As the first game of the season looms large, Sheffield Eagles are preparing for a tough trip to Workington. After coming away unscathed from both matches in Cumbria last year, the Eagles will be hoping to lay down a marker and send out a message to those who may underestimate them during the season ahead. Meanwhile, Workington, under the guidance of Phil Veivers, know that home form will be the key to moving up the table and away from any potential relegation trouble.
The Eagles, following the move to becoming a full-time club, have had to deal with the departures of key figures from their 2015 campaign. Dominic Brambani, Kyle Briggs, James Davey and Tony Tonks to name just four have all parted ways and joined fellow Championship clubs. This left coach Aston with quite a lot of recruiting to do.
Ten players have joined the Eagles ranks for the upcoming year and most are at the younger end of their playing days. Matty Fozard and Dave Hewitt fill important roles in the team after arriving from St Helens. Fozard is a hooker and Hewitt is a half-back, and both played in Sheffield’s lone pre-season match against Dewsbury. PNG duo Mark Mexico and Garry Lo and power and pace to the team and explosive performances will be expected of them.
Mark Mexico impressed on debut against Dewsbury Rams in pre-season. The former Cronulla Sharks forward will be wanting to go from strength to strength as the season progresses.
With a tricky first assignment in the Kingstone Press Championship, Sheffield may not be able to play their usual expansive style of rugby on what could be a bit of a boggy surface. However, the Eagles know their strengths and will be wanting to make sure their hard work on the training pitch isn’t wasted at the first hurdle.
Workington will be going into the match with a few injuries to contend with. Former Sheffield back-rower Alex Szostak is one of the key figures reportedly set to miss the first game of the Championship season. Jarrad Stack and Jarrod Sammut are also on the injury list and this will help the Eagles’ cause as both are very integral to any sort of success that the Workington club produces. Similar to the Eagles, Workington played just one pre-season match; a loss to fellow Cumbrian side Whitehaven always leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Ryan Verlinden and Oliver Gordon are the new recruits for Town’s upcoming campaign. Verlinden struggled to settle into life in the Championship after arriving at Featherstone before being sent on loan to Doncaster. Gordon comes to Cumbria with a good reputation and Veivers will be hoping he’s picked up a gem from New South Wales in Australia.
It’s hard to predict how the first game of the season will turn out. Both sides will be highly motivated to get that first win on the board and it will be a great clash between two sets of forwards who will fight hammer and tong from the first minute till the last. The battle in the halves will prove to be the most important, however. Hewitt and Cory Aston are both raw talents and their mettle will be tested to the maximum by a Workington side who will be targeting them with big tackles. Without Sammut in the equation, Sheffield will breath a sigh of relief but they still cannot underestimate the work that is done on a weekly basis by Town stalwart Carl Forber and former Wigan youngster Jamie Doran.
Prediction – Sheffield by 10
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