Swinton and Leigh add to squads for crucial end to campaign

THEY face challenges at opposite ends of the Betfred Championship table, but both Leigh and Swinton have strengthened ahead of the run-in.

The Centurions have completed the capture of Gold Coast Titans utility back Brendan Elliot on a short-term deal to the end of the season, while Stuart Littler has completed a deal to bring St Helens scrum-half Rob Fairclough back to the Lions on loan until the end of the year.

Brisbane-born Elliot previously played for both Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights and will add competition for the fullback, centre and wing positions.

Leigh owner Derek Beaumont said: “It is a very difficult period at the club as it really is up in the air as to where we will finish, but I have to make decisions on the basis we will make the four, to put us in a good place to mount a challenge to return to Super League, as it will be too late once we know our fate.

“There will also be a further announcement of another overseas player this week which will complete our recruitment for the season.”

Fairclough returns to Swinton after a successful loan spell at the start of the year, which was cut short by injury.

”Rob is a player who hugely impressed in his earlier stint with us before he picked up an unfortunate injury,” said Littler.

”We have kept liaison with both St Helens and Rob and now that Rob is fit to play we were keen to get a deal done.

“Rob goes straight into contention and will provide great competition for places in the weeks ahead.”

THE heavy defeat to Hull KR on Sunday has all-but guaranteed Salford will have to compete in the Super 8 Qualifiers come the end of the regular season, but came at further cost with the injury to yet another back in the shape of Greg Johnson.

“We’re not too sure [on the severity of the foot injury], we’ll have to wait and see what comes back from that, but it’s another one down for us,” said Salford coach Ian Watson.

“We had 18 fit players this week, 17 after the captain’s run. With Greg going down, that puts us in a little bit of a problem at the moment.”

The Red Devils have one of the smallest squads in the Betfred Super League.