Last updated at 12:45, Wednesday, 30 September 2009

Ex-Workington Town prop Ryan Benjafield says he is not accepting anything but promotion when he walks out with his Keighley team-mates in the Championship One Grand Final this weekend.

Ryan Benjafield

Aussie forward Benjafield signed for the Cougars midway through the season after leaving Workington and has seen his new team hit form at just the right time.

After finishing runners-up to champions Dewsbury Rams in the league, Keighley are now aiming for a second crack at the promotion cherry – beating Oldham in Sunday’s Grand Final at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Benjafield has a slight injury worry over his ankle but is confident he will be fit to play.

He said: “I moved over to Keighley and since then I seem to be hitting fine form at the right time of the year.

“And the club is in great shape, since I went there we have only lost two games, against Dewsbury both times.

“This is a massive game for us and we are not accepting anything but promotion. I think our form the last few weeks has shown we can probably do it.

“We won’t be underestimating Oldham but we definitely feel that we can win the game.”

Benjafield is currently in talks with coach Barry Eaton over a new contract for next season and he is hoping it will be to play in the Co-operative Championship.

But for now he is looking no further than Sunday as he plays in his first English Grand Final – although he does have experience in Australia.

“This will be my first Grand Final in England and I am just starting to get the nerves now,” he added.

“But I did play in a Grand Final at Penrith so I have played in this type of game before.”

First published at 11:34, Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk