HUNSLET will stay calm despite a tough introduction to life in the Championship.
Dean Muir’s side won promotion from a final position of fourth in League One, putting one of Rugby League’s famous old names in the second tier for the first time since 2015.
His reshaped side went down 38-12 at Barrow, themselves promoted in 2021, in round one, and yesterday hosted one of the division’s powerhouses in Bradford, Muir’s home-city club (he has previously coached West Bowling in the National Conference League).
“We knew it would be a tough start – Barrow away in the middle of February, when conditions are difficult, then a big home match against Bradford, who are giving it a real go, but that’s the challenge we want,” said Muir.
“People are writing us off, and we accept that we have to be on our game every week, because unlike League One, there’s no respite, and that’s something we have to get used to.
“But I trust in my staff and my players. Hunslet have a recently-appointed director of rugby in Darren Higgins, while Muir is assisted by Drighlington stalwart Ryan Jackson, Michael Knowles and Kyle Trout.
“We have a good culture, we aim to get better week on week, and we can be competitive.”
