HUNSLET coach Kyle Trout is breathing a big sigh of relief after learning versatile back Billy Jowitt’s facial injury is not as bad as first feared.
And the boss has also been boosted by the news that new halfback signing Dan Abram’s broken hand, also sustained during pre-season training, looks set to mend sooner than expected.
It was thought experienced Abram, signed from Swinton Lions after finishing last season on loan at Whitehaven, could be out for up to three months, but the signs are the 30-year-old could be available by mid-February.
Meanwhile Trout is hopeful rising star Jowitt (pictured) could be passed fit for the Championship opener at home to Dewsbury Rams on Sunday, January 18.
The 24-year-old was originally thought to have a broken eye socket, but after the swelling subsided, a less-serious although painful nonetheless knock to the jaw was identified.
“Billy took an accidental shoulder to the face. It looked nasty and at first, it was hard to tell what had happened,” explained Trout.
“He was hurting, but it could well have been worse, and we’re keeping or fingers crossed for the Dewsbury game.”
Jowitt was the club’s star player of 2025. After signing from Bradford Bulls,  he took the coaches’, players’ and supporters’ player of the year awards.
And after a testing season for the Leeds club, he provided a big boost by penning a contract extension for the new campaign.
Following promotion from League One in 2024, Hunslet finished bottom of the second tier with only two wins from 24 games, with coach Dean Muir departing in June and Trout stepping up from assistant.
Jowitt turned out in all of those matches, as well as the three cup-ties in which his club took part, featuring at fullback, centre and in the halves.
That was a big plus for a player who, due to a string of injuries, made only 26 appearances over three seasons at Bradford, where he came through the development system.
Abram has also played for Barrow Raiders, Whitehaven in a previous spell, Rochdale Hornets and Oldham, and Trout said: “It’s obviously disappointing for him, and not ideal for us as a club, but as with Billy, it could have been worse.”