get going

New Hunslet coach Barry Eaton is looking forward to a raft of pre-season friendlies this month, two against Super League opposition.

The Hawks went down 24-0 to Featherstone in Eaton’s first game in charge on New Year’s Day, but they get the chance to put that right this weekend when they face Hunslet All Stars on Sunday.

After that they travel to Doncaster (January 15th) before hosting Super League champions Leeds (January 22nd) and Super League new boys Widnes (January 29th) at the South Leeds Stadium.

Eaton said: “The whole squad, and the coaching team, can’t wait to put into practice the work that we have been doing on the training field against serious opposition. We know that they will all be trying to do the same to us but, whatever the results, our aim is to build a winning culture for when the really serious stuff begins.”

The former Widnes and Dewsbury half back spent last season as assistant coach to Iestyn Harris at Crusaders, following a successful spell coaching at Keighley Cougars.