Prop forward Kieran Hudson, a winter recruit by Whitehaven, has signed for Super League side Castleford.
Hudson has signed a full time deal with Castleford but he will remain on loan at the LEL Arena for the remainder of 2022.
Hudson, 21, has had a big impact in his opening games in the Chocolate, Blue and Gold after signing from Newcastle Thunder.
He had a dramatic introduction to rugby league after being released at 15 by Sunderland AFC where he had been a goalkeeper in the junior Academy.
He first came into rugby league as a pupil at Whitburn Church of England Academy.
Coached by Newcastle Thunder first-team players Joe Brown and Rhys Clarke, who are now both with Workington Town, he was inspired by those sessions and went on to play for local amateur side Jarrow Vikings.
He then enrolled on to Thunder’s college academy programme, which the club runs in conjunction with North Tyneside’s Tyne Met College.
It was here he caught the eye of Thunder’s management and was ultimately drafted into the full under-19 Academy side.
His tenacity and skill came to the fore as a winger and from there he moved into the Thunder first team squad.
It was as a highly promising forward, though, that he was recommended to Whitehaven and signed for the club during the winter.
Head coach Jonty Gorley said: “I am absolutely over the moon for Kieran. He has come to us and proved that he is a good front row forward. All he needed was an opportunity to prove this and I’m pleased to say he has done that with us.
“He is a big lump of a lad who carries the ball exceptionally well. His sheer size helps him find his front on most occasions.
“Defensively Kieran does very well, as he proved against Leigh by dealing with their middles very well.
“You’ve got to remember that Kieran is still only 21, and putting him in a full-time environment will do nothing but improve him. His potential is frightening.
“A mention must go to Liam McAvoy, because he persuaded me to give Kieran a chance with Whitehaven.”
Director Ashley Kilpatrick added: “I’m absolutely delighted for Kieran to be getting a chance with a Super League club.
“I’m also delighted we will have Kieran for the rest of the year on loan. The full- time training will only make him better and benefit us this season.
“Kieran’s a great young lad with a big future, something I’m sure he will show at Cas.
“It just shows if you work hard and take a chance coming to Whitehaven that we are a club who are watched by Super League clubs and if you’re playing well you will get noticed and picked up.
“We have good links with Hull FC, Wigan and now Castleford.
“I’d like to finally thank Danny Wilson at Castleford and Joe Harrison (Kieran’s agent) for making this deal happen.
“Making it so easy to sort out from all sides it was a pleasure to deal with both of them.”
