HALIFAX PANTHERS coach Kyle Eastmond is hopeful of being able to concentrate on rugby in his third season at the helm.
It’s been a turbulent year for the Yorkshire team, who were mothballed for three weeks after the old version of the club went into liquidation in February.
That led to the departure of a string of players, who had become free agents due to the development which sent ripples of concern through Rugby League.
Halifax were relaunched with a new board, but a twelve-point deduction due to the financial issues, and finished second-bottom with eight wins, seven of them achieved following the unwanted mid-term break.
“I’m really happy in terms of what I know now. That’s important at this stage in my coaching career and this club’s rebirth,” said former dual-code England back Eastmond, 37, who led Halifax to the old Championship play-off semi-finals in his first season.
“I’ve gained a lot in terms of experience and knowledge, but there’s a point that it becomes nonsense that you just don’t need to learn.
“I’m here to be a rugby coach, and while I’ve learned some other things which are going to be really important on my journey, at the same time, you don’t want to learn too many of them because that means you’re not coaching rugby.
“I’m grateful for learning some of the things I have, and that will stand me in good stead, but let’s get back to rugby.”
On the players who have turned out this year, Eastmond said: “All the respect in the world to the lads who have put their hand up, just to be in the fight and be here for the club. They’ve got my respect for the rest of my life.”