Castleford boost Superleague squad

Promoted club Castleford have completed the signing of St Helens? Welsh international prop forward Keith Mason and moved closer to capturing former Warrington front rower Danny Nutley.

The 23-year-old Mason had a year left on his contract at Saints but has agreed a 12-month loan deal with the Tigers, where he will join former Wigan prop Danny Sculthorpe.

Mason started his professional career with Wakefield, although he had a brief spell with Castleford?s junior academy, before moving to Australia for a stint with Melbourne Storm, where he played under new Tigers coach Terry Matterson for their feeder club, Brisbane Norths.

?We have been looking to bring Keith to the club for some time and we are all very pleased that we have been able to conclude a deal today,? said Castleford chief executive Richard Wright.

?Keith is a big strong forward and, along with Danny Sculthorpe gives us two young prop forwards who have a lot of belief in themselves, are ambitious and are very keen to make their mark at the Jungle.

?We hope to announce more new signings over the next couple of days and when those deals are completed and announced we think the fans will start to gain confidence in our ability to compete in Super League next season.?

One of the imminent signings is thought to be the 31-year-old Nutley, who has been released from the final year of his contract with Cronulla Sharks.

Nutley, who played for Warrington before joining Cronulla in 2002, has agreed a two-year contract with the Tigers.

?The Sharks have supported me 100% during the four years I?ve been and the club and they are continuing to support me by allowing me a release and the opportunity to accept the Castleford offer. I?m very grateful to the club for that,? Nutley told the Cronulla website, www.sharks.com.au.

?At this point in my career, I?m 31 with a family to look after and the Castleford offer is a very attractive one.?

Cronulla coach Stuart Raper, formerly in charge of Castleford and Wigan, said: ?I really enjoyed working with Danny. We will definitely miss his toughness and competitiveness.

?It was a difficult decision to grant him the release, but life goes on. It is a great opportunity for him over there at Castleford.?

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Thanks to www.superleague.co.uk for this report.