Brownlee Will Be "Hungry To Make Up For A Lost Season" As Super League Triathlon Campaign Begins

Brownlee Will Be “Hungry To Make Up For A Lost Season” As Super League Triathlon Campaign Begins

Annie Emmerson believes Jonny Brownlee will be “hungry to make up for a lost season” as he starts his Super League Triathlon Championship Series campaign in London on Sunday.

Brownlee is the lead man for the SLT Fan Team Cheetahs, and was overwhelmingly voted to be retained by the owners leading into the 2022 Series.

It was quite the vote of confidence given that Brownlee has had a long injury lay-off following his crash at WTCS Leeds earlier this year, but Emmerson believes that the three-time Olympic medallist is ready, and will be helped by the presence of Richard Murray, the 2017 SLT champion who will replace Marten Van Riel while he recovers from injury.

She said: “Jonny Brownlee is really hungry to make up for a lost season. He is ready now. Marten struggled with the injury so we have brought in Richard Murray who won 2017 in the first ever Super League race. He has obviously had issues but when he’s on fire he is unbeatable. He’s aggressive, so strong on the bike and we know what he can do on the run.”

SLT Eagles boss Tim Don also backed Brownlee to shine, but warned there is no time for him to ease his way back into action.

“Jonny was like a phoenix rising from the fire last year with the best Super League season he has had,” reckoned Don, referring to Brownlee’s third place in the Overall Leaderboard in 2021. “I want to see how aggressive he is racing and if he’s ready to go all in. He could be a weapon, but if not you can’t afford to race yourself into it with Super League because doors shut so quickly.”

Emmerson will be managing the SLT Cheetahs on the ground and had no say in the draft, but praised the Fan Team owners for their decisions which have left them with a very strong looking team on paper.

“I think it’s a really solid team with a lot of experience,” she reflected. “Sophie Coldwell comes into the season in great shape and full of confidence after a brilliant leg at the mixed relay at the Commonwealth Games.

“There is great strength in depth. Rachel Klamer is there and Miriam Casillas Garcia is a dark horse. Gutsy, strong, good on the bike.

“I loved watching Max Stapley race in the Arena Games so I am really happy with the team.”