Rugby League

[Jemmo]

Dons have today brought in James Glover from Featherstone. Big scoring centre, always scored plenty against us. A new strike threat for us

[BobG]

Despite the RL panjandrums this is all getting rather exciting isn't it?! Clearly, a decision has been made, and money has been acquired. Great - though it does beg a couple of seriously important questions about the future.

BobG

[Jemmo]

Yes, there is a real buzz building and it's great to see. The RFL have suggested there will be promotion via the league (in conjunction with Grading) at the end of the season, the implication that if a Grade B or above club wins the league they can replace another Grade B club in SL. We are a grade B club. But as is always the case, this can change at any minute and depending if London look likely to win

[Jemmo]

Another new name through the door, and he is a unit!

Gadwin Springer helping us make up probably the best pack we’ve ever had

https://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article/2293/dons-add-prop-gadwin-springer-as-latest-new-signing

[BobG]

[Jemmo]

Season tickets have gone on sale today, price frozen and still start at £99. Which is quite frankly obscenely cheap, we were already one of the cheapest in the game. An absolute steal, particularly when you consider the signings we've made this year.

Also under 17's are £10! and under 13's Free!

https://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article/2298/rewriting-history---dons-2026-season-memberships

[idler]

Season tickets have gone on sale today, price frozen and still start at £99. Which is quite frankly obscenely cheap, we were already one of the cheapest in the game. An absolute steal, particularly when you consider the signings we've made this year.

Also under 17's are £10! and under 13's Free!

https://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article/2298/rewriting-history---dons-2026-season-memberships

Fantastic value. I would certainly go to some games if I still lived in or near Donny.

[BobG]

Me too. RL was always way better value for your money entertainment than footer. Still is obviously.

BobG

[Jemmo]

Dons have drawn Newcastle at home in the 2nd round of the challenge cup (January 24/25).

With only time for one preseason friendly that’s a good draw for us to try and gel the new signings in a game we should be winning

[Jemmo]

Dons fixtures are out, the start and run in are quite favourable. Just a tricky run of away games in the middle when the pitch gets relaid. I genuinely think it'll be April until we go into a game not as favourites, based on clubs current squads. Although being favourite isn't the same as winning

[Jemmo]

And it classic Rugby League fashion, the day after Fixtures have come out Salford have been wound up in court. There's a not an awful lot of time for a phoenix club to form and take their place

Normally you'd just say you scrap everyones fixtures against them; but we can't do that as not everyone was scheduled to play them.

[scawsby steve]

Jemmo, I can't make head nor tails of these fixtures. I've researched this new amalgamation of the Championship and League 1, and it seems there are 21 teams in it; but there aren't 20 other teams included in that fixture list.

Could you clarify?

Thanks.

[Jemmo]

Basically we don’t play everyone, despite all being in the same league table. We play 10 teams home and away based on last years league position (we were ranked 6th) then another 2 teams homes and away based on geography. Teams lower down get an “easier” set of fixtures.

For a more detailed explanation see this post I made about a month ago, which turned out bang on

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17ewVzfHdH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[Jemmo]

Dons fans got a New Years gift yesterday with Edene Gebbie finally being tied down to a 2 year deal to keep him at the club. Gebbie was the divisions 2nd top scorer with 25 in 22 (just behind York's Jones Bishop who player a lot more games) so he was getting a lot of interest from other clubs including York and Bradford. That, along with him going back to back to PNG for the close season meant we'd had a bit of a wait to see if he'd been poached.

So baring any late business before the season starts on the 18th (Halifax at home) the Dons squad looks like this:

Aston (6), Baldwinson (15), Boas (24), Briscoe (5), Burns (9), Faraimo (2), Gebbie, Glover (23), Hepi (21), Hey (3), Holmes (1), Johnson (22), C Jones (19), J Jones (14), Knowles (8 ), Lyne (4), Matagi (10), McConnell (13), Misky (20),  Mustapha (17), Pauli (16), Robinson (7), Savellio (33), Smeaton (11), Springer (25), Sutcliffe (12)

[scawsby steve]

Dons fans got a New Years gift yesterday with Edene Gebbie finally being tied down to a 2 year deal to keep him at the club. Gebbie was the divisions 2nd top scorer with 25 in 22 (just behind York's Jones Bishop who player a lot more games) so he was getting a lot of interest from other clubs including York and Bradford. That, along with him going back to back to PNG for the close season meant we'd had a bit of a wait to see if he'd been poached.

So baring any late business before the season starts on the 18th (Halifax at home) the Dons squad looks like this:

Aston (6), Baldwinson (15), Boas (24), Briscoe (5), Burns (9), Faraimo (2), Gebbie, Glover (23), Hepi (21), Hey (3), Holmes (1), Johnson (22), C Jones (19), J Jones (14), Knowles (8 ), Lyne (4), Matagi (10), McConnell (13), Misky (20),  Mustapha (17), Pauli (16), Robinson (7), Savellio (33), Smeaton (11), Springer (25), Sutcliffe (12)

Could you tell us which ones of the squad are new signings please, Jemmo, and who you think are the ones that will make the most impact?

