Doncaster RLFC are delighted to announce the capture of Nathan Powley on a one year deal. 20 year-old Powley has been with Hull KR for the past three seasons and has represented England at U15 and U16 levels.



The Hull born hooker comes with an impressive record and received a scholarship at the age of 12 from Hull FC until he was 16. He played through all of the Hull service area, Yorkshire camp and national camp. Powley also spent a season at Castleford Tigers in 2007.



Tony Miller, the Dons head coach said: “Nathan is a quality player and comes with a good pedigree.



“He is also a tough defender, very good distributor from acting half and is quick to exploit any lazy defenders with his darting runs from acting half.



“I’m delighted to have him on board and am looking forward to working with him next season.”

another hooker is three not enough? it was the complaint of last year too.. especially when we are lacking in other areas.

Yes, but if he turns out to be outstanding we don't want to miss out on him do we?

agreed on that. and will actually be good to have another brilliant hooker for when kesik is subbed. quite frustrating watching the team throw a lead away when he goes off. Good luck to him im just wondering where it leaves emmett and ely.

surely thats a problem for tony miller to solve he gets paid for that reason! he must have an idea on how he wants his squad to look so ill reserve judgement till the final piece is put in place

Yes, we don't know what irons are in the fire regarding the squad for next year.

Emmett at 13 anyone ?

Mike Emmett seems like a versatile sort of player. He'll fit in at 13, I'm sure, if necessary. He definitely improved as last season went on and I have high hopes for him for next season.

Nathan is a good player but i think that at first team level his size will always be a hindrance given that his game is based almost entirely around aggression.

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... _1_3950127

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... _1_3950127

I sincerely hope TM only intends to use Kyle Kesik in the halves as cover - IMO we need a specialist half to partner Fawcett

We need a new 6/7 partnership for me ! Fawcett as back up .

Thought that might be asking a bit much seen as we currently only have 2 out and out props and not enough backs for a full backline

We only have 5 backs signed for next season ... Craig Fawcett is one of them (and has been for some time) .... I think you can probably conclude he'll be one of them.

Why we have only 16 players signed on . We need a 6, 7 , 3 props , a couple of centres & a winger .

We will see Gaz , essential for me a new 6& 7 , no disrespect to Craig Fawcett.

Couldn't agree more.

I am unmoved by any 'new' signings thus far. We need to wave bye bye to the crumby division we are in and not be lulled into thinking we have a reasonable chance just because there are 4 places up for grabs.

It will be damned hard.



Unless we recruit some 'names' pretty soon, I will be very concerned about our prospects.

Getting out of this division can't be done on a meagre budget.

And if getting out of this division is not the over-riding imperative, then what is the point of it all?

Don't get me wrong I'd like to see good competion for 6 & 7 and to achieve that we need to sign some half backs. I was merely making the point that having re-signed him early on he must currently be in TM's thoughts.

id like to see 2 big hard running forwards an old head maybe in pack would help us,a young quick spritly 6 with a old head at 7 to calm things down now and again and people going round park where they should be plus strong running and tackling centre and while im making out my list to santa ill ask for a rapid winger aswell!

Yeah also hope that kesik is only going to be used as half back cover, He gave us a brilliant season last year and to me should still be first choice hooker, I can understand using jack elsewhere in the forwards. Hoping to see a new 6 signing very soon.

Me too.



We've had some real young talent in the half back roles in recent seasons (Gale, Briggs, Wood, Brown, Spaven etc) but we really do need an older head at 7 i believe if we are to challenge for promotion.

It seems there is some sort of consensus on what is needed.

Which is hardly surprising since we have viewed what went wrong last season ... which incidentally should have been addressed ... a little tinkering would have seen us promoted at little extra cost.



This is not a go at the club, I can imagine how hard it must be to run our club and if we could afford to just go out and buy success we probably would.



However having a goal of survival or continued existence is hardly a desirable or inspiring one.



I will have to wait and see what happens and I may be pleasantly surprised. But signing half a dozen 'promising lads' will do nothing, we have already lost real talent in abundance.



I can remember under Wrighty's tenure when we signed Joel Penny, the club was buzzing. Unfortunately there were too many 'promising lads' signed afterwards for him to make that much of a difference. Now I know we are not in that position financially, but we need a 'name' or two to associate with. Off-the-peg players with track records prepared to come down a level at the end of their careers. We haven't the time to develop a stack of 'promising lads' this season. We have got to get out this division THIS SEASON.



We need generals as well as enthusiastic 'promising lads'.

We have some good players from last season who should be even better this time around as well.

So let's be brave and ambitious, it's only money.

I realise we still need more players, but i'd rather still rather take it steady and still have a team to watch in ten years time rather than get into debt and risk the clubs financial security for the sake of one seasons glory.

if we dont gamble and get out the division this year i cant see there being a team 10 years down line anyway infact id say 2 years the crowds and intrest are dropping from playing lower division rugby against teams that bring 5 fans! how can that be good?

If we don't get out of the division this season we we can turn the lights off and go amateur.

Because that will be the level of this division when the lesser clubs are admitted.

And next to nobody will be interested.

And the traveling would be horrendous.

Our income would plummet and our viability would be threatened even more.

We would probably have to leave the Keepmoat and the lever that it provides for us to be a bigger club would go with it.

In my humble opinion of course.



I for one would walk away from it.

It would be like watching Chorley.