With three hookers injured long-term Whitehaven have moved to recruit a short-term replacement for the key position.
The Betyfred Championship club have agreed a loan deal with Castleford to sign their 19-year-old hooker Cain Robb.
The Super League Tigers are allowing Robb to stay with Haven for the next month.
The teenager signed his first pro contract in 2021 and since then has made five appearances for the Tigers in Super League, last year and this season including a man of the match on debut vs Salford in July 2021.
He has made three appearances from the bench in 2022 for Lee Radford’s side and will now be down at the LEL Arena for the next month following the loss of Alex Bishop, James Newton and Callum Phillips all due to long term injuries.
Robb joined Castleford from the West Hull club and has continued to develop through both the Tigers’ Scholarship and Academy systems, earning a place in the England youth ranks.
Haven director Ashley Kilpatrick has been working hard behind the scenes to bring in Robb to Jonty Gorley’s squad.
He said: “It’s great news that we’ve been able to add Cain to the squad for the next month on loan.
“After playing a handful of Super League games for the Tigers he is highly thought of by the club. Cain’s played for Yorkshire and England at youth level so again he’s experienced a high standard of rugby.
“We would like to thank Lee Radford and Danny Wilson from Castleford and Dave Peet for making the loan move happen to help us out with having no recognised hookers available at the moment.”
Robb will make his Whitehaven debut on Sunday in the Championship game at Widnes.
