Fev unfazed by tricky start

Featherstone coach Daryl Powell is unfazed by the tough start handed to his troops next season.

Rovers will face both Barrow and Widnes in the Northern Rail Cup group stages, and will be keen to avoid a repeat of last season where they failed to make it through to the knockout rounds.

Powell said: “For sure we have a tough Northern Rail Group. There are three teams from our own competition in it. Then of course we play Barrow and Widnes in successive rounds.

“The opening rounds of the championship are equally demanding.

“The point is that we have to play these teams at sometime or other. Playing them early in the season will be a good guide to how we have prepared and how well our new players have fitted in. That’s all there is to it.

“The way we all see it here is ‘let them worry about us.'”

Featherstone topped the Championship table last season before being pipped to the title by Halifax in a thrilling Grand Final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Rovers chairman Mark Campbell said: “We want big games at the Bigfellas it’s as simple as that. Starting the season playing against these teams is just what we want. We want every game of the season to be a major challenge, with all the great Rugby that goes with it. I can’t wait.”