Kingstone Press Championship preview: Sheffield Eagles v Doncaster

Sheffield Eagles lost 46-12 to Bradford Bulls last week, and coach Mark Aston was not happy with performance.

“They were very good and we weren’t which is a disappointment,” he said.

“We let in some weak tries which was a frustration but it happens and as long as you learn from it, that’s the most important thing.

“You’re going to get days at the office like that and we had one, we dusted ourselves down and are looking forward to Friday.

“Doncaster are sat at the bottom of the league. I watched them play against Bradford two weeks ago and they were very good.

They had a number of players out last week against Halifax so I would imagine they’d be a different team. They’ll be going into it with nothing to lose.

“There’s no pressure on them, it’s all about what we’re going to serve up after a pretty poor showing last week.”

The Eagles will be without scrum-half Dominic Brambani who was concussed last week. Prop Steve Thorpe is doubtful along with half-back Pat Walker but half-back Kyle Briggs, wing Misi Taulapapa and second row Duane Straugheir are all due to return.

Paul Cooke’s Doncaster side are still looking for their first league win and he acknowledges that they face another stiff test this week:

“It doesn’t get much tougher,” he said. “They’ve only lost three times all season – against Dewsbury in Round one and then to the two competition favourites in Leigh and Bradford.

“We had to change five last week which didn’t help the continuity of the group. We’ve got Matt Groat back this week and a couple of others from Hull on dual-reg, so the squad will look more familiar.

“It’s still a tough ask against a very good Sheffield team and we hope that over the next few weeks the performances warrant some results for us.”

They will be without hooker Kyle Kesik who has a rib injury and prop Matt Garbutt who suffered a dead leg.