Eagles to honour wounded Brentley

Armed Forces members and Sheffield's emergency services can gain free admission for the club's final Championship match of the season against Leigh Centurions as a mark of respect for the hooker, who was shot in the head while on patrol in Helmand Province two months ago.

Brentley, 25, featured for the Eagles in 2005 – winning their Player of the Year award after signing from Bradford Dudley Hill ARLFC – and the following season before joining the forces.

Having remarkably survived the attack, he is now in a forces rehabilitation centre in Surrey recovering from his injuries but faces a long period of treatment.

"Liam is a champion," said Eagles coach Mark Aston. "He came out of the amateur game and acquitted himself very well with us in the professional ranks.

"Liam was a great character and a fighter – he was only a small player but a real battler.

"The club has been in contact with his family and we hope that they and Liam, if he is fit enough, are going to be at the game.

"We're trying to honour him. We want to remember his time as a rugby player, and also what he's done since then.

"We should be proud of these people."

There will be a bucket collection at Bramall Lane with the Eagles, who still require a point from their final match to be sure of a play-off spot, hoping to raise funds to provide Brentley with a computer.

Prop Jack Howieson could make his first start in six months after successfully returning from injury in Sunday's defeat at Widnes.