New Cougars capture Paul White is relishing getting up to speed for the new campaign under conditioner Paul Royston.

The Denholme-based winger, who is renowned for his pace, became reunited with player-coach Paul March after signing from Halifax.

With Cougars into their third week of pre-season, White is determined to hit the ground running and says Royston is the ideal man to get him in shape.

The fitness expert, who owns Workouts gyms in Keighley and Shipley, has earned a reputation for getting players into tip-top condition and White explained: “I knew of Paul Royston before because I was with (former Cougars prop) Richard Moore when he came to Wakefield.

“What he did for Richard, if I can get a percentage of that for me then I will really benefit.

“Paul Royston revamped Richard’s career and look at him now, he’s at Leeds Rhinos.

“Paul has got a really good name and actually seeing what he does at the club, especially speed-wise, is going to be really good for me.

“He’s told me he can get me back firing, so it’s definitely all in my favour.”

White, who has around 80 Super League appearances under his belt, was on the bench for Halifax when they beat Cougars in a dramatic play-off encounter at the Shay last season.

The Jamaican international said: “I was out of contract at Halifax and I was in and out of the team last year.

“I just think that Karl Harrison goes for a big team. It didn’t suit my style of play but Keighley is totally different to Halifax.

“I’m not going to say Halifax is a bad club because that wouldn’t be right – it’s a very good club with a great set of boys.

“But what you’ve got with Halifax is some big names and big individuals, whereas if you look at Keighley in that play-off game, they pushed us all the way to the end.

“No disrespect, but there weren’t loads of big names on show that night but the team environment and the way they played together was just unreal.

“To be fair, all year we had really close games with them.

“Having signed for Keighley, you can see where all that spirit comes from.

“The boys are really together and it’s a nice environment.”

White, who works as an insurance broker, is also relishing the opportunity to play alongside March again and believes the player-coach’s creativity can only benefit him.

He added: “I just want to get back to enjoying my rugby, cement a regular spot on the wing and get back scoring some tries.

“I played with Marchy at Huddersfield and Wakefield and then I left Wakefield to go to Salford.

“The lads are in good spirits and Marchy is a whizz on the field and is really good when it comes to coaching.

“I can clearly see a Tony Smith style of coaching from Marchy.

“I think Marchy is still close to him now anyway from their time together at Huddersfield and I take my hat off to him because, as a player, he’s always done really well for me.

“Marchy is a guy who sees everything and slows everything down, so it will make things easier for me.”

Bradford-born White has settled quickly into life at Cougar Park.

He said: “We’ve been back training for a couple of weeks now but I’ve had to speak to Marchy because my wife has booked New York for the weekend for my 30th birthday.

“Marchy was fine with it because he knows Gemma and he knew it was a surprise for me.

“She took me to the TGI Fridays and pulled out a lego Statue of Liberty.

“She then said ‘I’ve sorted it off from work and we go next week’.

“I’m delighted with that but I’m also really looking forward to playing for Keighley this coming season.”