Peter Seabourne's revitalised Maroons achieved their hat-trick with a fine display and a 23-13 success away at West Hartlepool last Saturday and while Hull are looking big promotion favourites after already racking up 149 points, Morley are delighted with their start to the campaign.

They will now be looking to extend the winning start when back at Scatcherd Lane this Saturday, taking on Birkenhead Park in a game kicking off at 3pm.

Park made an equally impressive opening when they won 33-17 at Darlington and they then beat Cleckheaton 35-24 in their only home game to date, but lost for the first time, 26-17 away to Sheffield Tigers last weekend and with Morley having beaten the Tigers the previous week they can feel that a fourth victory can be within their grasp.

Head coach Seabourne reckons that with each match so far there has been an improvement on the previous and he is looking for more of the same this weekend.

He said: "I was really pleased on Saturday. It was a really good performance against what I thought would be a pretty good side – we made them look average. The defence was outstanding again and just leaking one try a game as we are at the moment is some going for a new team.

"From week one to week three we've managed to take a step forward each time as regards self belief. The pack was outstanding against West Hartlepool who've got some big units in there - we coped with that and were by far the best side. We were always in control.

"I was impressed with the lads' attitude, especially when we were down to 13 after Craig Field and Mark Chester were sin-binned and we had to defend. I thought it might take its toll later, but the fitness level is good, second to none.

"Joe Battye had probably his best game in the first team, running with the ball and defending, but there were 15 good performances out there."

Seabourne is expecting a testing game next up in what is shaping up already to be a very competitive division.

He added: "After coming down and not being in this league for a few years we're not sure how teams have recruited so we have to prepare for a big test. But the players are showing what they are capable of and sticking to a game plan.

"Birkenhead lost to Sheffield Tigers who we beat, but with only ourselves and Hull unbeaten it looks like everybody else is capable of beating each other.

"You can't read too much into other results. I'm just interested in how we play - if we play to our capabilities I'm sure we'll be all right."