WILL Maher confirmed his retirement from rugby league over the weekend, with Keighley Cougars his final club.

The prop was one of eight players to leave Cougar Park at the end of the season, joining the likes of Ellis Robson, Oscar Thomas and Alex Bishop in moving on.

Former Bulls winger Ben Blackmore left Keighley and confirmed his retirement to focus on work commitments and it was widely expected Maher would do the same, after he secured a new job at a school in Castleford.

But the former Hull KR man did not announce anything one way or another, leaving the door open for a possible playing role elsewhere.

However, with his Cougars contract officially ending at the weekend, he chose that as the perfect opportunity to announce his retirement from the game at the age of just 29.

Maher made 170 career appearances, with nearly half of those coming in Super League with Rovers and Castleford Tigers.

He played 24 times for Cougars, as they reached the 2024 Betfred League 1 play-off final before suffering a surprise defeat to Hunslet.

Hunslet got the better of Dan Parker and his Keighley team-mates in the pair's play-off final in October.Hunslet got the better of Dan Parker and his Keighley team-mates in the pair's play-off final in October. (Image: JT Sports Media.)

The Parksiders went on to reach the second tier after stunning Swinton Lions in the promotion/relegation play-off the following weekend.

Cougars will be looking to bounce back from missing out on promotion in the upcoming 2025 season.

And one player who could be in line to help them go up to the Championship is back row Will McCardle.

The former Wakefield Trinity academy talent has linked up with the Cougars squad on a pre-season trial basis.

McCardle, who has previously played in community rugby league for Heworth too, will be looking to force his way into Jake Webster’s plans for 2025, as the Cougars head coach looks to bolster his ranks.

He made a real impact for Wakefield’s youth sides in 2022 and 2023, but this opportunity with Cougars could be what he needs to make his breakthrough into first-team rugby league.