Harrison makes Halifax move

Halifax have appointed Karl Harrison as their new coach on a three-year deal.

Harrison was tempted back in to coaching by brother Paul at Batley, and has done a sterling job at Mount Pleasant, leading the Bulldogs to a Northern Rail Cup triumph in 2010 and a third placed finish in 2011.

Halifax parted company with Matt Calland earlier this season, and have since been coached by Damian Ball, who led Fax to a 32-22 win over the Bulldogs in the Championship play-offs on Thursday.

For Harrison, it marks a return to a club with which he featured for as a fearless prop forward, also making 14 appearances for Great Britain during his playing days.

He said: “It was a great honour to be asked to consider the job and once I had met the directors I had no hesitation in saying yes.

“Halifax were certainly the only Championship club I would have left Batley for; they have been good to me over the last couple of years and I have been good for them and I think we can be proud of our achievements.

“I have so many great memories from Halifax and while the Karl Harrison that is going back there is a very different Karl Harrison to the one that was there as a player, I’m looking forward to getting on with the job.”

Harrison won the Super League coach of the year gong in 2006 while in charge at Salford. He has previously coached Keighley Cougars, and worked as an assistant to Brian Noble at Bradford before moving to the Reds in 2002.