Kirk on Parkside victory and Eagles' start to Championship season

04/03/2022

Sheffield Eagles prop forward Liam Kirk, sponsored by Feb-Tek Installations, was happy to get over the try-line against Hunslet Club Parkside but is wanting an improved performance this weekend at Workington. 

In what turned out to be a tricky Challenge Cup fixture against Parkside, the Eagles came out 20-40 winners at the South Leeds Stadium. 

Kirk admitted that the team probably underestimated the talent Hunslet had in their ranks, and they almost paid the price.

“It was a tough game and it was always going to be a bit of a dogfight at the start,” he said. 

“I think we took them a bit lightly, they’re a good side and the NCL is a good league. 

“It gave us a bit of a shock and hopefully that will kick us on. 

“The team got changed a bit, Thacks controls a lot of our game but it was down to us all. 

“We need to take a bit of leadership ourselves. We finished better than we started so we need to take confidence from that.” 

The off-season signing from Oldham has been an ever-present for the Eagles so far this season. 

Kirk reviewed the Eagles’ opening three fixtures of the campaign and is hoping for drier conditions soon, as that is when he expects the squad to flourish. 

“We have been alright, we are obviously aiming for two (wins) out of four,” he added.

“We are a new team with a lot of new players, but we need to start building now. 

“Once it starts drying up, I think it’ll help us. 

"Hopefully we have better weather this weekend but you never know in Cumbria. 

"If it’s a drier track, it’ll help our back five but also the middles too.”

By Dan Fowler, photo by Alex Coleman