Featherstone Rovers: Aston gears up for a loan spell at Rovers

Aston, 21, joined Rhinos from Sheffield Eagles at the end of last season, but has yet to play a competitive game this year.

Forwards Anthony Mullally and Brett Delaney became the latest Rhinos players to feature for Rovers on dual-registration this year when they came off the bench in the 30-13 Kingstone Press Championship win at Swinton Lions two days ago.

Aston is poised to join Rovers on a longer-term basis as cover for pivots Anthony Thackeray and Matty Wildie.

Delaney made his first appearance of the year against Swinton, after a back problem, and Rovers coach Jon Sharp said: “We just wanted to get him out there and get some game time into him.

“We lost Brad Tagg after 20 minutes with an ankle injury and we were going to roll him [Delaney] around with Tagg. With Tagg getting injured he came on a bit earlier than I had planned and he put a shift in.

“He played about 45 minutes and got through it and it was good for him to get it [his comeback] out of the way.”

Sharp said Tagg is expected to miss Sunday’s visit of Rochdale Hornets and could be sidelined for around two weeks.

Of the win at Swinton, he added: “It was a hard-fought game in tough conditions.

“The weather and conditions don’t seem to be improving, but we are battling away and playing for 80 minutes and playing right to the wire.

“We are working hard for one another.”

Forward James Lockwood will be available for Rovers’ next game. He will complete a two-year drugs ban on Thursday.