YORK Knights boss Mark Applegarth is under no illusions about Doncaster, whom he believes have signed “very shrewdly and smartly” for their first season back in the Betfred Championship.
The Dons have recruited well since their promotion last term, now boasting a roster including ex-Knights Pauli Pauli, Brad Hey, Ben Johnston and Connor Robinson, and former Super League stars Luke Briscoe, Reece Lyne, Brett Ferres and Suaia Matagi.
Just one point separates the teams ahead of today's clash at the LNER Community Stadium (3pm), with Doncaster marginally better off thanks to last month’s draw with Whitehaven.
“Every game’s tough, isn’t it,” admitted Applegarth, whose Knights have lost just once during his fledgling tenure.
“We were really pleased with what we did against Barrow [last weekend], but we still feel that there’s a load that we can still go after and improve.
“We’re under no illusions, Doncaster is going to be a really, really tough game.
“They’re exactly the same as us in the league - there or thereabouts - as a lot of teams are, and they’ll be eye-balling this game and looking at it for the same reasons that we are.
“We know we’re going to have to be at our best to get anything out of the game.
“There’s no ego on us, we’re going to be hard at work out on that training field. What happened on Sunday was great, but that’s been and gone.
“It’s a new game and a new week and we’re just focusing on putting our best foot forward there.”
The Knights will be looking to get one back on Doncaster, who triumphed 36-20 in the reverse fixture on the opening weekend of the Championship season back in March.
Both Pauli and Brad Halliday scored doubles - the prop against the side he last turned out for just six months prior - whilst ex-Knights Johnston and Sam Smeaton also found the whitewash.
Though tries from Jack Teanby and AJ Towse had brought the scoreline back within two at the break, late efforts from both Josh Daley and debutant Tom Lineham were not enough to see Andrew Henderson’s side across the line.
The Knights head into this afternoon’s match buoyed by a season-high 54-12 thumping of Barrow last weekend, but the Dons are on a two-match winning streak themselves, albeit having only beaten bottom side Dewsbury Rams by four points in their most recent outing.
“They’ve got a big pack with a lot of experience, both Super League and a lot of Championship experience,” Applegarth continued.
“Their outside backs are a handful, so they’ve got a lot of strike and threat across the field. They’ve got some very, very good players and I think that they’ve signed very shrewdly and smartly.
“I know a few of the players myself, and a lot of the players will know them. Naturally, we know what threat they bring with it too.
“Getting that balance as a coach is being aware of being what threats they’ve got but also being aware of what your team can do and striking that balance right.
“We want to build on certain things that we did [against Barrow], we need to fix up certain things that we did and put it all into practice come Sunday.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here