Last updated at 13:01, Friday, 17 February 2012

Workington Town have signed three top prospects from their Super League partners Hull KR on dual registration terms.

Coach Gary Charlton and chairman Dave Bowden with, left to right, Dave Petersen, James Green and Nick Johnson

Winger Nick Johnson, prop James Green and loose-forward Dave Petersen will add hugely to Town’s strength in depth and are available for Sunday’s trip to Barrow.

Chairman Dave Bowden said: “They are full-time players and will bring additional quality to the squad.

“They are on the fringe of the first-team at Hull KR, looking to break in, and will now gain extra experience with us at a higher level of competition than if they had stayed in Hull. A partnership has to work for both parties, and this is a win-win situation for both clubs.

“We are now getting the sort of numbers required for a long and difficult season, when you take in to account the inevitable injuries that will occur.”

All three prospects were handed first-team squad numbers this season and last month featured in a pre-season defeat against a strong Wigan side that included Cumbrian Lee Mossop.

The previous week, man mountain Green, Under-20s player-of-the-year last term, when he skippered the reserves to their first ever play-off finish, scored a try in a first-team win over Featherstone.

With a knock to Stephen Dawes potentially more serious than first thought, and Karl Olstrum suffering a wrist injury, Town were keen to add quickly to their numbers.

Bowden is confident the relationship with Rovers will continue to grow, with both clubs benefiting.

“It’s a two-way road,” he said. “Tony Boyd, Malcolm Allison and myself spent time at Hull KR recently and we have a really good relationship.

“In the first instance, they are sending players here, but we would also look to send players down there, as part of their progress.

“The three new players will come in to contention this weekend. We want to have a look at them as soon as we can.”

Johnson did not play RL until 15 and has made rapid progress over the past five years.

Following a string of fine performances for Rovers’ Academy side in 2010, he was selected for the Great Britain Community Lions’ tour of Australia.

And he went on to finish runner-up for the reserve players’ player-of-the-year award.

Petersen captained the Robins’ Academy side in 2010 before earning his call-up to the reserves mid-way through the season.

His progress has been hampered by injury, though still only 19 he is now back to fitness with a year of full-time training behind him.

First published at 21:41, Thursday, 16 February 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk