Cornwall RLFC Secures Loan Signing of Courage Mkuhlani from Midlands Hurricanes

Photo credit: Midlands Hurricanes – Image: New Cornwall RLFC loan signing Courage Mkuhlani

Cornwall RLFC has bolstered its ranks with the loan signing of forward Courage Mkuhlani from Midlands Hurricanes.

The 20-year-old, who will be with Cornwall for a month, will be ineligible to play when the two teams face each other in Birmingham on May 12.

Courage Mkuhlani Joins Cornwall

Courage Mkuhlani, who made two appearances for Midlands last season, previously played for Super League’s Castleford Tigers. After leaving Castleford, he joined Midlands on a permanent basis. Recently, Mkuhlani was named 18th man during Midlands’ match against Cornwall, a team known as the Choughs.

Cornwall’s head coach, Mike Abbott, expressed his excitement over the new signing, saying, “Courage further strengthens us in the middle of the park. We are still a bit banged up in that area of the park ahead of the game against Rochdale on Sunday. Courage is a player that was at Wakefield and Castleford so we are excited to see what he can do in a Cornwall shirt.”

Abbott also thanked Midlands’ head coach Mark Dunning and Cornwall’s general manager John Beach for making the signing possible.

Josh Rhodes Extends Loan

In addition to signing Mkuhlani, Cornwall has extended the loan of Josh Rhodes from Batley Bulldogs until the end of the 2024 Betfred League 1 season. Rhodes, a prop forward, initially joined Cornwall on a two-week loan and has made significant contributions in matches against Midlands and Workington Town.

In the game against Workington, Rhodes was voted the supporters’ player of the match. He was also denied his first senior try by a marginal refereeing decision.

“We took our time to have a good look at Josh,” Abbott said. “It was difficult for him in the game against Midlands because all over the park, we were second best. Against Workington, Josh was excellent and at half-time, I thought to myself ‘I want this kid for the rest of the season’.”

With both new additions, Cornwall RLFC looks set to strengthen its squad as it gears up for the remainder of the season.