Cockayne released by Rovers following car chase with police

Hull KR have released Ben Cockayne, who has been suspended for the last two weeks following a police chase. It was the latest in a series of incidents involving the full-back. Although he was not driving the car and does not expect to be charged, his agent and the club have agreed that it is time for a clean break.

Cockayne, therefore, becomes a free agent, although he has missed the deadline for signing for another Super League club. The future of the other player involved, Liam Watts, is still to be decided. Shaun Briscoe, who is being released at the end of Rovers' season, is joining Widnes.

Forgiven if not forgotten, six of Crusaders' seven sinners are back in the fold today. The seven were dropped against Hull KR last week, after breaking a drinking curfew. The side put up a spirited performance without them, going down 38-10, but all except the injured Peter Lupton are recalled to the squad to play Castleford this evening.

"There has been a lot of energy in the squad this week," said their coach, Iestyn Harris. "We are determined to pull ourselves off the foot of the table and finish the season strongly."

Harris has set his players the target of winning four of their six remaining games. The chance of Cas becoming the first of those four is improved by the absence of the banned star of the season so far, Rangi Chase.

In today's other fixture, second-placed Warrington have Lee Briers back in action at Harlequins, but are still without their captain, Adrian Morley. There is an eagerly awaited comeback at Bradford tomorrow, where Danny Brough returns ahead of schedule after missing Huddersfield's last five matches with an ankle injury. Salford's new coach, Matt Parish, takes charge at Hull KR.

Arguably the most significant game of the weekend in the long-term is at Blackpool, where Halifax meet Leigh in the final of the Northern Rail Cup. Halifax have Cup specialist Robbie Hunter-Paul in their ranks.

Halifax are one of the contenders for a Super League place when the new, three-year licences are announced in a little over a week. Should they fail then, victory tomorrow will tick one of the boxes for a fresh application in 2014.