DONCASTER stalwart Sam Smeaton reckons more experience of the Championship and close-season additions mean Richard Horne’s side are more than capable of challenging at the top end of the merged second tier – and can make massive strides forward.

The former Featherstone, Sheffield, Halifax and Batley second rower or centre has extended his contract for a seventh year in South Yorkshire.

Smeaton, 37, helped Horne’s charges win promotion from the old League One in 2023, and they have since finished eighth in both seasons.

Doncaster were looking well set for a top-six spot in early August before their challenge fell away amid a run of six successive defeats.

Now they have added fullback Tom Holmes from Bradford, centre James Glover (Featherstone), halfback Cory Aston (Sheffield), hooker Connor Jones (Featherstone) and prop Muizz Mustapha (Castleford), each on two-year deals, and Featherstone frontrower Gadwin Springer on twelve-month terms.

And Smeaton said: “I think we’ve built year on year, adding layers with new signings coming in and everyone gelling that bit more. The latest additions add to that and make it exciting for what is to come.

“This year was disappointing from the results side, but in reality, we probably weren’t ready to make the play-offs.”

Smeaton added: “Consistency is key. If you look at the games we won, we beat some really big teams, but then we slipped up against others.

“There needs to be improvement individually and collectively, because that will make a major difference.

“Once we nail everything and find that consistency, people will see some massive strides.”

Horne is happy to retain Smeaton, explaining: “We could easily have looked beyond him but how he has been in matches, training and off the pitch has been exemplary.

“He fully deserves this new deal and I’m sure he’ll play a big part in everything we’re planning.”

Doncaster will host Bradford in a pre-season clash on Sunday, January 11 (3pm).