Titans set sights on promotion under new man Posa

AMBITIOUS new Rotherham joint head coach Ants Posa is confident he can build a side to challenge for promotion this season.

Now in their second year in National One, Titans, who finished sixth last season, have recruited 18 players and retained 12.

They will all be given the opportunity to make the squad for the opening fixture against Rosslyn Park in four weeks’ time by impressing in two friendlies later this month against Preston Grasshoppers and Wharfedale.

Posa, 48, the former successful Yorkshire U21s coach and now in charge of the North’s U21s told TRP: “The Rotherham board have a vision to get back into the Championship as quickly as possible. I’ve ambitions to back that up, and the squad want to go up.

“So the ambition is there and we’ll definitely be aiming for promotion and will be there or there abouts.”

Posa is aware the step up would be a big one for his part-timers.

“The biggest difference between the Championship and us is that it’s full time,” he added. “The major hurdle we need to jump is that I’d like the time with the boys that you get in the Championship.

“Training on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays is not quite enough to implement everything we want to do. The bonus is that I’ve coached half of the squad. Rotherham’s a young group and I know they’re hungry and will fight for everything.

“My overall philosophy is very attack based. I love attack, but, and it’s a big but, you need to win games. I’d like Rotherham to attack from anywhere, but if need be, we’ll shut up shop.”

With prop Toby Williams returning from Doncaster and six former Yorkshire Carnegie players joining, Posa appears to have a highly competitive squad.

Educated at Auckland Grammar School, Posa has coached in the UK for 20 years mainly in Yorkshire at Beverley, Doncaster Knights and Bradford and Bingley.

His father, Joe – an All Blacks trialist – was a prominent Auckland No.8 and played for the province against the 1971 Lions the only side from the British Isles to win a Test series in New Zealand.