Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Kelly continues family ties after taking on youth development post

The Academy is important to the club, and this falls within the remit of Kelly who has experience within most levels of the game including working on junior development in schools, the community game and as the head coach of the junior academy at Huddersfield Giants.

His links with the Wildcats go back to when he was 15, from when he progressed through the junior system before making his first-team debut at 18-years-old. He remains an ardent fan of the club. Kelly will also be supporting the community department at the club.

Kelly, younger brother of former coach Andy, said: “It is an absolute honour to be appointed the head of youth development and performance at my hometown club. It is a position I have worked towards for a number of years.”

Injury-hit Hull KR, meanwhile, have rewarded promising forward George Lawler for an impressive start to the season with a new four-year contract.

The 20-year-old, who was the club’s academy player of the year in 2015, did not sign his first professional contract until last October, but he has started all four Super League matches so far as a third-choice hooker in the absence of Shaun Lunt and John Boudebza.

Hull KR head of rugby Jamie Peacock, the former Leeds Rhinos prop, said: “George is level-headed and eager to learn.”