Cougars plan to unleash potential (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Keighley Cougars plan to unleash potential

7:32pm Friday 10th February 2012 in Sport By Ross Heppenstall

Cougars player-coach Jason Demetriou is urging his players to transfer their potential from paper to pitch as they open the new campaign against Batley in the Northern Rail Cup on Sunday (2pm).

Keighley were left frustrated last weekend after their final pre-season friendly at home to Rochdale fell victim to the weather, denying them the chance to iron out any flaws before the serious business gets underway.

But Demetriou says his side are ready for the challenge posed by John Kear’s visiting team – as long as they turn up to the party.

“There’s a lot of talk about our recruitment but all we’ve got at the moment is some good names on a piece of paper,” he said.

“We need those blokes to turn up with a good attitude but I know their characters well and they’re all blokes that want to achieve something.

“We’re probably still another four or five games away from getting to where I want to be but we’re looking good and everyone is buying into what we want to do.”

Demetriou played under Kear at Wakefield and is a huge admirer of the former Sheffield, Hull and England boss.

“I learned a lot from John at Wakefield which I’ve taken into my coaching career at Keighley,” said the Cougars chief.

“He’s a thinker of the game and is meticulous in his planning. I know what he’s like and what he demands of his players. I’m sure they will be up for it.

“They have been one of the top teams in the Championship for the past two or three years and Karl Harrison did a very good job there before John.

“They are the benchmark for clubs like ourselves. We need to become established and this competition can help us on that front.”

Demetriou had hoped to finalise his team for this weekend in the game against Rochdale.

“The weather put paid to that, which was disappointing, but the boys have trained really well this week and I’m sure they will be raring to go,” he said.

“The Rochdale game was an opportunity for a lot of players to put up their final claim for a spot. It probably would have also made things a lot easier if we had played the game.

“But a lot of players have already put up their hands and others are in the frame.”

Ben Sagar (knee), Ollie Pursglove (ankle), Jonny Simpson (Achilles) and Ryan Smith (groin) are all missing for the Cougars.