Wildcats throw lifeline to Senior

Wakefield coach John Kear is keen to offer former Great Britain centre Keith Senior the chance to continue his Super League career with the Wildcats.

Senior is looking for a new club for next season following the decision of Crusaders to withdraw from the top flight. The 35-year-old had signed a two-year contract with the Welsh club after being released by Leeds but that deal has now been terminated.

Senior was a member of Kear's Challenge Cup-winning Sheffield Eagles side in 1998 and the veteran coach would the love the opportunity to work with the player again. Kear said: "We are in Super League XVI now and Keith has played in 16 of those years. He has a wealth of experience and that is one of things we have missed."

He added: "We have got a good base here but might have an overload of young players still learning their trade.

"We have had Glenn Morrison, Julien Rinaldi and Michael Korkidas but the rest have been rookies.

"It would be nice to get some quality, marquee players in amongst that.

"Keith fits the bill. He has won Super League titles, the Challenge Cup and played for Great Britain on numerous occasions.

"I have followed his career with interest because I worked with him in its infancy.

"It is great to see how he has developed into an accomplished, high-quality rugby league player."

The Wildcats, who had a period in administration earlier this year, have lost several senior players in recent seasons and Kear is also anxious to tie a number of his squad to new deals. He said: "We want to move away now from being a selling club so we are not developing and improving players for other teams to benefit."