Castleford sign Richard Owen for a further two years

Castleford have enhanced the feelgood factor that has returned to the club after four consecutive Super League wins by announcing that their highly rated wing or full-back Richard Owen has signed a new two-year contract. Owen has not played since suffering a badly broken leg in the third game of the season at Bradford but he remained in demand from other Super League clubs. "We are all really pleased that Richie has sorted out his future with the club," said Terry Matterson, who was named the Engage Coach of the Month for June – quite a turnaround after some Castleford supporters staged protests to call for his head when the team were struggling in May. "He has a big challenge ahead of him over the next 12 months to rehabilitate himself from a very nasty injury but we look forward to working with him to get him back into the best physical shape to continue his career." The Tigers are thought unlikely to prevent another of the products of their youth system, the England centre Michael Shenton, leaving for St Helens next season, and speculation continues about the future of the 20-year-old loose forward Joe Westerman – although unlike Shenton he has another year remaining on his contract. Huddersfield, who were thrashed 44-18 at Castleford on Sunday, have lost their prop Keith Mason for an indefinite period with a groin injury. However, the Giants hope that Eorl Crabtree will be available to replace him in next Sunday's home game against the Crusaders after three weeks out with ankle ligament damage. Hull KR have lost the Fiji centre Mike Ratu for the rest of the season after he suffered a shoulder injury in their draw at Huddersfield last week and the Wigan prop Andy Coley is facing the possibility of being ruled out of games against his former club Salford on Friday and his hometown team Warrington the following week after his dismissal in Sunday night's victory over the Catalans Dragons in Perpignan. Coley will appear on a charge of a Grade B reckless tackle, which could carry a suspension of two matches.