Keighley coach Steve Deakin has allowed summer signing Lee Maher to go on loan to Hunslet - even though he has yet to make his debut for the Cougars.

Maher was snapped up by former boss Karl Harrison, now assistant coach with Bradford Bulls, from Rochdale, but injury forced him to sit out the start of the campaign allowing James Rushforth the chance to establish himself as the first- choice full back.

Now Deakin believes letting Maher go to South Leeds Stadium for a month is the best option for club and player. He made his debut as a substitute against Batley on Sunday.

"Lee is a good player, but he needs first team rugby, and he will get that at Hunslet," said Deakin. "We also have the right to recall him at any stage if we suffer injuries."

Meanwhile, Cougars ace Martin Wood is closing in on another career landmark ahead of Sunday's visit to third-placed Doncaster.

The play-making stand-off needs just 24 for a career total of 1,000 in two spells with the club.

Wood's 976 points for Cougars is made up of 113 tries and 264 goals. He currently heads the Northern Ford Premiership goal-kicking charts with 37.

Another man looking to extend an impressive scoring sequence is winger Jason Lee, who has scored at least one try in five successive matches.