AUSSIE star Dean Hanger joined the Cougars this week, and will be in Karl Harrison's starting line-up against Leigh Centurians on Sunday.

He joins Danny Seal, who had his first run out with the Alliance team on Saturday scoring four tries, and former Great Britain player Graeme Hallas in the strengthened squad.

"They are all superb players with experience at the highest level and give the squad real strength in depth," Karl Harrison said.

Hanger, celebrated his 30th birthday last week, and began his British career with Wigan. He has played at Leigh, Warrington and Huddersfield before joining Hunslet.

Hallas, 29, toured Australia and New Zealand alongside Harrison in 1992 and they were team mates at both Halifax and Hull Sharks where he was the club's front line kicker. He is returning to rugby league after an unhappy period in the Union code

"He has a slight hamstring strain at the moment and I don't expect him to be fit to play for a couple of weeks."

Although Hallas is not fit the other two new boys will feature in Sunday's clash with top-of-the-table Leigh.

"This is a very big match for us. We have to win in to stay in the leading pack.

"The new boys have all played at the highest level and they have already created a buzz on the training field. Dean Hanger will also bee keen to do well against the Centurians - one of his former clubs."

But despite the strengthened squad Karl Harrison thinks the fans will play a big part in the outcome of Sunday's game.

"Leigh will be bringing over a thousand very noisy supporters with them, and I hope the Cougar Army will be out in force to out-shout them.

"I hope there will be terrific support from all our fans to help us beat the Centurians and welcome the new boys to the club," Karl said.

He has told the players he expects a performance to match the Dewsbury-beating show.

"We have had a tough start to the season, meeting most of the clubs who are above us, but if we are to push for a top four place we need to find the consistency we to produce top performances week in, week out.

"With the recruits I have brought in we now have a bigger squad and there is competition for evey place on the field. I am a firmly believe that players perform better when they have somebody snapping at their heals.

"They know that if they lose their first team place it might take some getting back."

n The club is launching a 'Cougar Market' at the ground on Sunday when the club shop will have the new shirts on sale.

"It seems crazy that we don't have the shirts and other club merchandise available at the ground, so we will be setting up a market stall display," said MD Peter Rowe.

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