Halifax Panthers will play their first game under new ownership this weekend, after a new club has been set up following the liquidation under it’s previous identity.
Fax went into compulsory liquidation on February 9, and were wound up as a result. A new club has been formed under the same identity, but with new owners.
The RFL allowed the side to continue in the Championship, but will face a 12-point deduction as a consequence.
Their opening game back couldn’t be any harder, as they welcome London Broncos to The Shay on Sunday afternoon. Jason Demetriou’s side sit top of the second tier, and are one of only two sides to be undefeated at this stage.
A number of Halifax players left the club following the announcement that the old club would be wound up, which left the reformed side down on numbers.
Some of the departures include Tanguy Zenon, who is now at Huddersfield, Brad Day (Oldham) and David Nofoaluma (York/Newcastle), meaning the club needed to bring in some new faces in order to have enough players to see out the contest.
They have done that by bringing in both loans and free agents, with some players having a number of Super League games under their belt.
Hull FC duo Logan Moy and Hugo Salabio join Kyle Eastmond’s side on a week-to-week basis, in a move that works for both parties. Neither player has featured in top flight action this year, so will be looking to get good minutes under their belt.
Alfie Lindsey joins from Castleford Tigers on the same contract, whilst Curtis Davies returns to the club for the first time since 2021, signing a deal until the end of the season.
St Helens forward Leon Cowen and Wakefield half-back Myles Lawford will continue their season-long loans with the Panthers, after they were sent back to their parent club when the old club first went under.
Halifax Panthers squad to face London Broncos (per RFL website): Will Calcott, Darius Carter, Leon Cowen, Curtis Davies, Jacob Fairbank, Ben Forster, Vila Halafihi, Myles Lawford, Alfie Lindsey, Owen McCarron, Zack McComb, Logan Moy, Adam O’Brien, Daniel Okoro, Hugo Salabio, Ben Tibbs
*Ben Crooks, Bayley Liu and Jesse Soric all started the season at the Panthers, and have not had confirmed moves elsewhere, so they could also be involved this weekend – though they are not listed on the RFL website.
