COUGAR HERO Stevie Hall has played his last game for the club -- and flies out to Australia on Monday to be with his wife Tania as she undergoes treatment for skin cancer.

Hall, 32, played with Keighley Rugby Union Club before changing codes and was planning to retire at the end of the season. But he hoped to see the club to a Premiership Play-off success to crown a remarkable career.

He first joined the Cougars in 1991 after spells with Keighley Albion and Dudley Hill amateur sides alongside Peter Roe who followed Hall back to Cougar Park as coach, and sparked one of the most spectacular periods in the club's history.

Hall started his professional career playing on the wing, but soon became a solid performer in the pack. He helped the club to the Third Division championship -- it's first honour in over 90 years.

The came the impressive era with Phil Larder as coach which saw the team take the Division Two and Premiership play-off honours in the 1994-95 season.

Hall was a towering influence on the team despite suffering a broken leg in the 20-18 Regal Trophy quarter-final defeat by Warrington, still rated one of the best games ever seen at Cougar Park.

In the financial upheaval which followed the club's exclusion from Super League he went to play at Rochdale and suffered a second broken leg -- but fought his way back to fitness and became a tower of strength back at the club which was still close to his heart.

He met his wife, Tania, while playing in Australia and she returned to her home there earlier in the year with their children, Jordan (6) and Bailey 16 months.

Tania has had skin cancer for some time but Steve recently learnt that she requires surgery and he is booked on a flight to join her on Monday. He has been released by the club on compassionate grounds.

He said: "Tania has a lot of friends here who she did not have a chance to speak to before she left. I wouldn't like them to think it is a life-threatening situation, it really is not.

"She will be undergoing surgery to have two moles removed from her back and a small piece of skin. Like any husband, I need to be at her side at this time."

Coach Karl Harrison said: "It really puts rugby in perspective. His family must come first. Although the illness is not life-threatening, Steve needs to be there at such a difficult time.

"He would love to have gone out on a real high for the club and is desperately disappointed to miss out on the play-offs, which promise so much."

Mike Ford, who organiser the club's Hall of Fame said: "He has is a real local hero who has made a massive contribution to the club. Steve has played a huge part in this season's success and will be greatly missed.

"Every fan will send their best wishes to Steve and his wife."

After suffering such a blow the good news for Karl Harrison is that Phil Stephenson is set to make his comeback after a four match ban when Cougars travel to Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium on Sunday.

The 27-year-old prop was originally banned for five matches for a high tackle in the match against Batley Bulldogs in May, but the length of his ban was reduced by one match on appeal.

He has been undertaking a pre-season style training schedule with strength building weights sessions in the gym as well as training alongside his team mates on the training pitch.

Getting there: Leave the M1 at Junction 34 and take the fourth exit from the roundabout (A6109) towards Sheffield City Centre. Proceed past Sheffield Arena for about two miles. Take left turn at traffic lights on to Workshop Road and continue for 300m, Don Valley Stadium is on the left.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.