Ellis earns double honour as Chase commits to Tigers

Ellis, who will be plying his trade in Super League with the Black and Whites next season, scored 34 tries in all competitions and helped guide Leigh to victory over Halifax in the Northern Rail Cup final. He edged Featherstone Rovers’ Liam Finn to clinch the top prize as well as Halifax’s Jacob Fairbank, and Batley Bulldogs Dane Manning for the young player at the dinner in Manchester.

Featherstone coach Daryl Powell received the Championship Coach of the Year award for the second year running after guiding his team to back-to-back League Leader’s Shields.

Rovers play Sheffield Eagles in Sunday’s Grand Final bidding to reverse last season’s loss to Halifax. Batley were the Club of the Year winners in the club specific section, following a successful season which saw them build on last year’s Northern Rail Cup final to finish third in this season’s table.

Hull KR have signed Australian hooker Lincoln Withers, 30, from Crusaders on a two-year deal.

He becomes new head coach Craig Sandercock’s first capture and is expected to be followed by Newcastle Knights full-back Shannon McDonnell and Canterbury Bulldogs prop Micky Paea.

Castleford have fought off competition from home and abroad – plus both codes – to secure the long-term future of prized stand-off Rangi Chase.

Tigers have extended his current deal to 2015 and chief executive Richard Wright said: “We believe this to be a huge statement of our intentions moving forward as a club.

“In our opinion, Rangi is the best all-round player in Super League, who has proven his ability domestically and on the world stage.

“He is a player that we are determined to build a successful team around and believe, at 25, he is still to reach his peak and play his best rugby.”

Chase added: “I’ve been here for three years; I wanted to repay the club for giving me an opportunity and want to be part of the success that we are going to have here in the future.”

Huddersfield Giants have seen eight of their players called up for international duty.

Danny Brough, Eorl Crabtree, Leroy Cudjoe and Luke Robinson have all been named in England’s Four Nations train-on squad while Jermaine McGillvary, Dale Ferguson, Larne Patrick and Michael Lawrence have linked up with the England Knights ahead of next month’s fixtures with France and Samoa.