Whitehaven welcome new signing on eve of Championship season

Whitehaven have signed prop Ross Ainley on a one-year deal following a successful trial period with the club.

The Cumbrian club have announced their latest recruit just two days before their first game of the new Championship campaign against Bradford.

Ainley has featured in all three of Whitehaven’s pre-season friendlies against Workington, Wigan and Castleford.

Whitehaven head coach Jonty Gorley said: “I’ve know about Ross and heard nothing but good things about him for a couple of seasons now.

“Even though he had a really bad injury a few years ago, he got over that and was at the forefront of what Kells were doing.

“Ross has done a full pre-season with us and has not looked out of place one bit. He has fit right in, both with his attitude and effort at training and with the way he is as a person, unassuming and he won’t mind me saying, coming across a bit shy.

“I don’t think Ross fully understands how good he can be. He has all the attributes for him to be able to thrive in the Championship as a middle.

“I’m glad he decided to do pre-season with us and test himself and eventually sign with us.

“All the players have commented on him about how well he’s gone in the friendlies. I’m sure Ross will be a valuable member of our squad.”

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Whitehaven with their new recruit

Haven director Ashley Kilpatrick said: “I’m delighted to be able to add Ross to the squad. He hasn’t looked out of place in the pre-season fixtures.

“We would like to thanks Peter Smith and Kells for developing Ross into the player he is. Ross is just the latest in a long line of players who have made the transition from Kells to the club.

“Ross is somebody I’ve been trying to get Jonty to look out for the last few seasons and he has slotted in right away with the squad.”

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