Whitehaven could face a young Super League winger in their Championship clash at York City Knights.
The Knights have signed Connor Barley from Hull KR on a season long loan and he’s been included in the initial 21 squad.
Barley is only 18 but has already made three senior appearances for Hull KR in Super League, making a try-scoring debut against St Helens last August.
Barley also played in wins over Wigan and Hull last season and was handed shirt number 32 for the 2023 season at Craven Park under head coach Willie Peters.
He has been brought in by York to cover for the absence of centre Levi Edwards, currently sidelined through injury.
Head coach Andrew Henderson said: “Connor is a tall, athletic and powerful athletre. Hes still in the development stage but he’s got the ability to beat a man on the inside and outside as well as put his winger away. He’s got some really good attributes with the ball.
“Defensively he competes, works hard and his work ethic is good. He’s got the attributes to be a Super League player of the future, there’s no doubt about that.
“For a young man he sems to have an old man’s head on his shoulders and he’s very much focused on being the best he can as a rugby league player.”
As well as Barley being included York also welcome back half back Ata Hingano who has been out with injury but as well as Edwards, the Knights still have James Cunningham, Pauli Pauli, Olly Butterworth and Jamie Ellis on the injured list.
The squad is: Bailey Antrobus, Connor Barley, Joe Brown, Chris Clarkson, Josh Daley, Jesse Dee, Conor Fitzsimmons, James Glover, Liam Harris, Myles Harrison, Ata Hingano, Will Jubb, Danny Kirmond, Matty Marsh, Ronan Michael, Harry Price, Ukuma Ta’ai, Jack Teanby, Jordan Thompson, AJ Towse, Brad Ward.
For Whitehaven prop forward Tom Walker is back in contention after recovering from a broken hand and is included in the squad of 21.
Jonty Gorley has named: Sam Freeman, Dave Eccleston, Chris Taylor, Curtis Teare, Karl Dixon, Alex Bishop, Tom Walker, Connor Holliday, Lachlan Lanskey, Dion Aiye, Jamie Doran, James Newton, Lasarusa Tabu, Guy Graham, Perry Singleton, Jake Bradley, Marcus O’Brien, Lucas Castle, John Rourke, Daniel Spencer-Tonks, Ross Ainley,
