Anderson's rebuilding continues with Domic

The new Warrington coach, Steve Anderson, has stepped up his rebuilding for next season by signing Penrith back-rower, Sid Domic on a two-year deal.

Domic, who started his career with the Brisbane Broncos, also had a season at London in 1994-95, but is still only 26.

"He is the style of player I am looking for at the club – a professional on and off the pitch," said Anderson, who has also taken Dewsbury's centre, Kevin Crouthers, on loan for the rest of the season. Crouthers is due to make his debut, along with the New Zealand Test centre Anthony Swann, against St Helens on Sunday.

Castleford's veteran prop, Dean Sampson, has agreed a new one-year contract to stay at his only professional club. Now 34, he had been expected to leave The Jungle at the end of the season, but the club's chief executive, Richard Wright, said: "He has earned this new deal with his contribution on and off the field."

Leeds are expected to negotiate a release for their Australian Test full-back, Brett Mullins, less than half-way through a two-year contract.

Mullins was one of the Rhinos' main signings this year, but has been plagued by injuries – including the reocurrence of a knee problem that is keeping him out of the team – and has managed just a handful of appearances. A severance deal would free a second import spot for Leeds next season, possibly to be taken by Northern Eagles' stand-off Ben Walker.

Victory at home tonight against Wigan would virtually guarantee Leeds a place in the play-offs, but they are likely to be without Andy Hay and Karl Pratt, who will have a fitness test to determine whether he can play. Waiting in the wings are two returnees from the recent England Academy tour of Australasia: the tour captain, Robert Burrow on the bench and Jason Netherton on stand-by for Pratt.

Wigan's Stuart Raper has dropped Brian Carney to the bench for unspecified reasons, but Gary Connolly and Steve Renouf return from injury, with Connolly having every incentive to recover his vintage form in the rest of the season and reclaim his place in the Great Britain team to meet Australia this autumn.

Manly, who joined with North Sydney to form the Northern Eagles, are to take over the franchise when the Eagles go out of business at the end of this season. They will continue to play on the Central Coast as well as in Sydney, and will keep the Northern Eagles name.