FEATHERSTONE ROVERS will use this weekend’s trip to France as a valuable bonding trip, as well as a chance for new head coach Paul Cooke to test himself against one of the best in the business.
It’s been all change in the past fortnight with Cooke stepping up from assistant coach to replace the axed James Ford.
Rovers face Super League Catalans on Saturday in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup, a competition Cooke memorably won in 2005, scoring Hull FC’s winning try against Leeds in Cardiff.
His new side will make a weekend trip of it as they pull together following Ford’s surprise early-season exit.
“We’ll fly out Friday afternoon and come back Sunday afternoon, so we get a couple of days bonding,” said Cooke.
“Whilst we’ll be missing a few who will still be at home – injured, suspended or not playing – the majority of the playing group will have the opportunity to spend some time together, get out and have a couple of beers and a meal together. That’s something we’re looking forward to as much as the game.”
That’s not to say that the challenge of facing the Dragons will be taken lightly, as Featherstone look to impress against top-flight opposition who have endured a shaky start to the season, including being pushed hard by Halifax in the previous round.
Cooke said: “It’ll be great to catch up with (Catalans coach) Steve McNamara, a fellow Hull lad and Codhead.
“We’ll be pitting our wits against a very good Super League team. If we’re not excited about challenges like that at Featherstone, we’re in the wrong place. We look forward to going over there.
“I thought Halifax were unlucky on a few occasions not to score points and be closer than the 14-0 scoreline.
“We’re going there really excited about the challenge and we’ll see what we can do when we get over there.”