Wainwright leads Rams’ recruits

Wainwright had spells at Dewsbury and Batley early in his career before moving to Super League outfit Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

The 29-year-old scored eight tries in 31 appearances for the Wildcats before joining to Castleford Tigers in 2006.

Wainwright quickly became a firm favourite with Castleford supporters and over the last four seasons has scored 40 tries in 104 games.

Last year Tigers coach Terry Matherson named Wainwright as his player of the season and he was offered a one-year extension to his contract, which took him to the end of the current campaign.

The Tigers have recruited heavily for next season and were forced to release three players and Jowitt was quick to swoop for the player, to replace Bryn Powell.

Welsh international Roberts can play anywhere in the pack and having started his career at amateurs East Leeds, the 32-year-old has had spells at Oldham and Barrow.

Prop or second row Jake Wilson has also decided to return to Tetley’s Stadium from Hunslet Hawks.

Former Thornhill player Wilson made 15 appearances for the Rams in 2008, although 13 of those were from the bench, before moving to South Leeds.

However, Wilson was restricted to just two appearnces this term as the Hawks won the Championship One title so has decided to return to the Rams.

Wainwright, Roberts and Wilson join ex-Bradford Bulls player Nicky Saxton, Matthew Fox from Wakefield, Sean Emblem, who is currently playing in the Pennine League with Sharlston Rovers as the Rams squad continues to take shape.

Jowitt was this week apppointed assistant coach to the French national team. He will help his former Wakefield and Salford team-mate Bobby Goulding to prepare France for next month’s European Cup.

Jowitt said: “It will be a great experience coaching at international level. These opportunities are few and far between so I jumped at the chance.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and working alongside my old pal Bobby who is probably one of the most influential players you’ll ever come across.”

It is set to be a hectic few days for Jowitt as he has been shortlisted for the Co-Operative Championship coach of the year. The awards ceremony is in Manchester on Tuesday but Jowitt faces tough opposition from Karl Harrison, who led Batley Bulldogs to the Northern Rail Cup final win over Widnes, and Daryl Powell, who was guided Featherstone to the Championship Grand Final.

Former Dewsbury scrum-half Liam Finn is shortlisted in the player-of-the-year category, along with his Featherstone team-mates Kyle Briggs and Stuart Dickens.

Batley’s Gareth Moore and Rovers duo Zak Hardaker and Sam Smeaton have been shortlisted in the young player of the year.

Rams recruit Michael Wainwright in action against Wakefield last year. Pic: Allan McKenzie.