Carl Hall names his best ever Dons XIII

Dons chief executive Carl Hall has named his best ever Dons XIII from the players he has played alongside while representing the club.

There were no rules except that Carl had to have played at the Dons with them and he had to name himself in the XIII.

JAMIE BLOEM

Current Rugby League referee Jamie Bloem began life at Union Minerton RFC before switching codes in 1992 when he joined Castleford. He played one season at the Dons from 1993-94. 

Bloem failed a drugs test and was banned from the sport for two years in 1994, but turned things around, returned to rugby and is now a referee.

Carl said: Jamie was a dangerous player. He always returned the ball, he was strong and he was capable of scoring from anywhere.

MARK ROACH

Mark Roach played for the Dons alongside Carl Hall and remained around Doncaster featuring for a number of other local teams in his later career.

Carl said: I had great partnership with him, very quick and strong for his size.

VILA MATAUTIA

Matautia played for the Dons between 1990 and 1995 making 83 appearances. After that he moved to St Helens and won the Championship and the Challenge Cup with them. He represented Samoa in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.

Carl said: Vila was really powerful tackler. He was an enforcer.

CARL HALL

NEIL TURNER

Neil Turner had two spells at Doncaster the first from 1985-89 and the second from 1992-93. Turner played 146 times during his first spell scoring 72 tries. 

Carl said: He was try scoring machine.

TONY KEMP

Fellow Kiwi, Kemp joined the Dons in 1986. He played 30 times scoring 105 points. In 1988 he moved to Newcastle Knights. Kemp went on to represent New Zealand on several occasions including at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.

Carl said: Tony was a classy player had plenty time on the ball. He was one of those players who make everything look easy.

LATHAM TAWHAI

Tawhai joined Dons in 2000 and left in 2001. A talented sports man, he played for New Zealand Maori in rugby and represented his country at softball. His first bit of coaching success came in 2005 when he guided  amateur club Drighlington to success in the Pennine Premier League – from there, he moved to London Skolars becoming the club’s first full-time coach.

Carl said: He was the brains of the team – the organiser. He always stayed calm no matter what was going on around him and he was good player with a nice short kicking game.

KEVIN PARKHOUSE

Kevin played for the Dons between 1985 and 1988 and was known as Parky around the club. He could often be seen going over the line with several members of the opposition side hanging off him.

Carl said: Kevin was tough, but there was more to him than that. He was good ball playing prop. He was a gentle giant

PETER EDWARDS

Edwards began his career in his native New Zealand and represented his country before moving to Britain to represent Salford City Reds and later the Dons.  He became part of the team late on in his career but had lost none of his fighting spirit or ability.

Carl said: Peter was tough as … an absolute tackling machine.

AASAELI “ASA” AMONE

The Tongan hard-man was extremely talented and was a duel code international rugby league and union player. He represented the Dons at the start of the new millennium.

Carl said: Asa was the hardest man I’ve played with. I think of him as the silent assassin

AUDLEY PENNANT

Audley had two spells at the Dons. The first came between in 1987 and 88, the second between 1991 and 1995. Like everyone on this list, he is among the legendary players that stepped foot on the field for the club.

Carl said: Audley was fast and strong. He’d tackle anything

SONNY WHAKARAU

Whakarau was part of the Dons team from 1994-95. After starting his career in his native New Zealand, he went on to represent Batley, Bramley, Sheffield Eagles and others in England. He helped the Dons win promotion to the first division during his time at the club.

Carl said: Sonny was my partner in crime. He used to make me look good and we had good combo. He was a great ball player.

IAN FRENCH

Ian represented the Dons between 1990 and 1991. He had played in Yorkshire previously representing Castleford until 1986 but had returned to Australian in the interim. He jointly holds Castleford’s record for most tries scored in a match (5) which he achieved against Hunslet in February 1986.

Carl said: Ian is the fittest player I’ve played with. He had it all.

Interchange

TONY ZELIE

Carl said: He used to glide over the ground like a ghost.

TONY MILLER

Carl said: He was tough. I would go to war with him - he never took a backward step.

TERRY HERMANSSON

Carl said: Three words – big, strong, fast.  

JOHN EVANS

Carl: John is probably one of the most underrated players I’ve played with. You could play him anywhere, and he was always excellent. 

Who would make your best Dons XIII? Send us your team on Twitter and Facebook.  

Look out for Carl’s best ever Dons overseas team coming soon.