In the latest of a new series as a part of our match preview line-up, we will be looking at 5 players in the opposition line-up to look out for once they take to the field against the Cougars at the weekend.

We move on to the next edition of the ‘Ones To Watch’ series with Sunday’s hosts at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster RL.

BRAD FOSTER

The Doncaster captain is now into his second spell at the Keepmoat Stadium after returning to South Yorkshire in 2019.

A fearsome back rower who can read the play well in both attack and defence, Foster leads the Dons side by example from the pack.

Originally joining Doncaster in 2015, his impressive performances earned a move to Dewsbury before he returned to the Keepmoat via Hunslet after two years away.

His first year back in South Yorkshire was a real standout from a personal point of view and saw him land the Man of Steel award at the club’s end of season awards night following the conclusion of the 2019 season.

He was named as the Dons’ captain by head coach Richard Horne ahead of the curtailed 2020 campaign and his kept the armband for the 2021 season.

OLIVER GREENSMITH

Youngster Oliver Greensmith has lit the Keepmoat Stadium and League One alight this season.

In South Yorkshire on a season-long loan from Super League outfit Wakefield Trinity, Greensmith has showed why he is regarded as a hot prospect for the future of the sport.

The centre, who stands at 6 feet 4 tall, has a strong running game that allows his skill level and ball carrying capabilities to stand out.

Beginning his career at the age of 6, Greensmith played amateur Rugby League at all age levels for the Crigglestone All Blacks and earned international honours with the England Community Lions whilst also playing representative Rugby League at Under 17 and Under 19 level for the BARLA Yorkshire side.

He moved into the professional game by joining the Trinity academy in 2017 after catching the eye playing for New College Pontefract in the Elite College League.

After 18 months in the Wakefield academy, he earned a first-team deal at Belle Vue in 2019 but with first-team chances limited he was allowed to move on loan to Doncaster where has been one of the 2021 season’s breakout stars.

BRANDON DOUGLAS

The highly rated young forward’s signing was seen as a real coup for Doncaster after signing for the Dons ahead of the 2019 season.

Breaking onto the scene at Super League level with the Castleford Tigers, Douglas made a handful appearances for the Tigers prior to departing following the expiration of his deal after a spell on loan at Halifax.

The prop forward, who has a reputation for big hits and big runs, was highly sought after, with offers coming his way from a number of Championship clubs but opted to head to the Keepmoat Stadium.

Douglas made an immediate impact in a Doncaster shirt with several eye-catching performances as he helped the Dons reach the play-off semi-finals.

ROSS PELTIER

A man who needs no introduction to the Cougars supporters is Ross Peltier, the prop forward now into his second season with the Dons.

The Jamaica international spent four seasons at Cougar Park, breaking into the first team before becoming a regular and capping his time with the club off by being a member of the 2016 iPro Sport Cup winning side in Blackpool.

Big in size, stature, and vocals, Peltier has become a pivotal figure on and off the field since arriving at the Keepmoat Stadium ahead of the 2020 cancelled Covid-19 season.

Coming through the academy system at the Huddersfield Giants, ‘Fam’ arrived at Cougar Park ahead of the 2013 campaign as one of Paul March’s first signings as Head Coach.

Waiting for an opportunity to break into the side, he took that opportunity with both hands midway through the 2014 season as he put in a Man of the Match performance during that season’s Challenge Cup Quarter Final defeat to the Widnes Vikings.

A regular following relegation, he played nearly every game for the club during the 2015 and 2016 season’s and won an iPro Sport Cup medal against York in the process.

He caught the eye of his boyhood club and made the decision to make his dream move to the Bradford Bulls ahead of the 2017 season.

Ross quickly became a cult hero at Odsal as his big hit, big carry, style of play captured hearts and minds of the Bradford faithful and despite relegation through financial difficulties in 2017, he was a key figure in the side that earned promotion back from League One the following year.

Continuing to write his name into club folklore as a member of the team that defeated the Leeds Rhinos in the 2019 Challenge Cup, more financial issues away from the field at Odsal forced his hand and he made the move to Doncaster.

LIAM JOHNSON

Bringing plenty of Championship and League One experience to the side, the signing of Liam Johnson ahead of this season was seen as an astute one by Richard Horne.

Comfortable in both the centres and the back row, Johnson has established himself as a key member of the Doncaster side this season as they now carry form into the play-offs.

A product of the Huddersfield Giants academy, he would never find regular first team Rugby League at the John Smith’s Stadium and instead made his name through a series of loan spells away from the Giants.

Successful loan spells in the Championship with Oldham and Sheffield Eagles allowed him to catch the eye, and he would join the Bradford Bulls ahead of the 2018 season.

Becoming a regular in the Bulls side, he would make 14 appearances at Odsal and tasted promotion at the end of that campaign as he was a part of the side that defeated Workington Town to win the League One play-offs and return to the second tier.

However, he would depart Bradford and sign with the Dewsbury Rams following the Bulls promotion.

Injury and the Covid-19 curtailed season would restrict his playing time with the Rams as they survived a relegation scare to remain in the Championship before he headed to South Yorkshire to link up with the Dons.

By Joshua Chapman