[Jemmo]

The new signings are:

Cory Aston (Stand off),
James Glover (centre),
Tom Holmes (full back),
Connor Jones (Hooker),
Muizz Mustapha (prop),
Gadwin Springer (prop),

I think they all strengthen the first 17, most the starting 13. But I think the pick of them is Tom Holmes who is easily good enough for Super League, is a postition we really needed and is a perfect fit for us. Jones and Mustapha are the others I’m most looking forward to see

[scawsby steve]

The new signings are:

Cory Aston (Stand off),
James Glover (centre),
Tom Holmes (full back),
Connor Jones (Hooker),
Muizz Mustapha (prop),
Gadwin Springer (prop),

I think they all strengthen the first 17, most the starting 13. But I think the pick of them is Tom Holmes who is easily good enough for Super League, is a postition we really needed and is a perfect fit for us. Jones and Mustapha are the others I’m most looking forward to see

Thanks for that, Jemmo. I see that Cory Aston is the son of Mark Aston. Two more questions; are the Dons full time pros, and where do they train?

[Jemmo]

The new signings are:

Cory Aston (Stand off),
James Glover (centre),
Tom Holmes (full back),
Connor Jones (Hooker),
Muizz Mustapha (prop),
Gadwin Springer (prop),

I think they all strengthen the first 17, most the starting 13. But I think the pick of them is Tom Holmes who is easily good enough for Super League, is a postition we really needed and is a perfect fit for us. Jones and Mustapha are the others I’m most looking forward to see

Thanks for that, Jemmo. I see that Cory Aston is the son of Mark Aston. Two more questions; are the Dons full time pros, and where do they train?

Yes Cory coming to us would have been unheard of 12 months ago but there has been quite a public fall out between Sheffield eagles and the Aston family and we’ve benefited.

No they’re not full time, although some players will essentially be full time employees of the club doing stuff around schools etc. they train down at Cantley Park in the same complex as the rovers. One of the things players have said when interviewed about choosing The Dons is the gym etc at the train facilities being some of the best they’ve ever had

[Jemmo]

It was the launch night last night, ahead of this Sundays friendly (fingers crossed) against Bradford and the season starting proper the week after at home to Halifax. Really well attended event and you can tell there is a buzz about. All the new players were there and I had a good chat with Connor Jones and Gadwin Springer (who is huge!, him an Pauli Pauli on the pitch at the same time is going to be terrifying).

We also saw the new kit for the first time with the launch video below. It's the 75th anniversary of the club so its based on the original shirt, with all the clubs previous badges watermarked into it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRcpVt4u6Ac

[scawsby steve]

It was the launch night last night, ahead of this Sundays friendly (fingers crossed) against Bradford and the season starting proper the week after at home to Halifax. Really well attended event and you can tell there is a buzz about. All the new players were there and I had a good chat with Connor Jones and Gadwin Springer (who is huge!, him an Pauli Pauli on the pitch at the same time is going to be terrifying).

We also saw the new kit for the first time with the launch video below. It's the 75th anniversary of the club so its based on the original shirt, with all the clubs previous badges watermarked into it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRcpVt4u6Ac

Good interview with Carl.

[Jemmo]

The big news today is that there will be no Featherstone Rovers in 2026. The RFL have announced today they have not been granted entry into this years competition

[BobG]

Christ Alimighty. . .

[Jemmo]

Dons v Bradford game is on today after the pitch inspection

[Jemmo]

Dons 12 Bradford 30

More than happy with that for a preseason against a full time team. All the new players looked to offer something new; Jones, Mustapha and Aston probably showed up best from those

A lot more positives than negatives. Onto the real stuff next week

[Jemmo]

If the Dons beat Newcastle in the 2nd round of the cup we will play Castleford at home in the 3rd round

[knockers]

I’m looking forward to the Halifax game on Sunday. It’ll be good to see the new players in action.

[Jemmo]

Dons 19 Halifax 12

Good win to start the season against one of the teams expected to be challenging. Felt we were more than 7 points better than them, but they looked more likely to get the odd score off the cuff where we looked very structured in our play.

Very happy with that for an early season result

[knockers]

Great game today from two good sides.

Thought we defended well and showed a bit of class going forwards.

[Jemmo]

Also got the rare sight of an 8 point try. Honestly can’t remember if I’ve ever seen us awarded one. If we have it was many years ago

[BobG]

Crikey. Shows how out of date I am...  What on Earth is an 8 point try? How do you get one?

Cheers!

BobG