Keighley Cougars want to get weak spot sorted for Cornwall

He insists the Australian-style league format for the third tier in 2024 is one he is familiar and comfortable with, even if he respects the fact that not everyone is on board with it.

Regardless of who plays who, Foster has identified a problem Keighley need to fix up fast, which was evident in their last game, a 58-14 defeat to Championship heavyweights Featherstone Rovers in the Challenge Cup fourth round at the end of last month.

He said: “We were a bit disappointed by the scoreline, which I think is indicative of how highly we value ourselves and how as staff and players, we value our progression as a team.

“There are positives we can take from areas of that Featherstone performance but the middle section of the game, before and after half-time, is something we need to work on and be more competitive in.

“Jack Bussey came on for Featherstone around that period and changed the game.

“We didn’t deal with him or that situation at all, and it’s something we need to learn from.”

Mark Ioane and Jack Miller are two of Cougars' star players, but even the found themselves totally overwhelmed by a far superior Featherstone side last time out. (Image: Craig Irvine.)

On paper, Cougars face a far easier home game this Sunday against Cornwall (1pm kick-off), an occasion Foster is excited for, but also one he will be taking extremely seriously, despite his side being overwhelming favourites to win.

He said: “It’s always good to get going for the start of the league season, as that’s always the main competition you’re aiming to do well in.

“It’s nice to finally have it come around after those sporadic cup games earlier in the season.

“We’ve been working towards this Sunday for a while now.”

Cornwall have not had the same pre-season as most in the Championship and League 1, after they were controversially asked to sit out of the 1895 Cup for logistical and financial reasons.

But Foster said: “They’ll have had competitive games around their training schedule and will have played sides down south to prepare for the season.

“They’ll have some games under their belt and I’ve no doubt they’ll be ready to play us this Sunday.”

Both of Keighley’s first two league games are at home, as they welcome Workington to town next Sunday.

Asked about the importance of making Cougar Park a formidable place for League 1 teams to visit, Foster said: “Regardless of our promotion ambitions, we want to have the place as a fortress.

Cougars had some decent home results last year, including this win over eventually-promoted London Broncos, and might not have been relegated from the Championship had they been able to replicate that form on the road. (Image: JT Sports Media.)

“We’ve certainly been focused on the fact our first two games are at home, and hopefully we can start well there, with a couple of good performances.”

Only nine teams are in League 1 this year, but each side will play 10 home and 10 away games.

Like everyone else, Cougars will face four teams twice and the other four three times, but Foster is content with that slightly unusual format.

He said: “Some people don’t like it, the idea that you only play some teams twice and others three times.

“But I’m used to it, as it’s a common format in Australian rugby league competition (where Foster spent around 15 years as a coach) and not one that’s foreign to me.

“My players are comfortable with it too, because they just want to turn up and perform each week, regardless of who their opposition are.”

Foster admitted his squad is shaping up nicely for the opener against Cornwall this weekend.

Lewis Hatton and Alex Bishop both returned to full contact training last week, with Kyle Kesik expected to be doing the same this week.

Foster could have all three of them fit and available to face their Penryn-based visitors, while he hopes former Bulls hooker Nathan Conroy can build on his debut cameo against Featherstone.