Cougars chief Barry Eaton has added to his squad with the recruitment of Keighley youth product Dave Emmott.

The prop is returning to his home-town club after a successful stint in Australia, playing for New South Wales-based Grafton Ghosts in the Country League. Eaton is delighted to snap up the forward, who was reserve player of the year at Cougar Park two years ago.

Eaton said: “Dave would probably have been playing at first-team level had he stayed in this country but he’s done well in Australia and, although his return to Cougar Park has come as a surprise, it’s a pleasant surprise and we are very much looking forward to welcoming him back to Keighley.”

Eaton added: “The Country League is probably about the bottom end of Championship One standard but he won players’ player of the year and coaches’ player of the year for his club, so it bodes well.”

Emmott’s return is only likely to be for a year before he returns back to Australia.

Meanwhile, Eaton hopes to talk to a scrum-half target early next week.