Committed. Resilient. Together. — Inside Skirlaugh’s Rise with Matt Danville

There’s a real buzz around the club at the moment, and with Skirlaugh sitting proudly at the top of the league midway through the season, Head Coach Matt Danville has every reason to be pleased with the progress his side has made so far.

But while league position is important, for Danville it’s the way his side has gone about their business that stands out most.

“I’m really pleased with where we are, but more importantly I’m pleased with how we’ve gone about it,” said Danville. “The lads have worked extremely hard since pre-season and they’ve earned the position they’re in. We’ve shown consistency, resilience and a real togetherness as a group.”

Although expectations were high heading into the campaign, Danville insists nothing was ever taken for granted.

“We always believed we had a strong squad capable of competing near the top end of the table, but you never take anything for granted in this league. To be sitting where we are at this stage is a credit to the players and the standards they’ve set themselves week in, week out.”

That relentless standard-setting has become one of the defining traits of this current Skirlaugh side. According to the head coach, attitude and commitment have been the biggest driving forces behind the club’s impressive first half of the season.

“Talent only gets you so far, but this group turns up every week willing to work for each other. The commitment at training and the belief within the squad has been massive for us.”

Danville points to back-to-back victories over Featherstone Lions and Fryston Warriors as moments that convinced him this squad could achieve something special this year.

“Those games showed me this team has more than just ability — it has character. We had to dig deep and grind out results.”

One game in particular perfectly captured the identity the coaching staff have worked tirelessly to rebuild.

“The game against Fetherstone probably represents us best. We had to come from behind and defend our line for long periods against a well-established team. This team never gives in and always sticks together. That’s what we want to be known for.

“We spoke all through pre-season about getting our identity back as a team and as a club — being tough and physical defensively.”

The season has already produced some unforgettable moments, none more so than the club’s trip to Las Vegas earlier in the year.

“Getting 35 players and staff over to Las Vegas to compete in the NRL 9s was amazing,” Danville reflected. “I was so proud of the group and how we conducted ourselves over there. Competing with some outstanding teams in the finals was a different level.”

Yet beyond results and overseas experiences, it’s the connection around the club that means the most to him.

“Since starting pre-season, seeing the connection between the players, coaching staff, supporters and sponsors has been special. You can feel the belief building around the club.

“We’ve come a long way in a short period of time, but we also know we’ve still got a long way to go to fulfil our ultimate goals. We’ve got to stay grounded and keep working hard collectively.”

Leadership has also been a major factor in the club’s rise this season, with Danville quick to praise his senior players for setting standards both on and off the field.

“We’re lucky to have a really influential leadership group led by captain Josh Atkinson and co-captains Lochlan Fitzgerald and George Thompson. The senior lads lead by example and the younger players have followed that. The intensity and standards at training have been excellent.”

Asked to sum up this Skirlaugh side in just three words, Danville didn’t hesitate:

“Committed. Resilient. Together.”

And perhaps that final word — together — best explains why this current group feels different from teams of previous years.

“This group genuinely enjoys working hard for each other and there’s a really good balance between confidence and humility. They’re coachable, driven and hungry to improve.

“They’re a great bunch of lads who genuinely care for each other and the club. We’ve built a culture where we’ve set high standards and live by them. If standards slip, we hold each other accountable and help each other improve.”

With belief growing around the club both on and off the pitch, there’s no doubt Skirlaugh supporters have plenty to be excited about as the second half of the season approaches.