New Sheffield Eagles signing to go straight in for clash with London Broncos

New Eagles signing Thibault Franck looks set for a debut against London Broncos this Sunday as director of rugby Mark Aston moved swiftly to bolster his half-back options.
Eagles boss Mark AstonEagles boss Mark Aston
Eagles boss Mark Aston

The Frenchman has signed a one-month loan deal from Super League side Hull Kingston Rovers, as Aston looks for more options in the halves following the departure of Cory Aston and the injury to Simon Brown.

Franck could well be thrown in at the deep end against the Broncos, as Aston looks for a response to what was a disappointing showing against Halifax last Sunday.

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“He’s a young lad who has got a bit of something,” Aston told The Star of his latest addition. “He is a character, he has a personality and he has a bit of something about him. We are keen to see where he is at. Is he ready for this level? What can he fetch to the party? It is exciting because as we saw last week when we played Paddy Burns who is young and who wants to play and improve - that is what youth brings.

“This kid has been training full-time for Hull Kingston Rovers for a while now and Tim Sheens himself thinks the kid has something about him. Recommendations don’t come much higher than that.”

Meanwhile, Aston has ruled out a return for former winger Garry Lo.

The PNG flyer was released by Super League side Castleford Tigers on Sunday, but there will be no return to the Steel City where he enjoyed a try-laded season in 2017, leading to his switch to Daryl Powell’s side.

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Lo returned to the Eagles for a loan spell at the start of the current campaign, before being handed a recall to his parent club where he played in Castleford’s Super League defeat to Wigan.

But his short stay with the Tigers came to an end on Sunday, with the club confirming in a statement his departure by mutual consent, explaining he had been released ‘to allow him to focus on a personal matter.’

His departure does not open the door for a way back to South Yorkshire though, with Aston confirming that there is no possibility of an instant return.

“No, there is no way,” Aston said.

“He has been released by Castleford and he has gone home. We are okay for wingers at the moment, to be honest that is one of the positions that doesn’t concern me too much to be fair.”