Hooker Mayhew keen to stick around for longer at Knights
FORMER Yorkshire Carnegie hooker Mike Mayhew is hoping to secure a longer-term deal with Doncaster Knights.
The experienced Kiwi returned to the UK to sign shortterm for the South Yorkshire club at the end of November.
Unfortunately he suffered an injury on his debut against Carnegie in the Championship Cup loss but returned for the league game between the sides on Saturday.
Mayhew, 31, came off the bench in the 30-22 defeat and hopes to gain more game-time when Doncaster – on a fivematch losing run – are next in action at Coventry on January 12.
When it comes to his future, the ex-Newcastle Falcons player admitted: “If there’s a good option, I’m definitely keen to stay.
“I signed until the end of this season and we’ll see what happens from there.
“I just want to get some games under my belt.
“It was good to play the other day. It was pretty strange, though, as we’ve played Yorkshire three times now since I’ve been here.
“It’s been strange seeing some familiar faces so often but it has been good.
“After being injured in the first game, it was good to get some rugby in and come off the bench and get involved again despite the result.”
Aucklander Mayhew – who initially came to England with Wasps in 2011 – had been playing back in New Zealand for Waikato when Doncaster director of rugby Clive Griffiths made his move.
He joined Carnegie from Waikato in 2016 and made 43 appearances for them but had a LONG-TERM VISION: three-month loan at Premiership Harlequins last season.
Mayhew also played alongside elder brother Richard at Carnegie, the flanker who on Saturday made his first appearance since being injured on the opening day of the season.
“It’s been a while since I last faced him,” he said.
“I think when I was at (London) Irish (2013-15) and he was at Falcons I played against him last and they won as well.
“And the last time I played my younger brother (Brumbies prop Nic) we lost as well so it’s not ideal!
“I thought it was actually one of our better performances, though, on Saturday.
“There were a few calls that could have gone either way which would have made a massive difference in the game – a big swing – and we’ll get back to work now ready for Coventry.”
Another new arrival for Doncaster is Sam Olver, the Ealing Trailfinders fly-half who joined on loan until the end of the season and also featured off the bench against Carnegie.
The former Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors No 10 represented England Under-20s earlier in his career and is looking to help ninthplaced Knights emerge from their recent slump which leaves them just six points above the relegation spot.
“I spoke to Clive and listened to his ideas he has for the team,” he said.
“It is a big club with a great history that attracts a lot of fans in the Championship.
“It was an exciting prospect for me to join here and play some rugby.
“I want to try push the side up the league as high as possible.
“We’re lower than we want to be at the moment, so I’d like to personally come in and hopefully make a difference to the team.
“I was fortunate to have been in the squad for Saturday’s match.
“It shows the backing of the coaches to trust me.”