Goole Vikings eye further Super League recruits as Scott Taylor provides update

Goole Vikings head coach Scott Taylor hopes to add one or two more players to his squad before the start of the League One season. The Vikings are preparing for their first season in the professional game after being accepted into the third tier of English rugby league.

As such, they have had to recruit a team from scratch with 24 players agreeing to join the club since they were officially given the green light by the RFL. Among them are ex-Leeds Rhinos man Brett Ferres who will skipper the side, Challenge Cup winner Jamie Shaul, former Hull KR man Thomas Minns, Misi Taulapapa and a raft of youngsters who have been released by Super League and Championship clubs.

However, Taylor believes further additions are still a possibility, particularly as the league season edges closer.

“We’re still looking to add a bit and we’re having a sniff around,” the head coach told Serious About RL. “It’s a tough time at the minute because all the Super League teams are in full-time pre-season and have friendlies.

“We have 24 players signed up and have 21 fit lads going into the Featherstone who will play for shirts and I’ll have to pick 17 out of that 21 for the London game. That then takes us to the end of January or start of February when Super League teams should be cutting their squads down and we’ll know whether a player will be available or not.

“I don’t think I see anyone added in January but I think I see one or two added to my squad in February after a few initial chats with teams.”

Goole were due to play their first ever game this weekend against Featherstone Rovers at the Millennium Stadium. That friendly has been postponed due to a frozen pitch, though, and will now be played on Tuesday, January 14, less than two weeks before their Challenge Cup second round clash with London Broncos.

“It’s a massive test, they’ll play a strong squad I believe and Fev are right at the top of Championship level,” Taylor added. “I aren’t going there expecting too much from my lads, it’s our first competitive hit out as Goole Vikings and the first time we’re crossing that white line together.

“I want to see lads be honest out there, trying, looking to have a dig. We’ll take a lot of pros and cons from the game I’m sure and there’ll be lots I can crop in and out of video and have a look at.

“For me it’s a proud moment to see the outfit run out for the first time in that kit but then, there are some shirts to be won for that London game. I have no perceptions of my 17 for London yet so my aim is to give every lad at least 40 minutes out there so they have a fair crack of earning a shirt.”