KEIGHLEY Cougars may be on the cusp of being able to sign new players again, but their longest-serving player showed he still has a part to play with his vital late try on Sunday in the 24-22 victory over North Wales Crusaders.

Australian prop Brendon Rawlins has been at the club since 2007 and earned a testimonial match against Leeds Rhinos in February as a reward.

He has not been on top form in Keighley colours this year, though, and his sending off at Odsal earlier this month was a particular low point.

Cougars head coach Craig Lingard feels that Rawlins is own harshest critic, although he offered a staunch defence of the forward, saying: "It's not been his best season by his own admission.

"He probably had his best (Betfred League One) game of the season on Sunday against North Wales, though, and it was nice for him to score that try.

"He's had a lot going on this year to be honest. He's started a new job and there's been a new addition to the family.

"As you get older, your priorities can change but even so, Brendon always gives 100 per cent when he crosses that white line."

Rawlins will hope to still feature regularly next season, as Lingard announced that the club's transfer restrictions are coming to an end.

He said: "We have agreed some external contracts although we're not releasing any names just yet.

"They can't officially sign anyway until the RFL's special measures (a transfer embargo) have been lifted, which we're hoping will happen this week.

Lingard admitted there were no new updates on players who were re-signing for the club. Young winger Alfie Seeley did put pen to paper last month, though, and he capped off his fine end to the season with Sunday's winning try.

His head coach was delighted with the side's late comeback from 22-12 down, and he said: "With five or six minutes left we were staring down the barrel of another defeat.

"But we kept going right up until the final hooter and we were rewarded with Brendon and Alfie's tries."

Lingard felt that the game was the perfect analogy for Cougars' tumultuous season, which has seen some wildly inconsistent performances mixed in with a financial crisis and a player exodus.

He laughed: "Sunday's game summed up our season. We had a good start, an awful middle and a better end.

"The financial issues were definitely on the players' minds and we've had our backs against the wall at times. We just did the best we could though and we'll try and move forward now in 2019."

The last-gasp victory over the Crusaders ensured Cougars finished the season in ninth place, with 13 wins and 13 defeats.

Notable highs included their heroic 15-8 victory over play-off bound Oldham Roughyeds in July, right in the middle of their summer crisis, and a thrilling 44-34 home win over Workington Town.

They also achieved their all-time record league win when they dismantled West Wales Raiders 112-6 a fortnight ago.