Dowes to help injury-hit Hull

Hull have moved to alleviate their injury crisis by taking the Leeds prop, Ewan Dowes, on a month's loan.

The 22-year-old front-rower is now concentrating on league after becoming the first player on a dual code contract with the Rhinos and the Tykes, but has found his first team opportunities limited at Headingley.

"He is probably sixth in line at Leeds, so this gives him a good chance to show his wares," said the Hull coach, Shaun McRae. "I've seen him a few times and he has gone okay, but it is hard for him to make a breakthrough in an injury-free side. He will certainly help us with our injury problems."

Hull have suffered a series of long-term casualties. At Leeds on Saturday, Tony Smith became their third player this season to break a leg.

With Scott Logan, Steve Craven and Richard Fletcher all missing from the pack, Dowes is likely to go straight into Hull's squad for their next game, against St Helens on Bank Holiday Monday.

"I wouldn't bring him here on loan if I wasn't going to play him," said McRae, who is also trying to bring in an outside back to help his manpower crisis in that department. He has looked at Gateshead's student international winger, Richie Barnett, but said: "He has potential for the future but he's probably not quite ready for a first-team environment yet."

The London Broncos' coach, Tony Rea, has admitted that the club's former captain, Jason Hetherington, is unlikely to return from Australia, where he is recuperating from injury, to complete his contract with them.

Adrian Morley is set to disappoint his previous club, Leeds, by agreeing a new contract with the Sydney City Roosters.

Wakefield have had mixed fortunes over incidents in their victory over Halifax which have been scrutinised by the League's executive committee.

The prop forward, Dallas Hood, has been ordered to appear at a disciplinary hearing today on a charge of striking, but Matt Seers and Michael Korkidas have been told that they have no cases to answer.

The League says that it is looking into reports that Sandhurst Military Academy has banned the formation of a rugby league club.

The code has made major strides recently in the armed services after being forbidden for many years, but plans for Sandhurst to play amateur league sides in the London area have been abandoned, allegedly because of the intervention of a senior officer.