COUGARS academy manager Frank Levy has spoken of his delight after two rising stars were handed professional contracts for 2016.

Centre Josh Casey, who has previously spent time with Bradford Bulls and Halifax, and full back or winger Josh Hunt, have impressed for Cougars’ reserve side.

They will now be handed the opportunity to stake a claim to be a part of Paul March’s senior side.

Levy said: “The lads have played the season with the reserves and been great finds for us.

“I've followed both Joshs since they were 15 and they are very easy to coach and always prepared to listen.

“Josh Casey is a very strong and powerful no-nonsense player who works extremely hard and reminds me very much of the former Bradford centre Scott Naylor.

“Josh Hunt is more of a flair player who is very quick and reads the game really well.

“Again, he’s a player who's been in the academy system with Huddersfield and Halifax and both lads fully deserve their promotion to the first-team squad.

“They will now hopefully follow the success of Andy Gabriel and Hamish Barnes this season in both becoming first team regulars.

“Furthermore, we are hoping that the systems we have in place with scouts based in Lancashire and Yorkshire are now starting to bear fruit.

“Paul March has shown that he is willing to give youth a chance and I will be banging his door down to get more of the reserves into the first-team squad.”

Cougars have organised open trials in November to try and give players an opportunity to join their reserve side for 2016.

The dates of the trials at Cougar Park, starting at 7pm, are as follows: Tuesday, November 10; Thurs, Nov 12; Tues, Nov 17; Thurs, Nov 19.