We have had a chance to get a word this week from National Conference League NCL assistant coach Lee Cunningham as he previews tomorrow's game vs Crosfields Rugby ??

"It has often been said that the true character of a person comes when the chips are stacked against you. It is these tests that sort out the winners from the quitters, and this week, as we approach our next fixture against an in-form Crosfields, I have seen a real response from so many of our young chargers who have put their hand up to don the tri-colours and to make a difference for each other. That effort will be the foundation on which we will base our performance from tomorrow, effort with grit, resilience, and a bit of dexterity for each other are the non-negotiables that are in a Miners DNA. It is every individual's attitude, a 'team-first' attitude that will be the difference maker tomorrow.

After speaking to Coach Martin Hutton yesterday he was thrilled with how the lads looked in training as they ran through their shape, and bit by bit the lads are getting closer to becoming a star team, rather than a team of stars. We do have some changes to the lineup again this week, as injuries to Karle Hunt, Danny Price, and Max Adamson, plus the unavailability of the ilk of Nathan Benson, Brandon Lewis, and Scott Brinksman have forced our hand. So the mercurial Josh Naylor keeps his NCL jersey, along with fellow debutants from last week's defeat at Hull Dockers, Danny Mark, Ellis Morgan, and Brad Sherwood. We welcome Josh Morgan back into the lineup following his recovery from that nasty head knock against Ince Rose Bridge, and for the first time in a while the no-nonsense approach of Mike Rotherham as he too will be kitting up. Mike's experience will be invaluable to help maintain calmness throughout our youthful team. Two warriors who have earned the right to be two of the first names to be put on anybody's team sheet are also back in the fold this week, as Kenny Hughes comes back at hooker, and Jack Graham is selected at Loose Forward. A foundry couldn't add as much steel as these two do to our team.

I'm happy with our selection, and our preparation, and we will be putting our bodies on the line for each other tomorrow at Hood Lane, in a bid to start collecting wins in our performances, and hope that those wins translate into a scoreline sooner, rather than later."

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