Hooper: Inspired by young Tykes

By Jamie Hunt  

Hooper: Inspired by young Tykes

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Stuart Hooper on skysports.com

Thinking about this column this week I was considering that it would be nice to have something positive to write about, but unfortunately that still isn't the case at the moment.

The only thing we are doing is trying to keep our frame of mind as positive as possible and keep working hard in training and improving the little things and hopefully putting all of that together into the game.

We sat around after the Llanelli game and just to looking around the dressing room was a positive thing in that all of the boys were absolutely exhausted, everyone was drained and had given everything they could.

And as a player in a team and as a captain of that team, that is all you can ask for, that everyone does their best, including yourself.

Against Sale the positive was the way that the young boys performed. Danny Care on his starting debut for the club at scrum-half scored a try and played fantastically well, as did Jordan Crane at No.8 and David Docherty at fullback.

The younger guys are proving inspirational to some of the older, more experienced players that we really have to sharpen up our ideas that we have to come up to the level that the younger guys are performing at, at the moment.

On a personal level I injured my shoulder in the Powergen Cup and haven't taken any part in any training or playing since and so obviously that is a massive disappointment.

I have injured my right shoulder it is nothing too serious but I am hoping to be back in a few weeks. Hopefully, I have an eye on the Cardiff game, but obviously it just depends on how the rehab goes. I am working pretty hard with the physios to get it sorted.

Lots has been written about how jumping from competition affects the players, but I think it is the fans who must find it hard.

To be honest it is not really something that the players worry about that much, every game is another challenge so we go out there and play the same whichever competition it should be.
Our focus as players is just to get back on track, and we will do that playing the brand of rugby that served us well at the end of last season.

We play well at Leeds when we express ourselves, it is not when we go into our shell and play very disciplined rugby.  It is when we express ourselves and let our talent show. We have some exceptionally gifted players, both in the forwards and in the backs.

We have a tough game at Worcester ahead in the Premiership and then we look forwards to the Heineken Cup next Saturday and a trip to Cardiff.

That is a massive start for us, and could prove to be just what we need to get our season going.