Six Cumbrian amateurs are to bolster the ranks at Workington Town after impressing in pre-season training.
The club announced the six signings as they head into their opening League 1 fixture at Hunslet this weekend.
Seaton Rangers duo Dom Smallwood and Jordan O’Leary, plus Cockermouth’s Jonny Goulding and Zac Olstrum from Ellenborough, have all agreed terms to bring them to Derwent Park.
And they will be joined by two more from the south of the county in Barrow Island’s Adam Jackson and Millom’s Lee Postlethwaite.
Zac Olstrum - Pic Gary McKeating
Head coach Chris Thorman is delighted to bring them all on board ahead of the start of the season in earnest.
He said: “After having 16 local trialists take part in pre-season training, I’m really pleased to announce that we have agreed terms with six of them to be part of our first team squad for 2021 and beyond.
“They have all enhanced the dynamic of the group, they’ve allowed us to have a lot more variety in our training methods and have all become very popular members of the group.
Dom Smallwood Pic Gary McKeating
“Most of all it has allowed us to have much more competition for places, which is an absolute necessity as we strive for consistency in every game we are part of.
“Even though they’re all at different stages of their rugby league careers, they all deserve this opportunity and I look forward to working with them.”
Olstrum and Postlethwaite both play in the outside backs, with Smallwood and Jackson giving more options at half-back.
Back-rower O’Leary and prop Goulding will help to beef up the Town pack.
Town have also added Rhys Clarke into the squad on a month’s loan from Newcastle Thunder.
Town sign six amateurs, including main picture Jonny Goulding and inset, from the top, Dom Smallwood, Jordan O'Leary and Zac Olstrum GARY MCKEATING
Thorman added: “With the couple of suspensions we picked up against Barrow and a couple of potential injury doubts, I jumped at the chance of bringing Rhys in.
“Rhys was part of the York City Knights side that I cut my teeth coaching with back in 2013 and we've stayed in touch ever since.
“He will complement the forwards we already have in the squad and I’m looking forward to working with him over the next month.”
The match at Hunslet’s South Leeds Stadium on Sunday will kick off at the earlier time of 2pm.
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