Leigh look to experienced Mears to fight drop

Super League's bottom club, Leigh, have signed a second player to help their battle against relegation. The former Leeds hooker, Robbie Mears, will arrive next week and go straight into the squad for the game against Wakefield on 30 April.

Super League's bottom club, Leigh, have signed a second player to help their battle against relegation. The former Leeds hooker, Robbie Mears, will arrive next week and go straight into the squad for the game against Wakefield on 30 April.

Mears, who can also play half-back, spent the 2001 season with the Rhinos, cutting short his two-year contract after having his jaw broken in a tackle by St Helens' Sonny Nickle.

He has played for Eastern Suburbs, Canterbury and Wests-Tigers in his native Australia, as well as the Auckland Warriors.

"Robbie is a quality player who will add that extra bite to our team," said the Leigh coach, Darren Abram. "He has played at the highest level before and will bring immense experience to our squad."

Mears said that he was keen to return to England. "I had offers from other Super League teams, but when I spoke to Leigh I decided this was the team for me," he said.

He has signed for the rest of this season with an option for next and takes the place on Leigh's import quota vacated when Jason Ferris returned to Australia through injury last month.

Leigh have also taken the prop forward, Warren Stevens, on loan from Warrington for a month and he is in their squad for tomorrow's match at Salford.

Huddersfield are set to sign the former Halifax and Castleford centre, Ryan Clayton, who has been playing for the French club, Villefranche.

Rob Worrincy, the London Broncos Academy product who played for Castleford in Super League last season, has joined Sheffield Eagles.

Gareth Ellis is back after minor knee surgery in Leeds' side to play Widnes on Saturday. The Widnes coach, Frank Endacott, has promised changes after their disappointing display in the home defeat against Salford last Sunday.