Cougars prop Craig Brown is hoping and praying he can get back on the pitch before end of this season so that he can prove to Head Coach Barry Eaton he was worth signing from Sheffield Eagles.

Last Sunday he suffered a broken thumb in last Sunday’s Co-operative Championship One win over Hornets RL and now he faces another six or seven weeks out of the game.

It will be his third major injury of the 2009 season. So far this year Craig has been ruled out for long periods with a broken hand and then foot injury.

Craig, 29, went straight to hospital after the game and yesterday (Monday) he had an operation on the injury.

He said: “When they X-rayed the injury they found that my thumb bone had gone out of alignment and I had to have an operation to put it back in place.

“They’ve wired the bone in position. I’ve got to go back in two weeks for a check up and then return two weeks after that to check how it’s healed.

“I’m just hoping and praying that I can get back before the end of the season to show what I can do.

“Barry must be wondering what he’s signed because this has been a nightmare season for me. First it was broken hand and then a foot injury. Now it’s my thumb, it’s really frustrating for me.

“The worst thing is that I’ve never had anything like this happen to me in my career before.

“In four years at Sheffield all I suffered was a minor hamstring tweak and I can’t believe what’s happened to me since I signed the Cougars”.

And as a double blow for Craig he’s not able to work because he’s a self-employed carpet fitter.

“It’s not much good for business, that’s for sure,” he mused.

And Cougars could also be without winger Gavin Duffy for up to a month too.

He pulled out of the game against Hornets RL after injuring his ankle at work.

Head Coach Barry Eaton said: “It’s not quite as bad an injury as it first appeared. At first we thought that he had broken his ankle.

“But now it looks as though its badly sprained and he could be out for up to a month”.

Eaton was reflecting on what has been an injury hit season for Keighley. He said: “Just when it looked as though we had come through the worst of the situation we pick up two more long term injuries.

“It’s not been the easiest of seasons for us with key players out for long spells with injuries but we’ll keep battling on.”

Eaton will be running a check on winger Lee Mapals, who suffered a bang on his knee during the game against Rochdale.

I must say I have been underwhelmed with him thus far.

Give him chance, remember that Brendan didn't have the best of starts with us either, with broken bones, and injuries, and look at him now.

Easily pleased arn't you

The lad has had 3 bad injury since arriving.
These take time to heal and then to get fit again.

Somehow i don't think Barry, would have signed him if he was no good.

Give him a chance to get fit and show us what he is capable of.

When he plays I assume he is relatively fit, I have not seen much breaking tackles etc. The fact Brendon may have took a while to settle is no relevance we are talking about a different player.

I honestly expected more.

All players need time to gell with the team. Injuries prevent that. Arriving late into the season delays that. I don't think Ryan Benjafield has been great yet...but I think he could be...and if our team ignores'the game plan' consistently, as our coach suggests, how do you expect players to gell on the field? They need time and support and need to develop understanding of the game plan. The most astute will develop this quickly. They'll develop 'match fitness'.
In the meantime, let's give just give everyone of them the support they deserve from us all.
The difference is all about mind set and attitude after all...

Well said.

Regarding Mr Benjafield I have not been impressed however in the last game for those who attended I thought he had a good game.

So as you see unlike some I only criticise where I see fit and am prepared to accept I may be incorrect but not often.