Signing Richard Lopag has record-breaking background

Jan 30 2010 by Nick Purewal, The Journal

NEW Thunder signing Richard Lopag will never repeat his junior world record-breaking try-scoring exploits in Gateshead, but Chris Hood still believes he has bagged a natural-born finisher.

Castleford winger Lopag agreed a dual-registration deal to join Thunder for the season yesterday, and has been put straight into the starting line-up for tomorrow’s Northern Rail Cup clash at Widnes.

Lopag holds two Guinness World Records for one startling season at junior club Deighton, his 169 tries the most by a Rugby League player at any level in one campaign, and the same for his 43 hat-tricks in the same time frame.

Thunder travel to the home of the NRC holders tomorrow expecting a fierce contest, but ready to give all they have in pursuit of continuing preparation for the Championship One season.

Thunder captain Kevin Neighbour will start at half-back tomorrow, shifting from centre to lead the backline, while returning Thunder ace Joe Brown slots in at full-back.

“Richard is a quality player,” said delighted rugby director Hood. “He has all the attributes to go very well for us and I expect him to make a difference. We’ve thrown him straight into the squad and it will be interesting to see how he holds up. We can safely say he’s not going to repeat those junior exploits for us, but nonetheless he’s a natural try-scorer, he knows where the line is and how to get there and we’re excited by what he can offer.

“The dual registration is a new system that has been brought in, and it will really benefit everyone involved. It’s a lot more suitable for all three parties than a loan deal, because it gives all three parties the ability to cancel it at any point.

“In a loan deal once the terms are set there is no flexibility if the side who have the player want to keep him for the duration of the agreement. Now in certain cases of injury problems a club might want to recall a player but might not be able to.

“This way everyone has an equal say in what happens, which relaxes everyone – in any case that should all be academic because Castleford want Richard to get as much game-time as possible this year.

“He wants to play too and is excited by the switch, so I certainly don’t expect this to be short-term and hopefully he’ll stay the duration.”

GATESHEAD THUNDER: Joe Brown, Robin Peers, Tom Wilson, Michael Brown, Richard Lopag, Kevin Neighbour, Liam Duffy, Stephen Welton, Ryan Clarke, Chris Parker, Richie Humphreys, Rhys Clarke, Matt Barron. Substitutes: Will Bate, Tabua Cakacaka, Johnny Scott, Mark Walker.