Ex-Warrington forward made Keighley captain
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com
Keighley head coach Jy-Mel Coleman has appointed former Warrington forward Ellis Robson as the club’s new captain.
Robson, 24, has made seven appearances for the Cougars this season after arriving in the off-season from Newcastle.
Fans had been keen to see the appointment of a new skipper, with previous permanent captain Jack Miller leaving the club on the eve of the season to join Thunder.
Now Director of Rugby at the Cougars, Jake Webster, was captain before that.
Assisting Robson will be hooker Thomas Doyle, an off-season signing from Bradford, as vice-captain.
Coleman said: “I’ve been really impressed with Ellis and I think he’s a natural on field leader. He is here to play big minutes and isn’t afraid of the hard work.
“Equally Thomas, by nature of the position he plays is a pivotal role in getting the team around the field.
“I feel these leadership roles will help Ellis and Thomas develop their personal skillsets and I look forward to seeing these boys grow into the roles for the benefit of the club.”
Coleman has taken interim charge of the Cougars following the surprise decision to part company with Rhys Lovegrove, who led the club to an invincible season in League 1 last term.
Robson a regular top performer
Hard-working Robson is a versatile forward, who has impressed in spells at several clubs while on loan from Warrington.
Last season, he played once for the Wolves, twice for Toulouse in Super League and 11 times for Newcastle.
In previous years, he has been on loan at Bradford, Salford and Widnes.
He was a victim of the collapse of Ottawa Aces, having signed a full-time deal with them for 2021, but Warrington offered him a new two-year deal to stay.
His seven-game spell at Salford in 2021 had their fans calling for his signing.
Since making his professional debut for Rochdale in 2019, Robson has made 61 first-team appearances – the most of which so far have been for Widnes and Newcastle (both 11).
Keighley have won five of their 12 games in the Championship so far, and bid farewell to star signing Luke Gale recently, with him returning to Super League at Wakefield.
The club revealed there are no plans to directly replace the former Leeds and Castleford half-back, who was signed as a late addition outside the squad budget.
At a club Q&A last week, Webster said: “Luke Gale was a luxury. He was great for Keighley and the community, and it put the spotlight on us.
“But it gives Dane Chisholm a chance to step up and control the team. He is an X-Factor. He has every opportunity to step up and take this team forward now and there’s no real reason to replace Luke.”
Chisholm was a late withdrawal from the Summer Bash defeat to local rivals Bradford due to a hamstring strain.
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