Head Coach Dai Flanagan has hailed the impact of wing Ashton Hewitt since his return to action.
Hewitt missed the 2021/22 season as he recovered from a serious knee injury.
The flying wing was back at the start of this campaign only for an ankle injury to force him back under the knife after just two games.
However, the 28-year-old has looked back to his elusive best in recent weeks and scored his 34th try in 110 games in the recent win over Section Paloise to the delight of Flanagan.
“Ashton had a very tough summer. He was out for most of the summer and when he come back, he played two games, was outstanding for us, and then picked up an injury,” he said.
“He's come back again, and he's been fantastic again.
“Whenever I've coached against Ashton over the last couple of years he’s a threat and he’s, in my eyes, living up to that expectation.
“Look at the Cardiff derby game. Owen Lane is a great rugby player, Josh Adams a great rugby player, but he was able to cause them some damage.
“Players who are not average can do that, so Ashton is definitely a superstar in our eyes.
“Ashton and Rio are great assets to us and having Steff Hughes and Angus O’Brien around them, being able to distribute the ball to them and giving them plenty of chances to run into space.
“That’s what I enjoy watching and that's what the boys enjoy playing. And hopefully that's what the fans are seeing.”
Flanagan has also praised the development of young scrum half Che Hope who made his third senior appearance in the EPCR Challenge Cup victory over Section Paloise last weekend.
“Che is a great kid; he's got a good edge to him,” stated Flanagan.
“There are areas of his professional career that he has to improve on and he's quite a slight kid, so we’ve got to work hard to make sure he has the durability to play pro level for many years to come.
“But when he's on the field, he doesn't lack for ambition, doesn't lack for edge and he’ll take it all in his stride.”
Whenever I've coached against Ashton over the last couple of years he’s a threat and he’s, in my eyes, living up to that expectation...
