Brett Hodgson has assessed Friday’s trip to face Catalans Dragons in the South of France, and has expressed his excitement to see a number of the club’s academy players included in the squad.
Marcus Walker, Joel Speed, Jacob Hookem and Will Wallis have all been named in the squad to travel to Peprignan this weekend, with at least two of the youngsters guaranteed to feature in the match day seventeen at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
And with debut beckoning for some of FC’s younger stars, Hodgson explained that all four players have earnt their chance to be in contention to play for the first-team, having spent the last eight months training with the first-team squad.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, brought to you in association with Jacuzzi, Hodgson said: “We have invested a lot in some of the younger lads who have come into the first-team environment this season, and they’ve reach the standards that we’re asking of them. And we’ll get the chance to see a couple of them in action in Friday which is so exciting for the club.
“Will Wallis is a big powerful thing, and runs through the line really well; Jacob Hookem has been playing at both half-back and hooker and represented Yorkshire last weekend – he’s a bit of a general and gets the players around the park pretty well.
“Marcus Walker can play a a number of positions in the outside-backs making his versatile, and has a good body-type to play at this level; and Joel Speed is very quick – he came off a knee reconstruction last year to get himself back fit to be in contention this year.
“They are four lads who have worked exceptionally hard to give themselves this chance.”
But Hodgson explained that the senior players in the squad will need to supporter their younger counterparts throughout the contest.
“You go into your debut game with a buzz and excitement. But as a squad, we need to protect them and not have them isolated in their actions. But the challenge and opportunity is one that excites us.”
Hodgson also spoke of the boost of having co-captain Scott Taylor return to action, with the prop expected to make his first appearance since April tomorrow evening.
“It’s a huge boost to have Scott Taylor back this week. He’s been jumping out of his skin for a number of weeks and trying to get himself back to full fitness.
“We tried to get him to play in a couple of big games, but underestimated the severity of the injury. A lisfranc varies in timescale, but we’re just thankful to have him back now.”
With the Airlie Birds being underdogs going into tomorrow’s game against Betfred Super League’s top placed side, Hodgson says the unique conditions in which the game will be played, in expected 36’C heat, won’t nessicerily benefit the home side.
“There are probably not many people who are suggesting we can go to Catalans and get the win with the form of both sides at the moment, but we’re continually looking to improve – there are some unique factors for this week in terms of the travel and the expected temperature down there, but we go with the plan to put in a performance, and if we can get to the levels we expect of each other, we have a chance against any team in the competition.
“It’s important we are hydrated going into the game – but ultimately it is the same for both teams. They may be more used to doing it, but in the end its about who is more mentally strong enough to battle through that across the eighty minutes.”
He added: “There is no doubt that Covid has put a speed-bump in our season and in what we wanted to achieve, but we’re thinking forward in how we can get back to the form in which we know we can play.
“A win would be huge for our confidence, and give us that belief in what we’re doing on the training field is working.”
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