Mason and Nutley join Castleford

Castleford have beefed up their pack for their first season back in Super League with the recruitment of Keith Mason and Danny Nutley.

The Tigers announced yesterday that they have signed Mason, the former Wakefield prop, on a one-year loan from St Helens.

"We have been looking to bring Keith to the club for some time," said the Castleford chief executive, Richard Wright. "He's a big, strong forward and, along with Danny Sculthorpe, gives us two young props with a lot of self-belief."

Nutley, whose signing will be announced today when Cas welcome their new coach, Terry Matterson, to the club, will add extra depth of experience. He played for Warrington from 1998 to 2001, but his career has taken off since his return to Australia, where he played State of Origin for Queensland this year.

His club, Cronulla, have "reluctantly" agreed to release him from the remaining year of his contract because the offer is so much more than they would be able to pay.

"The deal I got offered was far too good to refuse," Nutley said. "There was no way I could knock it back."

He has agreed a two-year deal with Cas, who also plan to reveal another new signing - expected to be Nutley's Cronulla team-mate, Adam Dykes - today.

Halifax have signed the former Leeds full-back or winger, Marcus St Hilaire, who has been released by Huddersfield.

"This is a bit of a coup for us. I was surprised when Huddersfield let him go," said the Halifax coach, Anthony Farrell.

New Zealand have ruled Frank Pritchard out of the Tri-Nations final against Australia at Elland Road on Saturday, due to concussion.

"No game is important enough to take a risk with a head injury," said the Kiwi coach, Brian McClennan.

His Australian counterpart, Wayne Bennett, has said that Stacey Jones is bound to be affected by jet-lag if he plays after flying in from attending the birth of his child in Auckland.

Harlequins RL are to play their Super League match against Huddersfield on 29 April as part of a double-header with their landlords' game against Plymouth.