Salford turn to old boy McAvoy to arrest slide

Salford, desperate for something to break their losing streak in Super League, have signed their former player, Nathan McAvoy.

McAvoy first made his mark with his home-town club before moving to Bradford in 1998 and then into rugby union with Saracens. He is now returning to The Willows for the rest of this season and next. Unlike Salford's other new signing, the Australian Kevin McGuinness, he is unlikely to be ready to make his second debut in the relegation game against the London Broncos this Saturday. Salford's director of rugby, Steve Simms, said: "He's played at the highest level and is just a super athlete.''

Wigan have had to abandon hopes of their Great Britain winger, Brian Carney, being fit for the Challenge Cup final against St Helens at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff a week on Saturday. The Irishman is now expected to be out for another three months. The Warrington-based referee Karl Kirkpatrick will be in charge of a cup final for the first time.

The former Bradford and Great Britain hooker, James Lowes, is being linked with the coaching job at Halifax. Lowes is now on the Bulls' coaching staff, but Halifax could be ready to offer him his first head coaching role.

Warrington will be without their prop forward Danny Lima for four matches afer he was found guilty last night on two separate charges of high tackling. Lima was banned for three games for one tackle against Bradford, and for one game for an incident in the next match, against Huddersfield.