HALIFAX PANTHERS coach Kyle Eastmond says the club is still looking for more players – but those already there are his main focus as the league opener at Sheffield gets ever closer.
The former dual-code international is enjoying the challenge of taking a team’s reins for the first time – the 35-year-old has had various assistant roles – with his side heading to South Yorkshire on Sunday, February 16.
Halifax are aiming to improve on a ninth-place finish in 2024.
Having been through the mill financially, the club from the old textiles town is working to a strict budget, and named only 20 players when their squad was announced.
Eastmond, appointed as Liam Finn’s successor in September, selected 17 of them for the pre-season game at Keighley, and after a 56-12 win in which James Saltonstall scored four tries, said he was encouraged by the performance.
“There is loads of stuff we need to brush up on, but in terms of attitude, workrate and intent, they were outstanding,” explained the former St Helens and Leeds back.
“There was a lot of what I like, things like mindset, commitment in defence, doing the simple stuff well and playing the way we had trained, and it’s a base to work from as we go forward.
“Like all sides, we are looking to add to the squad if we can, but my approach is to concentrate on the players we already have and give them my full attention.”
Eastmond has made centre Ben Crooks his captain, with hookers Adam O’Brien and Tom Inman also part of the leadership group.
“It’s an honour,” said former Super League player Crooks, who moved from Keighley during the 2023 season.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here and I was just as disappointed as most with last year, both for myself for not featuring much due to injury (he made ten appearances) and the team as a whole.”
