Harrop out as Underbank kick off season

G’Day mates! Underbank Rangers new signings (from left) Brad Reed, Matty Byatt, head coach Richard Knight, Terrence Green and Joey Bobbin UNDERBANK Rangers will aim to make a winning start in the National Conference Premier Division against Wigan St Pats tomorrow (2.30).

But they will have to do it without Chris Harrop, who could be out for the season with a back injury and has resigned as captain in case his next assessment confirms the bad news.

Newly-promoted Rangers were due to start life in the Premier away at Wath Brow Hornets, but the fixture was a victim of the weather.

So head coach Richard Knight and his squad now turn their attention to a home test against the Lancastrians who, like Underbank, are among the bookies’ favourites to be relegated.

Knight has four Australian signings in his squad for the match – centre Brad Reed, stand off Terrence Green and second rower Joey Bobbin are all in the starting line-up while Matty Byatt is on the bench.

“It looks like Chris Harrop is going to have to sit out the season, which is not good news, but he is going to become one of my two assistants, alongside George King (the Warrington player), and it will be really handy to have him involved,” said Knight, who will have Jacob Garside at full back against St Pats.

“We have a new leadership group in place including Sam Ansell and Alex Chatterton from last season along with Sam Rochford and Jordan Williams who have been added, and we will pick a captain in the next few weeks.

“The lads have trained well this week and, realistically, we reckon we need 14 points to stay up, so it would be great to pick up two of them straight away this weekend.

“We want as many home wins as possible, too, so this would be the ideal time to start.”

Myton Warriors v Kells (2.30), Normanton Knights v Wath Brow Hornets (2.30), Siddal v Hunslet Parkside (2.30), Thatto Heath v West Hull (2.30), Underbank Rangers v Wigan St Pats (2.30), Rochdale Mayfield v Egremont Rangers (4.30). Ovenden v Illingworth, Upton v Sharlston Rovers, Queens v Siddal King Cross Park v West Craven Warriors, Hollinwood v Ovenden A, Cowling Harlequins v Greetland All Rounders Eastmoor Dragons v Wakefield City, Wortley Dragons v Woodhouse Warriors Moorends Thorne v Methley Warriors, Kinsley Hotel Raiders v Doncaster Toll Bar, Dearne Valley Bulldogs v East Leeds, Featherstone Lions v Kippax Welfare Queensbury v Wyke, Moldgreen v

Wigan Warriors v Wakefield Trinity (3.0), Castleford Tigers v Salford Red Devils (3.30)

Dewsbury Rams v Toulouse, Featherstone Rovers v Swinton Lions, Halifax v Leigh Centurions, London Broncos v Batley Bulldogs, Rochdale Hornets v Barrow, Sheffield Eagles v Toronto Wolfpack (all 3.0)

Hemel Stags v Coventry (2.0), Doncaster v Whitehaven (3.0), Hunslet v Crusaders (3.0), Keighley v Bradford Bulls (3.0), Oldham v York (3.0), Workington v South Wales (3.0)