LEE Gaskell has warned rival defences that his best is yet to come.

The reigning Championship Player of the Year has scored four tries in two games so far this season, including a hat-trick in Saturday’s thumping win at Whitehaven.

But the former St Helens man believes he will get even better when the weather improves and the grounds firm up.

The 46-10 victory at the Recreation Ground was achieved on a bog of a pitch with players ankle-deep in mud at times.

With Gaskell noted for his pace and ability to glide through opposition defences, he is looking forward to playing on the drier tracks in the coming weeks.

Gaskell said: “I’ve been steady so far this season but my game is more suited to the warmer conditions.

“The kind of conditions we faced at Whitehaven on Saturday were better suited to a forward battle and I thought our pack stood up really well.

“Yes, it’s always nice to score tries but I don’t think about how many I am going to score.

“I'm more concerned with helping the team to get the win because that’s the most important thing.”

Gaskell says he is hugely encouraged by the way the squad is shaping up following the close-season recruitment drive.

He added: “It was different for the club last season because we brought in so many different players.

“This year, we have kept the core of the squad and added some quality, so I’m really positive about what we can achieve.”