Barry Eaton is delighted with the way his new-look Cougars squad are shaping up in pre-season.

Having successfully nailed a host of high-profile signings, the coach is quietly confident ahead of the 2008 campaign especially given the early signs at training.

"We've been in since mid-November, mainly concentrating on weights and fitness and everything's going well," Eaton admitted.

"Their strength and fitness is better than this time last year and there's a real competitive edge.

"We've just started doing some field sessions at Bradford & Bingley RU over the last couple of Fridays and it's all being done at pace.

"The lads aren't just going though the motions and I've had to calm them down a little as they've been a bit too over-exuberant!

"We've had more than 30 players down, with the new signings fitting in well.

"Danny Jones and Jermaine Wray are already up there with Buster Feather looking to be the fittest at the club and I couldn't be happier with how things are going.

"We got who we wanted recruitment-wise and, all being well, we should improve."

Many of the seven new signings will get their first run-out on Sunday December 23.

The club has confirmed a friendly against the pick of the district's amateur players when they face the Keighley ARL XIII for a second successive season.

"We didn't want it to be a one-off last year, when we got a crowd of 500, so we're pleased we're able to do it again," Eaton explained.

"If we can top that again we'll be well-pleased and there'll be the chance for the players and fans to have a Christmas drink together afterwards as well.

"Pretty much all of the squad, apart from a few who are on holiday, will play either then or against Bradford & Bingley in the cross-code game on December 28."

Meanwhile, one player leaving Cougar Park is loose-forward Gareth Walker, last season's Senior Academy Player of the Year.

Eaton said: "We had a sit down at the start of pre-season and Gareth wanted to know my plans for him.

"He was a fringe player last year and I had to be honest with him; he was probably going to be the same again this time too.

"He's 26 and feels he might be better off going back to Dudley Hill, playing amateur for them although I understand Hunslet might be interested.

"Their coach Graeme Hallas coached Gareth at Dudley Hill so he knows what he can do and he'd probably play first team more regularly at Hunslet.

"It'd have been wrong for me to stand in his way and we wish him all the best."