Featherstone Rovers have been aiming for Super League alongside Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and St Helens.
But the Rovers again missed out on promotion this year. The Rovers have been perhaps the most consistent Championship team for the last decade but have constantly been denied promotion.
Whether it was by the licencing system from 2009-14, the presence of two great Leigh Centurions sides, a system that favours the Super League clubs battling for survival and the likes of Toronto Wolfpack.
In 2022, it looked like Featherstone had a massive chance at promotion with Leigh not having a full squad at the start of the season.
But Adrian Lam, Chris Chester and Derek Beaumont worked hard to assemble a squad that would eventually win the Challenge Cup in 2023.
But with no Leigh in 2023, surely Featherstone would be promoted. The Rovers again showed amazing investment and finished top with ease.
But, after parting company with Sean Long and appointing James Ford instead, the Rovers were stunned by fifth place London Broncos in the play-offs who went on to be promoted.
But Featherstone have shown great ambition this off season. They retained the services of Gareth Gale and fullback Caleb Aekins this week as well as Gadwin Springer.
New Signing
But their big statement was signing Challenge Cup winner Ben Reynolds from the Leigh Leopards.
The halfback is an excellent signing and was an underrated member of Leigh’s squad in 2023.
He also knows the route to Championship glory having been promoted with Leigh last year a great signing.
Zak Hardaker
You may have seen Zak Hardaker has been linked with a stunning move to the Rovers.
On the face of it, this seems ridiculous given Hardaker’s form in 2023 but the same could have been said of Ben Reynolds.
Hardaker is a Fev lad and started his career with the club and has spoken about finishing his career there in the past.
So could this be legit? At the moment you would have to say that Leigh are unlikely to allow him to leave.
Time will tell the legitimacy of this link but either way things are looking good for the Rovers.