Leigh Centurions' new signing Mark Castle is set to make his debut in this Sunday's Championship clash against Gateshead at Leigh Sports Village.
Finally signed from Doncaster last Friday, the 23-year-old utility forward was being hotly pursued by Halifax and Featherstone.
Leigh were alerted to his availability when Doncaster went into administration and moved quickly – a little too quickl
y to sign him up.
Initially they thought they had him on their books, but then the Administrator called him back as an asset of the business to be realised.
It was a cruel blow for Doncaster, but Castle was in need of employment and Leigh were certainly glad to give him some.
"He has been in good form this season," Leigh head coach Paul Rowley said. "I said we needed strike power and that included another prop.
"It's another area that will now add competition for places.
"We've been relying on young players to do the tough job in the front row whereas perhaps we should be treating them a little more carefully.
"Danny Meekin, for one, has progressed at an unbelievably quick rate and he probably needs a bit more looking after than what he has had so far.
"Adding Mark to the squad will allow us to rotate a little bit more.
"Mark is only a young lad himself. He's one of those players that gets about his business really well and every team has a player that when he comes off the field, the opposition says 'he went well'."
He's not a household name but he's earned a reputation this year as a stand-out performer in a struggling side."
Castle originally came through the academy system with Wakefield Wildcats, having earlier played his
junior career with Castleford Panthers.
He has been earning good reviews this season with Doncaster playing 30 games last term as they lifted the League Two title, and starting 15 games this season and scoring one try.
He was also 18th man for Leigh's
disappointing exit from the Northern Rail Cup last Sunday, when Leigh were given a lesson in what they need to aspire to if they are to lift trophies and enhance their chances of a Super League franchise in 2011.
Meanwhile, Leigh are desperately chasing Joe Williams to sort out his accreditation to get to Centurions as soon as possible.
Chief executive Allan Rowley said: "We desperately need a half-back to take pressure of Ian Watson.
"He is too easy to target, and we saw that against Halifax.
"We need experience to give the
opposition something else to think about if Watto is tied up.
"Halifax had three or four options and it showed, as we struggled to contain them all.
"Thankfully we had no injuries and we need to put it right against Gateshead this Sunday."
