Sheffield Eagles' youngsters repaying the faith shown in them

Director Mark Aston has hailed the impact of new recruit Max Garcia, a player he’d have liked to have worked with more behind the scenes before thrusting him into the muck and bullets of Championship RL.

But Aston has turned to the young Frenchman in his last two outings and not been disappointed.

“I was over the moon for Max after his performance against Rochdale” Aston explained.

“He has worked hard. He hasn’t had much game time but I told him when the time was right I’d pick him. I was delighted that he repaid me.”

Ryan Millar’s switch from full-back to wing hs caught the eye too, whilst dual-registration ace Matty Costello has taken on the challenge of filling the full-back role. “We have seen some good things from Ryan,” he added.

“When you see these kids showing signs, then the others know that I will put them in if I feel it is right.”

Aston said: “We had Garry Lo scoring tries, we had Ben Blackmore back available and we have Ryan looking good, that’s competition but I still need more.”

With a disappointing second-half their undoing in the Bank Holiday Monday defeat to Batley, Aston knows a performance similar to the one that dispatched Rochdale will be key if they are to see off fellow strugglers Swinton on Sunday (4.30pm).

“We gave away a game as I thought we were in control of the first 40 minutes,” he continued.

“The last three games we have been in control. There is progression but we have got to be better.

“We need to pick up these games and not gift them away.”