Dowes sees the positives in dual-reg moves
Workington forward Ewan Dowes says the presence of more Super League quality players on dual-registration deals can only be good for the Kingstone Press Championship.
Dowes, 31, made his debut for the Cumbrians in last weekend’s 14-10 win over a Swinton side that fielded several players connected with Warrington, including Paul Wood, James Laithwaite and Tyrone McCarthy.
The 2005 Challenge Cup winner, who spent 11 years in Super League with Leeds and Hull, joined Workington ahead of 2013 after spending last season with Illawarra Cutters in the New South Wales Cup Down Under.
Alongside Dowes in the opening day win was Workington’s on dual-registration star, young winger Declan Hulme from Widnes, while Leeds pair Kylie Leuluai and Richard Moore have brought more attention to the system this week when they were made available for Hunslet.
Doews said: “Swinton used some high-profile players against us on Sunday but we didn’t want to concentrate too much on who was playing for them.
“We knew we would have the talent to run them close. We wanted to take care of our performance and that’s what we did.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of people about it and there are some mixed opinions out there but it will strengthen the league as long as clubs don’t abuse it. You don’t want a situation where a full team trains together for months then six or seven lads come in from another team. You’ve got to have a happy medium and if you do, I can’t see the problem.
“Kylie Leuluai and Richard Moore are quality players and it’s also good for the profile of the competition because it’s getting people talking about it. I played in the NSW Cup last year which is there for players not playing in the NRL.
“The game is at a stage where it needs a boost and with a new sponsor, games on TV and well-known players, I think this league is doing well.”
Dowes will make his first appearance at Derwent Park on Sunday, when Workington host Halifax – the first league meeting between the two sides since 1996.
