Age no concern to Davis

Dave Hadfield
Sunday 27 June 2004 00:00 BST
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It is a cliché of the modern era that rugby league is a young man's game. Overall, that theory holds true, as witnessed by emerging talent at Wigan, Leeds and elsewhere. But there are exceptions and Brad Davis will become the most notable old-timer in Super League today.

The 36-year-old is being given the responsibility of saving Castleford from relegation. They thought he was too old when they released him in 2000; now he is young enough to save them.

Davis has had an unusual career. A late developer in his native Australia, he had not played at any exalted level when he came to Britain to join ill-fated Nottingham. He then saw service with York and Wakefield before being enlisted in 1997 by Castleford.

He played three and a half seasons with them, often swinging matches with his kicking game, before returning to Wakefield. After being pensioned off by them, he joined the French club, Villeneuve, as player-coach, before signing with Halifax.

Cas have gone to the expense of extricating him from that contract and will throw him straight in against Salford today - the sort of match they must start to win if they are to have any hope of escape.

Castleford will pair him with the youthful Luke Robinson, much as he combined with Danny Orr during his first stint with the club. As one club insider put it: "We know it's not a long-term solution, but if he can just win us one or two games it will be worthwhile."

Salford have also looked to France for the sort of re-inforcements who could make the difference between survival and relegation, but Djamel Fakir and the Australian, Duncan McGillivray, will not arrive until mid-July. By then, Cas hope Davis will have demonstrated that there is life in him - and them - yet.

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