Saints star comes to Loo’s rescue

Nov 19 2009 by Our Correspondent, Crosby Herald

WITH just one win so far this season and languishing at the bottom of National Two North, Waterloo have turned to rugby league to try and sort out a defence that has so far conceded 426 points, the worst in the competition.

The coaching staff have been concerned about the side’s defence for some weeks especially the ‘one on one’ tackle area and have recruited former St Helens rugby league forward John Stankevitch to hold a number of defence training sessions.

Stankevitch, who had a short spell with Rotherham Titans before taking over as head coach at Rochdale Hornets, was a hot favourite at Knowsley Road where he built a reputation as an aggressive tackler.

Waterloo have no match this weekend but will return to league action at Hull on November 28.

“We offered the boys a week off but they came to us and said they did not want a break in the training schedule,” Waterloo director of rugby Steve Moore said. “So training will be as normal right up to the Hull game.”

Stankevitch hails from Widnes, where he had a spell as caretaker coach in between the departure of Steve McCormack and recruitment of Paul Cullen during last season.

“We have known that our defensive structure needs improving so we have asked John to come and help out in that area,” Moore explained.