Our first chance to see the new signings in a Dons' shirt.

I went to the stadium today to buy my Season Ticket and pick up my tickets for the two friendlies...

Only to find the Box Office is shut on Wednesdays!

Enjoy the games DM. Spoke to my Father in Law about them and he prefers to wait for the start of the season proper. Fingers crossed we come out of the two games without any long term knocks.

The media hype around the signings has died off pretty quick for me we are still lacking depth in the backs and halves - we have a lot of second rowers only takes a couple of injuries and our squad starts to look very thin.

A centre for me is priority signing as to partner Jason we only have Misi or Ferris both at the wrong end of their careers sadly, really supprised we've not picked up a prospect centre for the amateur game or someone who was released at the end of last year to plug the gap.

Thanks Wilf. The father-in-law is probably better off at home as it's going to be a bit on the chilly side on Sunday. I hope you're both keeping well!

With just nine home league games, the season seems incredibly short. I'm looking forward to the friendlies as they give me an excuse to escape from my cave!

It should be a good test against York. As for a centre, I've always been a fan of Adam Ryder. He might be getting on a bit now and not as good as he was though. He's signed for Hunslet. Do you think Ferris will have enough pace to play at centre? Misi should be okay there.

No I don't think Ferris is suited to centre at all but "facebook told me he'll play there" so that must be right.

Very Suprised to see Matty B listed as retired after leaving Dewsbury I'd have him back in the Blue and Gold any day to be honest - I personally prefer him over Robbo @ 7 and it would have given us a "plan" B.

We have a power centre in Tali I'd like us to have a skillful pacey one I cannot help feel we lack a bit of pace and finishing power especially if people mark Tali out the game.

Jason Tali is definitely our 'go to' man. We can't afford him to get injured. I didn't know Beryl had retired. He's too good to hang his boots up yet.

Ah, the Facebookers have the insight on Ferris, do they? It'll be interesting to see if he plays centre on Sunday. Might Richard Horne be thinking of playing Jack Sanderson at centre? I always thought he had some scope to be a good player but he doesn't seem to have progressed as much as he could over the last few seasons.

Absolutely with you about ryder everytime I've seen him he's looked class, big guy for a centre but certainly has some wheels on him, think he's around 33 ish but will score tries for fun this season

I think I was one who suggested Ferres might play at centre on Facebook, but to be honest I am basing it on nothing other than he played there for Featherstone. Personally I see him as a second row, but as we have plenty of them and only 1 centre I surmised it'd be either Ferres or Misi. I'd choose Misi out of the 2

The Dons tweeted a video yesterday from training yesterday and there was a player (the last one in the clip) who I do not know who they are https://twitter.com/doncaster_rlfc/stat ... 8yB-AaEilI

The Dons tweeted a video yesterday from training yesterday and there was a player (the last one in the clip) who I do not know who they are https://twitter.com/doncaster_rlfc/stat ... 8yB-AaEilI

Yes I saw that - wonder who it could be hopefully a centre

I would agree Misi over Ferris at 3 for me, I personally think Misi would make a great 13.

Ferres will be a great signing if fit and not suspended! His size means definitely versatility but i also think he would cause havoc in the centres. He will be a league above anyone in the league

Squad for Sunday: [urlhttps://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article/1298/squad-announcement-|-doncaster-rlfc-v-york-rlfc[/url
No Brett Ferris, Tom Halliday, or Watson Boas. Watson is probably still back at home after the World Cup?

The Dons website says it costs a fiver to go into the bar/restaurant or £25 for the season if you're a season ticket holder: [urlhttps://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article/1301/news-|-restaurant-members-access-[/url

I wonder if this idea was run by the fans' representative group before it was brought in? It seems counter-productive to me. It'd make more sense to give everyone a pound off their first drink to get them in there rather than drive them away by charging them!

It's a concern that two of the headliners are missing even from the squad which technically there should be no limits on how many we name, the feeling seems to be that Watson is still in PNG which isn't ideal considering how close the cup games are and the season start (while I know he played in the WC others from that side are now training with their teams). Ferres missing is baffling.

The Restaurant "idea" is totally tone deaf by the club and doesn't have the interests of the supporters in mind, another example of catering for corporate people and keeping the loyal regular supporters at arms length.

I agree DM it should have been run via the fans representative group or the fans rep but sadly I feel the current encumberant is a little bias and isn't critical enough of the club to push back against such decisions.

What GB wants CH does....
Not saying he wants to....but he's an employee now.

Dons 12, York 28.

I thought today's match gave the lads a good workout. It was much better than playing a Super League team and getting hammered. The attendance was 597 - with quite a lot coming over from York.

My gut feeling is that we're a little bit better than last year although it's hard to tell from a friendly.

Our main strike threat Jason Tali was kept quiet by the York backline. Ben Johnston was our greatest threat going forward.

All of the new guys looked okay with Brad Hey catching my eye when he came on for Sam Smeaton.

The guy on the mic was pushing the £25 deal to have access to the restaurant or £5 per game.

As there were probably 300 from York, I bet they'd have made more money in the bar had they encouraged the York fans to go up there for a drink after the game with free entry! They'd have probably picked up some extra cash had the downstairs facilities still been open after the match.

All round encouraging considering York were considerably quicker than us around the park. Particularly happy with our goal line defence, York could have got another few in the first half had that not been on point, just wish our defence in centre field was as strong (we were a lot more likely to concede from 50 metres out than 10). Very much liked Hall at Fullback, looked composed and hit every one on one that came through. Travis looked stockier up top, as did Sanderson (who started in the centres, looked good in first stint but gassed a bit in the second half). Still lacked some match sharpness and that showed.

Didn't go to this match so can't comment, but my overriding memory of last season was our inability to get out of our own half, particularly in the first 20 mins.
So the opposition was gathering punts at about just inside its half way line...and we were defending yet again in our own half.
Which highlighted our lack of punch in the middle...we were crabbing sideways and gaining not a lot.
This pretty much happened against all opposition at home.
I do hope this has been addressed...but I fail to see how.

York were camped out near our line for long periods in the first half as we gave away plenty of penalties and lost possession when we did have the ball. York found it difficult to get through using route one and lacked the finesse to open us up out wide. They looked a bit rusty in their execution.

In the second half, presumably when we got a bit tired, our line was broken most often between the 40 metre line and halfway.

I agree with S/O that one of our main weaknesses last year was not having enough punch in the middle. It's probably too early to say whether that has been addressed having only had one look at the new players but it's something I'll be watching out for this Sunday.