LEAGUE 1 ROUND-UP
KEIGHLEY COUGARS coach Rhys Lovegrove is enjoying the challenges playing every week is bringing to his squad.
In the last few seasons, League 1 clubs have had many weekend off during the season due to cup competition rounds or bye weekends, when there was an odd number of teams in the league.
But Newcastle's elevation to the Championship for 2021 and a much later start than normal means that the only scheduled break in fixtures falls on Challenge Cup final weekend in July.
However for Keighley, the game against Coventry Bears that was postponed due to Covid cases at the Cougars will be played that weekend, meaning every weekend until the end of the season will see the side in action.
"Not having the weeks off and having games every week has made a huge difference to us," said Lovegrove.
"Looking on the injury front, if we pick up a niggle now players tend to miss the next game, but if you look at last year we'd have played two games in the first five weeks so we would have a lot of those personnel available.
"But this is how it should be. Rugby League is about being exciting, it's about making sure your whole squad is ready, not just the top 17 players. This set-up really asks questions and challenges you as a coach and challenges the squad to stay fit and ready and continue to perform well.