The son of a Leeds Rhinos Challenge Cup winner has signed for a Championship club.

Max Fleary is following in his dad Darren Fleary’s footsteps by joining Keighley Cougars who finished 16th in the second-tier table this year. Rhinos recruited Fleary senior from Cougars in 1997 and the hard-hitting prop went on to become a cult hero at Headingley, playing in the 1998 Grand Final, winning at Wembley the following year and being capped by England and Great Britain.

Max Fleary is a half-back from the Newsome Panthers community club in Huddersfield who has spent time in the youth systems at Castleford Tigers, Bradford Bulls and Huddersfield Giants. Cougars coach Matt Bramald said: “I’m really pleased to have Max joining us.

Darren Fleary on the charge for Leeds Rhinos against St Helens. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.

“He’s a young player with potential and I’m looking forward to working with him and helping him develop. There will be opportunities here for players who work hard and earn their place and pre-season gives Max the chance to show us what he can bring to the team.”

Bramald has returned to head coaching a decade after having a season in charge of Hunslet RLFC. He also worked at Featherstone Rovers and Castleford Tigers and is a former player with clubs including Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone, Batley Bulldogs and Hunslet.