Worthington extends and Bastian set for Rovers return
Featherstone centre Greg Worthington has committed himself to the Rovers for two more years, while John Bastian is set to join the club as head coach.
Since joining the club from Huddersfield Giants in 2011, Worthington has been a first team regular playing primarily playing at Centre. His eye catching form has attracted significant Super League interest including recent interest from local neighbours Castleford Tigers and this deal until the end of 2015 is claimed as a further statement of intent by ambitious Featherstone Rovers.
On signing the contract Greg Worthington said “I feel I have made the right decision to stay at Featherstone Rovers and commit my future to the club. The club is really going places on and off the field and I want to be part of the journey in helping Rovers achieve our Super League ambitions. I am looking forward to challenging for silverware towards the business end of 2013 and to carry on my development.”
Featherstone Rovers Chief Executive Craig Poskitt said “Greg has put his heart and soul into Featherstone Rovers since joining the club. He works hard and is continuingly improving his game. It came as no surprise to us that Super League clubs were interested in signing Greg with many wishing to sign him immediately.
“We have moved quickly to retain Greg who thoroughly deserves this contract. Greg is a key member of the squad and we envisage him to remain so for a number of years to come. We are currently in negotiations with other members of the squad regarding contract extensions which we will announce in due course.
Meanwhile the Rovers have also announced at a busy fans forum event that former player John Bastian will join the club on 1st December 2013 as Head Coach. Bastian has signed a three year contract at the club and will be man to spearhead the Featherstone Rovers Destination Super League campaign.
On his appointment John Bastian said “I am really excited about what is happening at Featherstone Rovers. After a long conversation with Chairman Mark Campbell and Chief Executive Craig Poskitt it is clear we all share the same vision and aspirations. I am hopeful of Super League in the not too distant future with Rovers and feel this is an exciting chapter in the clubs history.
“I had a good experience here as a player here at Rovers in the late 80’s and early 90’s. I have never forgotten the culture of the club, the environment and how family orientated the club was. The players and officials were very close to the supporters and I know that is still the case now.
“I am relishing the challenge of being a Head Coach at Featherstone Rovers. I have built up a strong knowledge of the game during my time at both Warrington Wolves and Leeds Rhinos. I have been fortunate to work under one of the best coaches in the world in Tony Smith for 9 years and feel this experience will stand me in good stead.
“Daryl Powell has done an excellent job in his four and half years at Featherstone Rovers and in fact gave me my first coaching opportunity at Leeds Rhinos and I wish him well in his new role. I am looking forward to building on the platform Daryl and his team have laid and progressing the long term development of the club.
“I am passionate about bringing through our own players and ensuring that we have the right infrastructure, culture and facilities in place to enable us to attract and develop the best young talent from the local area and beyond. We need to be expansive and build on the excellent culture already at the club.
“I would like to thank Mark Campbell and Craig Poskitt for giving me this wonderful opportunity. They have shown a lot of faith in me in an important period for the club and I think we have a very bright future.”
Featherstone Rovers Chairman Mark Campbell said “I have followed John’s career closely firstly at Leeds Rhinos and then further at Warrington Wolves. I have always been impressed with his enthusiasm for the sport which is evident with the number of games he attends to build on his excellent knowledge. He makes himself available at all times and is a regular at all levels of rugby league and because of this has an excellent grasp on players coming through and has a real eye for talent.
“For Featherstone Rovers to be successful and sustainable, I feel that we need to establish a strong production line of home grown talent which the club was famous for in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. I feel with his experience of being a player, coach and experience of developing young players that John is the ideal man to implement this ethos at the club.
“In the search for a new Head Coach, I have spoken to a number of people who are all excellent coaches in their own right but after speaking with John and listening to his vision for the club I am positive John is the man to take us forward. The appointment may raise a few eyebrows but with the proposed structural changes to the game in the near future I am convinced John will put Featherstone Rovers in a strong position.
“I am looking forward to working with John and to get cracking and move things forward. We are already looking at our squad for 2014 and I think once the supporters get to know John they will grow to love him and he will become a real fans favourite and be as popular as he was in his playing days.”
Chief Executive Craig Poskitt said “John epitomises everything we were looking for, his enthusiasm was superb and he shares the vision of myself, the chairman and the Board of Directors. Personally he now has a chance to excel after working with Tony Smith for a number of years.”