The co-operative Rugby League Conference season kicks off this weekend, with the top tier - the National division - beginning its 20 round campaign to find the successors to 2008 Champions, Celtic Crusaders Colts.
The Welshmen have promoted that side to become their Reserve Grade outfit in Super League and two new teams have entered the league - Carlisle Centurions and Nottingham Outlaws - bringing the total competing to eleven, with the clubs predicting that the 2009 title will be the hardest to win yet, as the quality continues to improve.
Carlisle Centurions re-enter a division they last played in during 2005 with Geoff Grieves, a veteran of the old Carlisle and District League which was formed to support the original Carlisle professional club in 1981, at the helm. The Gillford Park outfit have retained 90% of their 2008 side, including the stalwart Stalker brothers, and are hoping to make some significant additions over the next few weeks.
Nottingham coach Martin Crick, who guided the Outlaws to the Harry Jepson Trophy last year, has had a busy preseason with his side performing creditably on their debut in the Carnegie Challenge Cup and in freindlies against Dewsbury Celtic and Doncaster Dragons Reserves. Bad weather in February hampered the conditioning programme put in place by the coaching staff and preparations have been further disrupted by international call-ups for no fewer than eight of the Outlaws Loughborough University contingent for the forthcoming student home international fixtures. However, there is buoyancy around the club with 30 players chasing a place in the 17 man squad for the opening game against Featherstone Lions, including popular Aussie Myles Rutherford, the ‘Queensland Express’ returning to action after a shoulder operation.
Bramley Buffaloes are looking to contest their fifth consecutive Grand Final but have made changes behind the scenes with the departure of Paul Cook to the Huddersfield Giants. Mark Butterill has been appointed Head Coach and last years captain, Jon Nicholls as his Assistant. Foundation player Donny O'Connor is named as Club Captain for the 2009 season while the club has lost John Richardson and Tony Williams to Hunslet Hawks. They welcome back winger Nick Fontaine from a year out in Australia and former Batley Bulldog Simon Speight along with other new signings Jim Shuttleworth, Anthony Ward and Craig Green who have all trained impressively and are ready for the challenges ahead.
Also among the favourites to lift the crown are Warrington Wizards who are embarking on the 2009 trail with a new coaching team in place. Alan Kilshaw returns to the club as Head Player/Coach following a season as Warrington Wolves Reserves Assistant Coach. The Wizards will be looking to build on last season’s effort that saw them lose only two games, both to Celtic Crusaders, before bowing out to Featherstone Lions in the Elimination Semi-Final. With the decider once again taking place at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, it gives them an added incentive to be there. On the field the Wizards, who will once again be led by inspirational captain Chris Mellor with Alan Reddecliff taking over as the new vice captain and they will have a different look about them with several new players joining the club. A number of local young players will be pushing for a place in the side, including 16 year old Scott Cullen, son of former Warrington Wolves and now Widnes Vikings coach Paul. Former player Lee Rushton has also returned to the club after a three year absence and will add size and go forward to a formidable pack that will once again include last season’s ‘Player of the Year’ Matt Clarke.
Dewsbury Celtic have a new coach in place in Paul Heaton, rated by many as having the potential to make a real impact after a distinguished playing career in the local area. He will be assisted by Leeds Rhinos hooker Matt Diskin whose experience is expected to be crucial on a very young side, the bulk of which formed Celtic’s highly successful under 18’s outfit last year. According to Heaton, “we have a very talented, willing and committed group here who we have made a conscious decision to keep together. There might be a physical difference against some of the sides we face but our guys have big hearts. Matt’s presence has added to the feelgood factor around the place.” Heaton has singled out front rower Alex Walmsley, younger brother of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Leon, Danny Crabtree and last year’s junior ‘Player of the Year’, full back Jack Millington as ones to watch.
Liverpool Buccaneers are looking to build on their excellent first season in the RLC National when they reached the play-offs. With no significant loss of last years playing squad Head Coach Chris Chamberlain is confident of once again achieving that goal, with a number of exciting new players from the Wirral area in training and the return of star men Andy Soutar and Andy Williams.
Hemel Stags are hoping for another season like they had in 2006, the past two campaigns having been ravaged with injuries. The failure to make the play-offs last season has seen the club recruit ten new players. Head Coach Troy Perkins commented, “We have not had the depth in our squad and I knew that if we were going to compete with the top teams like Bramley, Featherstone and Warrington we had to add some experienced halves and we needed some more size up front. We have had up to thirty five players at training so having a second team playing most weekends will benefit the club. We are also looking to improve our poor away form and are quietly confident.” Among their newcomers are centre Jared Searson, who played Toyota Cup for Penrith Panthers last season and half back Scott Clendenning-Fenton who starred for Coventry Bears in their Grand Final Victory against Warrington in 2004.
After two years of steady progress and a second consecutive fifth placed finish, Huddersfield Underbank Rangers’ are looking to make a concerted assault on the title in 2009. Rangers have been given a boost as they have four home fixtures in the first six games and they are hoping that will give them the impetus to make a successful start to the campaign. They have added three new overseas recruits to their squad in preparation; 21 year old back row forward James O’Brien, 20 year old half back Robbie Sydenham and 20 year old centre/back rower Chris Thorley who arrived in England in March. “All three are quality young players, hungry to do well in England and with their best rugby league ahead of them. They are itching to get here and start work with the rest of the squad”, a club spokesman said. However, they have lost the competition's 2008 ‘Young Player of the Year’ Matt Garside to Huddersfield Giants, young prop forward Ross White has joined Sheffield Eagles and fellow front rower Pete Williams has gone to Australia.
Gateshead Storm have been training since January and we have a new coach in Stuart Robson who is currently working with the under 18’s at Championship side Gateshead Thunder, which will further strengthen the links between the clubs. He will work alongside John Coutts and Steven Thompson while players Mick Dixon, Neil Emmerson and Chris Burnett have also joined the committee to strengthen the running of the club.
CO-OPERATIVE RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE NATIONAL
ROUND ONE FIXTURES -
Sat 4th April
Dewsbury Celtic v East Lancashire Lions
Featherstone Lions v Nottingham Outlaws
Gateshead Storm v Liverpool Buccaneers
Sun 5th April
Carlisle Centurions v Warrington Wizards
Huddersfield Underbank Rangers v Hemel Stags
