STEVE DEAKIN is desperate to see his side get back on the victory trail this weekend -- after his team suffered four consecutive defeats.
In a nightmare Easter weekend he saw his team beaten 22-26 by strugglers Swinton Lions at home on Good Friday and there was no good news on their travels to Humberside, when they were beaten 17-10 by Hull KR on Easter Monday.
The sky-high confidence which made the team almost invincible had deserted them following their defeat on April Fools Day by Leigh at Cougar Park.
The previous week Martin Wood suffered a long term injury in the game against Widnes, and his half-back partner Nathan Antonik was carried off within minutes of the start of the game against Leigh.
With both members of the sparkling half-back partnership on the injury list the team suddenly looked a shadow of its former self and slipped to a further defeat at Whitehaven before the crucial Easter fixtures.
With Darren Carter also injured Deakin went in search of a player to plug the half-back gap and brought former Cougar Chris Robinson back to the club. After leaving Keighley in 1999 to concentrate on his business Chris joined Sheffield and was captain of the Eagles.
He has returned to Cougar Park on an initial four week exchange deal with Matt Foster making the journey in the other direction. Foster signed off with four tries for the Keighley A team, giving fans a glimpse of the style which took him to the brink of international honours before being sidelined by an ankle injury.
The move is designed to help Foster rebuilt his fitness. "It was thought that he needed to play in a standard above the A team and a stint at Sheffield should get him back towards the level of fitness he had before his injury," said general manager Gary Murgatroyd.
On Sunday they have a golden opportunity to rebuild their shattered confidence when they take on Chorley-Lynx. The Lancashire club has won just two games this season and will give the Cougars the chance to put on a training-style game.
They will be able to work on their moves while playing against genuine opposition and Steve Deakin has called on the club's fans to pack the ground and give the team a massive boost.
"The supporters at Hull KR on Monday were superb and gave the lads a brilliant reception despite the defeat. I hope they will get the same response at home on Sunday," Gary Murgatroyd said.
The club was also hoping to give the game a party atmosphere and had been handing out hundreds of free tickets to young supporters as an Easter holiday treat.
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