Castleford Tigers have offered Gareth O’Brien a contract to remain with the club next season.
League Express understands the Tigers are desperate to retain the 28-year-old, who is with the club on a short-term deal from Toronto.
Since his arrival, O’Brien has been a shining light in Daryl Powell’s side, impressing at both fullback and in the halves.
A long-term admirer of the former Salford player, Powell revealed earlier this month that he was keen to recruit someone capable of playing in the halves.
O’Brien was always the obvious candidate, and the Tigers are now hopeful of persuading him to stay at The Jungle next season.
However, that will depend entirely on the future of Toronto.
O’Brien signed a new contract with the club before its withdrawal from Super League and he is contractually obliged to stay with the Wolfpack if their return to the competition is given the green light.
With their status still unclear and unlikely to be resolved until the end of the month, the Tigers will have to play a waiting game to see whether they can retain O’Brien, who has scored three tries in five games since making the move.
But now it appears almost certain that O’Brien will be with Castleford next year if Toronto are not reinstated to the competition.
His retention would see him reunite with his former fullback understudy at Salford, Niall Evalds, who has signed a one-year contract with the Tigers ahead of next season. He would also provide competition and cover for the club’s young halfback partnership of Jake Trueman and Danny Richardson.
Both are currently injured and remain doubtful for Sunday’s trip to Hull FC.
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