Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Coach Daryl Powell felt Featherstone's first-half performance was a "little bit disappointing" in Sunday's 42-16 win over Doncaster. Rovers scored five late tries to beat spirited opponents in Powell's second match since he was appointed coach.

Powell said: "We put in new players and made quite a few changes in personnel and we were inconsistent in the first-half.
"It was a little bit disapointing but we fixed some things up towards the end and got a bit better."

It has been a close-season of change for promoted Doncaster with a switch of owner and coach but they gave an excellent account of themselves in former Rovers player Tony Miller's first match in charge

Said Powell: "Doncaster have had some difficulties - there's no doubt about that - but I thought they were spirited and clever. I think you have to give a big pat on the back to what Tony Miller has done there.

"Early in the second-half Doncaster's kicking game was better than ours and they controlled the areas of the pitch they played in.
"Those are the things we have to learn from. We tried to play a little too much in our own half and near half-way. We've got to learn that at times you've got to get to the end of your sets and kick.

"Sometimes it's a bit boring but at the end of the day rugby league is a game you have to play in the right areas of the field most of the time and that is something we need to improve more than anything else."

Sam Smeaton, who played for Summer Conference League side Featherstone Lions in their 2007 Grand Final victory over Bramley Buffaloes at Headingley, marked his senior Rovers debut with two tries in the late scoring burst.

Said Powell:"I was quite impressed with Sam. He looks quick and he's a strong kid."