DONCASTER halfback Connor Robinson reckons Richard Horne’s side made a strong statement with their Challenge Cup showing against Super League Castleford.
But the experienced operator says it will be meaningless if standards are allowed to dip in their Championship outings.
The Dons faced the Tigers at the Eco-Power Stadium on the back of a disappointing 26-24 loss at Midlands.
While Castleford progressed to round four via a 14-0 victory, Robinson says there was more than enough in the Dons’ display to be positive about a league campaign Horne and his players want to end with play-off involvement.
The 31-year-old former Hull KR, Halifax and York man returned to the side after missing the Midlands match as Horne rotated his squad.
And he said: “Against good full-time opposition, I don’t think we looked out of place. We showed we can mix it with the big boys, and it was just a few little areas that ended up costing us.
“We talked about showing some intent, and the boys were keen to right a few wrongs after the Midlands game.
“We weren’t where we needed to be as a group, it just wasn’t what we said we were going to be about this year.
“I thought we were much improved against Cas, and we just lacked a finishing touch, which can happen when you do a lot of defending and aren’t as fresh as you might be.
“Before the game there was a little monster on our shoulder. We knew how bad we’d been and we don’t want to go there again.
“We made a bit of a statement, but we have to follow up on it, produce that intensity each game and not dip.”
Doncaster head to Batley Bulldogs on Sunday and Horne added: “We’re more than capable of putting in performances that against Castleford. We have to maintain that standard now.”