Handforth wants second-half repeat from Keighley Cougars

Keighley were below par before overturning an interval deficit last week to see off Thunder 36-14.

Handforth, who scored a hat-trick, said: “We had a few harsh words at half-time against Newcastle and I think we completed at 90 per cent after the break.

“When you do that, you’re going to cause teams trouble. We had a purple patch and we were clinical with the chances we had.

“It’s a competitive league with a lot of good sides and if you don’t turn up you will get beat, as we showed when we lost to London Skolars recently.

“We’ve got two tough away games now against North Wales tomorrow and then Toulouse, so we’ve just got to keep building and perform every week.”

The veteran playmaker will make a decision on whether to hang up his boots at the end of the season, with his current performances suggesting he has plenty left to give.

He said: “I’m still loving playing with a great bunch of lads, so you never know.

“I’ll see how the body is at the end of the year, which is when I will make my decision. We’ll see at the end of the season and go from there.”

Cougars head coach Paul March could hand a debut to Will Milner after he joined on loan from Featherstone this week.

Brendon Rawlins, Josh Lynam and Jode Sheriffe are back in contention after missing out last Saturday, with Andy Gabriel pushing for a recall. Both Ritchie and Darren Hawkyard are expected to miss out through injuries they sustained in the victory over Newcastle.

Crusaders head coach Anthony Murray could bring the veteran duo of Stephen Wild and Stuart Reardon back after neither featured in their 30-16 over Welsh rivals South Wales Scorpions in Cardiff last Saturday.

The Wrexham-based outfit could also field a number of Salford Red Devils players, including Jordan Walne and Olsi Krasniqi, on dual registration.

Meanwhile, Jamel Goodall, who made his Cougars debut last week, has joined Gloucestershire All Golds on a month’s loan.