News : Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:37 am
SHEFFIELD Eagles coach Mark Aston has answered Doncaster fans who have accused him of poaching their club's best players.
Aston has signed forwards Peter Green, Michael Haley and hooker Craig Cook from the crisis-hit Dons in recent weeks.
"I know Doncaster fans have given me some flak for taking players from their club but it's about doing what is right for the players," said Aston.
"It's no secret that we had been after Peter Green for 10 years. I've always wanted to Peter - he's the type of player you can build a team around."
Green had a hand in a couple the Eagles tries and Cook added a touchdown as he made his debut in the 78-8 crushing of Doncaster in the weekend derby game.
With Doncaster hit by a cash-crisis and in administration players are free to move and there around ten senior players have taken the option.
Aston added: "I have no disrespect to Doncaster as a rugby league club but I'm looking at what is the best for Sheffield Eagles and for South Yorkshire."
Long-term, Aston is convinced that the future of rugby league in South Yorkshire is down to developing young players.
He said: "My dream is to develop the kids from our own area and some of them are starting to come through.
"I watched our reserves against Doncaster and it was an outstanding game. In the forwards we had Dan Hawksworth, just over 18, Kyle Kesik, 19, Eddie Battye, 17, in the second row Mark Renshaw-Smith and Danny Horsfield both 17 and Richard Humphries at 19.
"Doncaster had some cracking young local kids in their team - we won 16-12 but only in last minutes. Corey Hansen - back after knee reconstruction surgery - scored the winning try.. Corey is only 17 and a massive talent.
"The kids are there in South Yorkshire and we have to nurture them. What I am seeing is light at the end of the tunnel because the kids are here and are the key to the development of Sheffield Eagles and the game in South Yorkshire
