Marshall: Larroyer deal still alive as Cooper seals loan move

Larroyer, who has played for Castleford, Catalans and Hull KR, spent this year in the Championship at Leigh before falling victim to the Centurions’ end of season cost cutting after they failed to secure a top four finish.

Larroyer is believed to be one of two players - the other being the former Warrington centre Rhys Evans - still to agree a settlement with Leigh on the remainder of their contracts.

Until those deals are finally signed and sealed, neither player can move on, while Leigh, currently operating under an RFL transfer embargo, cannot confirm the expected arrival of new coach John Duffy or any new players.

Larroyer was reported to be heading for Fax a week ago, but those rumours only seem to have sparked a fresh round of bargaining between the player’s representatives and Leigh’s flamboyant owner Derek Beaumont.

“We are interested in Kevin, but it’s out of our hands at this stage,” said Marshall, who said he has secured additional sponsorship - believed to be from former Fax director Laurence Turner’s business, Investing for Tomorrow - to help fund Larroyer’s potential move.

“It might happen or it might not, we’ll have to wait and see.

“If it does, great. If it doesn’t, we’ll move on.”

Fax have also re-signed the young St Helens forward Liam Cooper, who played for the club in this year’s Super 8s Qualifiers, on a season-long loan deal.

“We’re very happy to welcome Liam back,” said Marshall.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve and works really hard for his teammates, so he fitted straight in here when he arrived last season.

“Saints have got a really good talent pathway going over there and they obviously think he’s got something to offer them as he’s re-signed there for another year.

“He’ll spend pre-season with Saints and then come to us after Christmas.

“We know he can play back row or middle, which gives us options, but if you pushed me I’d say we see him as a back row.

“We’ll try to develop his skills and his lines of running, but wherever he plays we know he’ll strengthen the pack even more.”