Sheffield unconcerned about Featherstone revolution

Sheffield Eagles coach Mark Aston is not worrying too much about the recent announcements from Featherstone Rovers.

Rovers travel to Owlerton on Sunday to clash with the Eagles, after a week in which it has been announced that the club will benefit from several million pounds worth of investment over the next few years.

But Aston has heard such announcements many times over the years, and prefers to stay focused on his own team, whose success over the last few years often seems to be forgotten by some in the game.

“Let them get on with it. It’ll all end in tears!” he joked, speaking to Love Rugby League.

“But seriously, we like to keep our heads down. It’s not about being in the public eye, it’s about doing the right things.

“We mind our own business, and keep ourselves to ourselves. We don’t make rash statements, and we get on with the job in hand.

“I’ve seen it all before. I’ve been around a long time.”

Aston does admit, however, that a new coach is likely to bring some new ideas to Sunday’s game.

“It’s a difficult one, you don’t know what they’re going to throw us,” he said.

“We’ve been watching videos of what they have been doing, but will Danny Evans change it?

“Will they go back the Featherstone of last year, and the year before, because I would guess he has been working under Daryl Powell’s systems.

“Then there is the confusion over which players they’ll select. But we know what they are going to be, which is very committed. They’re going to want to make sure that they put the wrongs right this week. They’ve lost the last two.

“John’s gone, and he was only six months into it, which seems madness.

“There’s going to be a lot of players playing for full-time contracts.

“But what worries me is us.”

Aston has been encouraged by recent displays away from home, though he admits that more improvement is required.

“We were good last week away at North Wales, and I thought against Castleford in the last 40 minutes we were also good,” he added.

“I felt we looked a quality team, and caused them problems.

“We’ve been a little bit disappointed recently, though. We have had a barrel-load of injuries, which is no excuse, but we’ve given opponents opportunities.”

The Eagles have been boosted by the earlier-than-expected return to action of PNG international Menzie Yere. The centre had been diagnosed with anterior cruciate ligament damage, but has made a miraculous recovery.

“We had a boost last week, when Menzie Yere came back from what we thought was a season-ending injury,” Aston explained.

“Don’t ask, because I have no idea how he has done it. He had a full week’s preparation last week, and a fitness test on Friday that he flew through. 

“Then he played 80 minutes like the old Menzie Yere, he scored a try and set a couple up. That’s a big boost for us.

“But we’ve also got people like Misi Taulapapa and Andy Henderson leading from the front, and inspiring people.

“The weather’s picked up, the grounds are firmer, and we like to play football, we like to entertain.

“We’ve got to be better. It’s going to be different on Sunday against a committed Featherstone.

“We’ve been disappointed with our home form recently, and we need to put that right. It’s a big month for us.”