Waterman says Doncaster are underdogs
Doncaster centre Lee Waterman believes the Championship One League Leaders are going into this weekend’s play-off final against Barrow Raiders as underdogs having lost out to the Cumbrian side in a hard-fought 22-20 defeat two weeks ago.
Waterman has been in fine form for the South Yorkshire side so far this season, amassing 34 tries in all competitions, and is hoping to play a big part in guiding the club to victory when they meet Barrow as part of the Championships Finals Day at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington on Sunday September 30.
“It’s really exciting to be involved,” said Waterman. “We lost out when we met a few weeks ago but we know we weren’t at our best that day and we didn’t play at 100 per cent. We‘ve been preparing well this week and we’re all very confident that we can put in a much better performance.
“I think we’re slight underdogs as a result of that match but we’re confident that we can step up our game and get the result that we all want.”
Doncaster go into the final having already secured promotion to the Championship for 2013 and after winning the club’s first silverware in 61 years by securing the Championship One League Leaders’ Shield last month, Waterman would relish the chance to give the fans another title to shout about.
“We set ourselves targets at the start of the season and I don’t think many people outside the club thought we stood a chance of winning the league,” he said. “We have already proved as lot of people wrong by doing as well as we have done and it would be massive for us now to be able to do a double for the club.
“With just a few games to go in the season we didn’t think we would win because Workington and Barrow were in strong positions but we ended up going to London Skolars needing a win to seal the League Leaders and that was a special moment for us all and the fans that travelled.
“Almost 300 of them made the journey down and it would mean everything to win for them. It’s big motivation for us as well. They’ve been the 18th man for us all season and to be able to complete a double for them would be a perfect way to end the season.”
Tickets to the Co-operative Championships Finals Day on Sunday September 30 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington cost from just £16 adult, £8 concessions and can be purchased by calling the RFL Ticket office on 0844 856 1113 or by visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk
Photo credit: Rob Terrace