KEIGHLEY COUGARS have re-signed experienced centre Junior Nuu after his short spell back in rugby union with Doncaster Knights.
The powerful 32-year-old played for Keighley in 2024 and 2025, making 19 appearances with five tries, and bolsters a squad who haven’t given up hope of a top-ten play-off place under coach Ian Hardman.
Nuu, New Zealand-born of Samoan heritage, is much travelled, having also played union for Leeds Tykes and Harrogate, French sides Club Municipal Floirac, Tarbes Pyrénées and Stade Olympique Chambérie and Spain’s El Salvador, a Madrid-based club.
Before that he was in the Melbourne Rebels system and represented Samoa Under 20s.
Nuu will supplement centre options including ex-Leeds Academy player Dylan Proud, former Barrow and Workington man Max Clarke, one-time Castleford prospect Will Groves, Oliver Whitford, previously with Huddersfield, and Alfie Dean, recruited from Batley.
“Junior brings experience, talent, positive vibes and a beaming smile,” said the club.
Hardman was frustrated by a third successive defeat as his side slipped up 34-22 at home to Rochdale.
It followed narrow losses against Batley (26-22 at home) and Whitehaven (16-14 away), and the boss said: “The result was disappointing.
“We were poor defensively and our contacts need to be better.
“Rochdale got a lot of offloads and quick rucks, and we didn’t have enough control in those areas. Individual errors put us under pressure and hurt us.
“But we stuck in there and tried to get back into the game, and overall we have a group of players who try really hard and put a lot of effort in, and we shouldn’t beat ourselves up too much.
“We need to stay positive and use these setbacks as motivation to keep working hard to improve.”