Hull KR confirm they are chasing Lockyer

Hull Kingston Rovers have become the first club to confirm that they are chasing Darren Lockyer, the Australian Test captain, for next season.

Lockyer, widely regarded as the best player in the world since the retirement of Andrew Johns, is out of contract at the Brisbane Broncos at the end of this season and wants to finish his career in Super League.

His agent says that “five or six” British clubs have shown an interest, but ambitious Rovers are the first to admit making a move for the 31-year-old stand-off or full-back.

“The ball is now in Darren’s court,” said the Rovers’ coach, Justin Morgan. “We are one of the clubs who have expressed an interest and we want to see how much desire Darren has to play for us.”

Two clubs have had better news than they feared about injuries to players.

Wakefield’s Kevin Henderson has not, after all broken his leg in the victory over Warrington on Sunday, although ligament damage will keep him out for six to eight weeks.

Richard Horne, of Hull, has been told that his neck injury will prevent him from playing for the next six weeks.

Canterbury’s wing or centre, Cameron Phelps, has told media in Australia that he is in talks about joining Wigan and that the move could come this season rather than next.

The Warrington second-rower, Ben Westwood, has been given a one-match suspension after being sent off at Wakefield for a reckless high tackle. His team-mate, Adrian Morley, was found guilty of a careless high tackle but escaped a ban.

Also free to play this weekend is St Helens’ Maurie Fa’asavalu, following his sending off for striking during the defeat at Castleford on Sunday.

Wakefield have moved one small step closer to a new stadium by applying for planning permission for housing development on their current ground at Belle Vue.