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Duo to face Thunder

12/ 4/2008

COACH Bobbie Goulding will include two new signings when National League Two surprise packets Gateshead Thunder visit Spotland tomorrow – and he is warning his halfbacks that they face a stiff battle to keep their first-team shirts.

Hooker/loose forward Carl Hughes and prop John Hill – initially with Hornets for a month after signing from Featherstone and Leigh respectively – will figure when Gateshead make only the second visit to Spotland in their short history, kick-off 3pm.

Hill appeared 29 times for the club in 2005 and 2006 before moving to Leigh after Darren Shaw was appointed football manager at Hilton Park.

Shaw resigned on Monday in the wake of their heavy cup defeat at the hands of Featherstone, and speculation in the rugby press has seen Goulding’s name linked with the vacant job. It is hardly surprising given Goulding’s success during two spells at Rochdale where he has built a reputation for putting together exciting, winning sides on limited resources.

His high profile and enthusiasm for the game – not to mention his ability to excite and inspire spectators – makes him one of the game’s hot coaching properties.

However, on Thursday Goulding told the Observer that he had "absolutely no comment" to make on any speculation.

He was happier to talk about a player currently impressing on the training field – one B Goulding esq.

"I’m back in training and trying to get in some shape other than round!" he revealed. "I don’t know how it is going to pan out but I expect to put some pressure on Chris Foster and Chris Hough – they won’t want the embarrassment of being kept out of the side by some old fart," added 36-year-old Goulding who had to stop playing in 2005 as the result of a series of bicep injuries.

Ian Sinfield, Dave Best and Wayne Corcoran have recovered from knocks picked up against Dewsbury last week and are available for selection against Gateshead in what their coach described as "as big and as aggressive a pack as there is in the division."

"As a halfback I know how important it is to have that aggression up front if you are going to lay a platform for the backs to move the ball around. John Hill was with me last time I was at Hornets and he will be a good signing, a big lad with plenty of experience."

Moving the other way is John Cookson who has been recalled by Leigh after completing a 28-day loan spell.

Goulding surprised many by opting for a bench featuring four forwards against Dewsbury and he may be tempted to try the same again against a Gateshead side which, under the guidance of former Castleford coach Dave Woods, has earned a reputation for a robust style of play.

It has been effective, as they have won seven league and Northern Rail Cup games this season – albeit beating Hunslet and York three times each. They are unbeaten in the league, and staged a fine comeback before just falling short against Doncaster in the cup last Friday.

"They are going to come down and give a good account of themselves, and we are going to have to be on our mettle," said Goulding. "Like London Skolars, they are allowed to field a large quota of overseas players. Personally, I think the Rugby League is wasting its time financing the professional game up there where the crowd is a dozen locals and how many the opposition takes.

"It’s one thing to encourage young, English talent, but the money is wasted on a team of Aussie professionals and could be better spent developing the game in the heartlands."