Dewsbury Rams beef up pack with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats prop

DEWSBURY Rams have further strengthened their pack by signing big prop Kyle Bibb from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

The Rams have also gone back into the local amateur RL scene to sign stand-off or loose forward Jake Shaw from Dewsbury Moor in the face of competition from such as Featherstone and Wakefield.

Dewsbury coach Warren Jowitt is delighted with both newcomers and said Bibb, who has made around 30 appearances for the Wildcats was ‘a big signing for the club in every way.’

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He added: “Things didn’t work out for him at Wakefield but it is a sign of his determination to succeed that he has taken a massive pay cut to join us – not many players would have done that.

“He is not on guaranteed money but on match terms and is coming back to reality. The fact he is prepared to do that says a lot for him.

“I’m hoping to work closely with Kyle and help him develop as I have with others who have dropped down from Super League. Kyle is only 22 and with some hard graft we can work with him and help him back to the top level. He has the right attitude and that’s important.”

Jowitt pointed out with Keegan Hirst, Anthony England, James Walker, two other newcomers in Rob Roberts and Shaun Emblem and now Bibb, the Rams will have an abundance of size and strength in the front row.

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He went on: “You are talking about all these lads being well over six feet tall and most of them are 6ft 3in or 6ft 4in. It gives us a very powerful front row and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

Bibb replaces Adam Robinson, who has joined Alex Bretherton at Batley Bulldogs.

Jowitt is also confident that Shaw can make the same impact as James Craven, who was a huge success after moving up from the amateurs. He stressed: “I think Jake has a big future and will be playing first team football very shortly.

“There is a lot of talent in this area and I think it’s important we pick them up, after all they’re the future of Dewsbury and I am set to sign at least two more young lads.”

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Jowitt’s appointment as assistant coach to the French national side for the forthcoming European tournament has wrecked his hopes for a break. He initially said: “When my signings are complete, I’m going to switch off the phone and sit with my feet up before we start pre-season training.”

However, he left for France yesterday to team up with head coach Bobbie Goulding and they will spend a month working with the squad. Jowitt is due back on October 23 and will then start pre-season training with the Rams.

He remarked: “It will be a great experience, these jobs are few and far between.

“The French season is just starting and Bobbie and myself will be taking in quite a few matches. I’ve played alongside him and know he is a shrewd operator and a good judge of a player.

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“Who knows it could even lead to me being able to sign a player or two for Dewsbury.”

Jowitt and Batley coach Karl Harrison missed out on the award as the Co-operative Championship’s coach of the year,which went to Featherstone’s Daryl Powell. Former Rams’ scrum-half Liam Finn won the player of the year award.

The Championship One player of the year was former Thornhill Trojans’ player and now Hunslet player-coach Paul March, who edged out his brother David and Oldham’s Paul O’Connor for the award.

Dewsbury Celtic’s Liam Walmsley was nominated as the Co-operative RLC National young player of the year but the award went to Adam Ryder of Huddersfield Underbank Rangers.

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Rams’ half-back or hooker Ryan Smith has moved to Keighley Cougars.

Dewsbury Rams have just a few tables available for firms at £50 for their wedding fayre at Tetley’s Stadium on Sunday, October 3.

The event is from 11am to 3pm and admission is free. There is a raffle with a prize of a designer wedding dress.

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