LEE HANSEN was named player of the week after his blistering display for Cougars against Hunslet Hawks on Sunday.

The former Wigan player blitzed the opposition with a stunning display of forward power. He became the FASDA, First and Second Division Clubs Association, player of the week, making all other clubs in the division sit up and take notice.

His performance won high praise from coach Lee Crooks

"He was absolutely superb. I was confident that we had a team capable of winning if everybody worked hard and did what we planned.

The Keighley prop has publicly backed his coach and is confidant that the Cougars have what it takes to make it into the Super League next year: "Lee Crooks is a quality Super League coach, with him I think we are capable of reaching at least the top five."

The Cougar's next three games are against Leigh, Rochdale and Whitehaven, where a good set of results would leave them with an excellent chance of reaching the top five.

"A lot of people had written us off because of our injury list. We had eight potential first team players on the sidelines, but our performance goes to show that everybody in the club is improving week after week.

"Jason Donohue also had a superb game and Christian Tyrer deserves particular praise. He was suffering with a virus throughout the week and couldn't train with us until Saturday morning.

"Even then he was still feeling the effects of the illness, and it was still hanging about on Sunday, but he was able to take the field and dictate play. He has given us a whole new dimension," he said.

"Darren Summerill also earned praise for a huge tackling stint. He has really improved over the last four or five weeks.

"Fred Sapatu was on cracking form and is showing some real form at the moment."

But Crooks was not happy that his team has to sit out a two week break after their victory.

"It is crazy that we have to play three games in seven days, and then have two weeks off. It shows how daft the league can be sometimes

The squad were given a quiet week in training this week, and last night were due to play a celebrity XI in a charity cricket match.

But from today it is back to the hard work.

"I will be putting them through the mill again today, and then they will have a weekend off.

"From Monday it is back to preparing for the game against Leigh. We have been doing some sprint sessions with athletics coach John Woodcock and travelled to the Doncaster Dome to do some serious fitness testing.

"That has shown that some of our injury listed players should be back. Matt Foster, Adam Fogerty and Alec Smits should be fit by next weekend with only Jason Ramshaw and Grant Anderson on the long term sick list."

"But one thing everyone knows now is that they have to fight for their place in the team," he said.

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