Halifax have signed vastly experienced hooker Tommy Lee as a replacement for the retired Keal Carlile.
Lee, 32, had been attracting attention from Championship rivals Whitehaven and other clubs after expressing an interest in coming out of retirement.
The former Crusaders, Wakefield, Huddersfield, London, Salford, St Helens and Hull KR playmaker announced he was hanging up his boots while at Rovers in July last year.
But he linked up with Simon Grix’s squad last week ahead of Sunday’s clash with Leigh Centurions, although he was not included for the game.
A former Salford captain, Lee has made over 250 professional appearances and had recently been playing rugby union in Hull.
His arrival was well timed for Fax after Carlile was forced to retire with a heart issue earlier this month.
Loan halfback Liam Harris was again missing from Grix’s squad to face Leigh as he looks to overcome a foot problem, but Tom Gilmore was back involved following his hamstring issue.
Backrower Ed Barber was also available again after completing his suspension, but there were no dual-registration players from Huddersfield.
BRADFORD BULLS coach John Kear has confirmed that backrower Dan Waite-Pullan faces six months on the sidelines following his latest injury setback.
The former Leeds Rhinos player, who started his career in the Bulls Academy before recently rejoining the club, will undergo surgery on his knee cap this week.
Waite-Pullan has been plagued by injury issues in his short career to date.
Kear said: “It’s a patella tendon injury and he’s been for a scan that revealed he requires surgery.
“He’ll have that at some stage this week and could be out for six months.
“In the past he’s had both shoulders operated on.
“When we got him from Leeds Kevin Sinfield said to me that we’ve got some player there if we can get him on the field.
“We’ve had him for two games and this has happened. It’s bad luck for the kid and very tough on him.
“He’s as well as he can be, but disappointed because he saw this as a great opportunity.”
Better news for Kear concerns winger Greg Johnson, who was hoping to be back from a quad injury on Sunday.
WHITEHAVEN coach Gary Charlton remains in the hunt for a new playmaker after seeing a move for Tommy Lee fall through last week.
Lee had been set to train with Haven and had agreed terms with the Cumbrian club, according to Charlton.
But instead he joined Halifax on Thursday, leaving Haven and Charlton still searching.
They have been in touch with players on both sides of the world with a view to moving to the Recreation Ground.
Charlton said: “We did our best with Tommy Lee and agreed terms, but there’s nothing we can do about it now.
“We’re still actively looking within the budgets that we’ve got, both at home and abroad.”
Prop Glenn Riley is still unavailable with a knee injury, and will have an MRI scan this week.
Charlton is likely to rotate his squad for this Wednesday night’s rearranged Challenge Cup clash with Dewsbury Rams.
SWINTON LIONS have appointed Damian Ridpath as the club’s new director of development.
Ridpath has extensive experience in managing community projects that use sport as the primary tool to engage young people in positive activities.
He also has significant knowledge of working within local authority and national governing body frameworks, as well as working within an elite sport environment.
Ridpath’s responsibilities will be to lead a re-branded and re-focused Lions’ Foundation, as well as manage the club’s community and development projects moving forward.
Ridpath said: “The heritage and history of this famous name in Rugby League is already self-evident.
“However, we must look to the future and we will quickly formulate a thorough strategy and action plan for the club’s development moving forwards.
“It is a very exciting time to be joining the organisation and to have the opportunity to lead on key initiatives.”
SHEFFIELD EAGLES backrower Joel Farrell is out of his side’s Challenge Cup clash with Workington Town through suspension.
Farrell was last week handed a one-week penalty notice after being handed a grade B charge of foul language to a match official in the win at Batley.
Eagles will be without Josh Guzdek for the next four to six weeks after he dislocated his shoulder during the Batley game.
Better news surrounds American international Corey Makelim, whose facial injury does not require surgery and who will be back in two to five weeks.
LEIGH CENTURIONS’ Andy Thornley is still at least three weeks away from a return following a concussion issue.
Coach John Duffy explained: “Andy Thornley is still on his return-to-play protocol after a nasty knockout when he played at St Helens a few weeks back.
“He’s seen a neurosurgeon and he needs another three weeks with no contact and no problems.
“We’re posting the Oldham game for around that week for when he’ll be ready to play.”
Gregg McNally and Jarrod Sammut are both back in contention now, while Liam Hood has returned to full training.
WIDNES VIKINGS halfback Danny Craven was ruled out of Sunday’s Championship clash with Whitehaven after being told he needs surgery on a finger injury.
Centre Lloyd Roby was also unavailable while he goes through the concussion protocol.
Deon Cross, Owen Farnworth and Matty Smith returned to Tim Sheens’ squad after recovering from minor injuries, while Shane Grady was available after work commitments prevented him from featuring at Dewsbury.
Jayden Hatton and Lewis Hulme were also included, but the club did not use any dual-registration players from partners Warrington.
OLDHAM centre James Worthington was hoping to return to action against Dewsbury on Sunday.
The former Wigan Academy player had been missing since sustaining a groin injury in the opening game of the season against Widnes.
But he trained fully last week and was hoping to be involved, with Wakefield dual-registration duo Lee Kershaw and Jack Croft both unavailable.
Coach Matt Diskin was set to make a late check on forward Liam Bent, who was suffering all week with a knee complaint.
TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE had Harrison Hansen back in their squad to face Batley on Saturday following suspension.
He came back into coach Sylvain Houles’ ranks at the expense of Mathieu Jussaume, who has been suffering with flu.
In the only other change, homegrown product Hugo Pezet replaced Justin Bouscayrol.
Still unavailable were Lloyd White, Anthony Marion and Ilias Bergal.
