Keighley Cougars are our counting the cost of their 24-22 Co-operative Championship One defeat at York City Knights on Bank Holiday Monday.

Having endured a host of injuries to the club’s forward pack already during the first half of the season, Cougars Head Coach Barry Eaton now has a list of new casualties needing treatment before the club’s next fixture against Swinton Lions at Cougar Park on Sunday, May 17.

Second row forward Ollie Pursglove (sprained ankle), prop Craig Brown (back pain), prop Simon Bissell (back), centre Daley Williams (metatarsal problem) and scrum half Danny Jones (dead leg) are all new injury worries for Eaton.

These are now piled on top of existing concerns about back rowers Karl Gunney (torn hamstring) and Carl Hughes (ankle ligaments) as well as the continuing wait for Brendon Rawlins’ work permit to be granted.

Eaton says: “Because this weekend’s fixtures are devoted to the Carnegie Challenge Cup and we’re out of that competition we have a few extra days to recover which we’ll need.

“At the moment it seems to be one step forward and two steps back as far as our squad our concerned.

“We’ve been in contact with Brendon in Australia and his work permit has still not arrived. He’s in contact with the British Embassy most days and he’s still being told that his application is in the final stages of consideration.

“Keighley’s MP Ann Cryer is assisting us and we’ve again asked the RFL if they can bring some pressure to bear. The club is doing all that it can to resolve the situation and it’s all very frustrating because Brendon has been back in Australia since February 27”.