Leeds youngster poised for Championship debut after loan move

Leeds youngster Joe Gibbons is set to make his Championship debut this afternoon after making a season-long loan move to Keighley.

The 21-year-old linked up with the Cougars on loan earlier this week. He has been named in Keighley’s 21-man squad to face Halifax at The Shay on Sunday.

Cougars coach Rhys Lovegrove said: “I’ve been looking round the player market now all competitions are settling down and when I was alerted to Joe’s availability.

“He’s a player with a great deal of leg speed, runs good lines and has a good attribute of skills.

“I am looking forward to welcoming Joe to Cougar Park and getting him settled in the team. He goes straight into our squad for the weekend’s game.”

Rhinos boss on Joe Gibbons loan

Gibbons was promoted to the Rhinos first team ahead of this season following an impressive year with the Reserves in 2022.

Gibbons, the son of former Rhinos player David, spent time on loan in League 1 with Cornwall last term.

Leeds coach Rohan Smith said: “This is a great opportunity for Joe to play regularly in a tough competition in the Betfred Championship.

“He worked incredibly hard during pre-season and did well in our trial games.

“This will be the next step for him as a young forward. I look forward to seeing how he progresses at Keighley.”

Keighley travel to Halifax in Round Six of the Championship on Sunday afternoon, 3pm kick-off.

Halifax: Calcott, Doro, Fairbank, Gannon, Gee, Inman, Jouffret, Kavanagh, Keyes, Maher, Maizen, McComb, Moore, Murray, Rawsthorne, Saltonstall, Tangata, Tibbs, Walmsley, Wood, Woodburn-Hall.

Keighley: Young, Stephenson, Graham, Parker, Gaylor, Everett, Levy, Kesik, Spence, Santi, Dyer-Dixon, Walker, Roby, Storey, Ioane, Doyle, Adebiyi, Tomlinson, Gibbons, Gale, Webster.

Halifax have announced that key forward Matty Gee has signed a one-year contract extension which will see him stay at The Shay until at least the end of the 2024 season.

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